Time To Call a Doctor For Flu

Call your health professional immediately if:

* Your baby is younger than 3 months and has a rectal temperature of 100.4° (38°) or higher.
* You suspect your baby younger than 3 months has a fever, but you are unable to measure his or her temperature.
* You think or know your child younger than 4 years has an extremely high fever [105°F (40.56°C) or higher measured rectally].
* You or your child 4 years of age or older has an oral temperature over 104° (40°).
* You or your child has labored, shallow, rapid breathing
with shortness of breath.
* You or your child has a fever with a severe headache or stiff neck or seems confused or hard to wake.

Call your health professional if:

* Symptoms had improved but seem to be getting worse again.
* Signs of Reye's syndrome, such as drowsiness and confusion, develop 3 to 7 days after the start of symptoms of the flu or another viral respiratory illness. Reye's syndrome can be a very serious illness in children and teens.
* Signs of a bacterial infection develop, such as an ear infection, bronchitis, or pneumonia.
* Influenza develops in a person older than 65 who has other health problems (lung, heart, or kidney disease or diabetes) or in someone who is being treated with chemotherapy for cancer.
* Influenza develops in a person of any age who has a long-term respiratory illness, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
* Symptoms include temperature over 101° (38.3°), shaking chills, and a cough that produces mucus from the lungs (productive cough).
* Fever is high or prolonged. See the fever guidelines for ages 3 and younger or for ages 4 and older. However, it is common for adults with the flu to have high fevers [up to 103° (39.4°)] for 3 to 4 days. If many people in your community have similar symptoms and it is flu season, it is likely you have the flu and don't need to see a health professional. However, if you have any concerns, contact your health professional.