Fever AFTER Cold Symptoms Start?

Updated on January 07, 2016
J.J. asks from Atkinson, NH
12 answers

Hi, there has been an undeniable head cold in our house. Starting about two weeks ago. It had weirdly escaped our toddler until Friday or Saturday. He began to have a runny nose and sneezing. It has been subtle enough that we really don't know what it really was. He had a scratchy voice starting Monday and developed a fever today (101). Is it possible for a fever to develop AFTER the subtle cold symptoms started? It seems very weird. Thank so much.

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So What Happened?

Thank you guys. His fever is up to almost 103 now so we are watching him. If it's not better tomorrow, we will call. No other symptoms and he's sleeping fine. Poor guy.

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M.S.

answers from Washington DC on

Could be a secondary infection in his lungs or ears or sinuses from the fluid from his cold. It just sits there, if not flushed or coughed out, and bacteria grows.

3 moms found this helpful

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M.G.

answers from Portland on

I'm not an expert. Just keep an eye on it. Mine would get ear infections after runny noses. They'd have a fever.
I used to get sinus infections after colds. Fever. So just keep an eye on it and take him in if necessary. Good luck :)

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M.P.

answers from Portland on

Yes, from my experience, this happens often. I and my family do sometimes have a fever with a cold. I suggest a fever is the result of the "bugs" we catch. There isn't just one virus for colds. And we can be infected with other viruses and bacteria at the same time. When we have a cold, our resistance is lowered.

Your doctor'or the hospital's or your insurance's advice nurse could answer this sort of question more accurately.

3 moms found this helpful

D.B.

answers from Boston on

Sure, why not? Once the immune system kicks in to try to beat the invading virus or bacteria, that's what causes the fever. That's why you don't medicate a low-grade fever, because you want the body's defenses to work. You just medicate if someone is really miserable, achy, etc. Otherwise you push fluids and let it runs its course.

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A.P.

answers from Janesville-Beloit on

When this happens in our house, it's always an ear infection.

3 moms found this helpful

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

of course. colds and fevers don't adhere to absolute guidelines. they could have the same cause, or they could be completely unrelated.
just treat the symptoms as they arise and keep the poor little guy comfortable. i hope he feels better soon.
khairete
S.

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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

This happens frequently to my girls. It starts out as a cold but then turns into a miserable sinus infection. Take your son to the doctor to get diagnosed if he still has a fever tomorrow. Of course it still could be viral but I would want to make sure there is not an infection if he is still feverish.

2 moms found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

I don't see anything weird about it.
In fact you can have a fever anytime with or without any other symptoms.
Our son (when he was a baby) use to occasionally spike a 102 fever for no apparent reason and have a perfectly normal temp one hour later with no medications.
Being a parent can challenge and redefine your definition of 'normal'.
Just roll with it.

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D..

answers from Miami on

Same thing happened to me last/this week. My cold turned into a sinus infection. I finally don't have a fever because I'm taking antibiotics for the sinus infection.

I would think that your little one has an infection secondary to the cold. I'd take him in and have him tested for strep or tonsillitis.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.P.

answers from Boston on

My son, 9 month old, had the same thing. Sneezing runny nose I thought teething. Then he spiked a fever of 101.8 for 2 days then 102 for almost two days. By day 4 he was back to normal. The doctors said there's a virus going around

Updated

My son, 9 month old, had the same thing. Sneezing runny nose I thought teething. Then he spiked a fever of 101.8 for 2 days then 102 for almost two days. By day 4 he was back to normal. The doctors said there's a virus going around

1 mom found this helpful
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N.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

You can have a cold but not have an infection. The infection starts and the body heats up as it starts fighting it. Let it fight it a bit, until the temp is over 101 then give Tylenol. If it goes higher then it might need assistance like an antibiotic.

But overall you don't have to run a fever with any cold or illness.

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O.O.

answers from Los Angeles on

I would suspect sinus or ear infection.

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