Fever (accompanied by not feeling well)

Table of Contents

Body temperatures vary slightly from person to person and at different times of day. A fever is defined as a temporary increase in the child’s body temperature that may be related to:

  • a chronic health condition,
  • a sign of injury or
  • illness. 

General actions if a child experiences a fever while at school or in their program: 

If the child is not feeling well: 

A child should be temporarily excluded from an education or child care setting when the child’s illness causes one or more of the following: 

  • Prevents the child from participating comfortably in activities.
  • A need for care that is greater than the staff can provide without compromising the health and safety of other children.
  • An acute change in behavior: lethargy, lack of responsiveness, irritability, persistent crying, difficulty breathing, or a quickly spreading rash.
  • Fever with behavior change or other signs and symptoms in a child older than 2 months (e.g., sore throat, rash, vomiting, diarrhea).
    • For infants younger than 2 months of age, a fever with or without a behavior change or other signs and symptoms.
    • A child with a temperature elevated above normal is not necessarily an indication of a significant health problem, but it could be the result of a long-term health condition. 

A fever is defined as: 

  • For an infant or child older than 2 months, a fever is a temperature that is above 101 degrees F [38.3 degrees C] by any method.
  • For infants younger than 2 months of age, a fever is a temperature above 100.4 degrees F [38 degrees C] by any method.
  • Temperature readings do not require adjustment for the location where the temperature is taken.
  • Document the date, time, observation of the student, care provided, communication with the student, school nurse, and any communication with the parents in the child’s student health record
  • If the child has a chronic health condition that requires ongoing health services requiring an IHP, follow the steps and instructions as delegated for a child whose health disrupts temperature regulation.