The symptom checker reviewed by doctors

Choose a symptom and answer simple questions using our physician-reviewed
symptom checker to find more information on your health issue.

  • Symptom
  • Assessment
  • Results

Is your child two months or younger with a fever of 100.4°F or higher?

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Possible Diagnosis

This may be a sign of a serious INFECTION.

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Is your child older than 2 months with a fever of 102°F or higher that is unresponsive to fever-reducing medicine (children’s acetaminophen or children’s ibuprofen)?

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Does your child have a low-grade fever (up to 101°F) runny nose, and is the child tired and cranky?

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Possible Diagnosis

Your child’s symptoms may be from a simple VIRAL INFECTION, such as a COLD or FLU.

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Does your child have a low-grade fever (up to 101°F) and a harsh, barking cough (sounds like a seal)?

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Possible Diagnosis

These may be symptoms of CROUP, a viral infection/inflammation of the upper airway.

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Does your child have a low-grade fever with nausea or vomiting?

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Is your child also complaining of stomach pain?

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Possible Diagnosis

Pain in the mid-abdomen that moves to the right lower area, along with fever and vomiting, may be signs of APPENDICITIS.

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Does your child have watery diarrhea and a low-grade fever?

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Possible Diagnosis

Your child may have VIRAL GASTROENTERITIS, an intestinal infection.

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Is your child pulling at his or her ear, and is he or she irritable?

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Possible Diagnosis

Ear pain may be from a middle ear infection or OTITIS MEDIA. In younger children, TEETHING PAIN may radiate to the ear.

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Does your child have a rash, cut, or wound that is red, swollen, and tender?

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Possible Diagnosis

Your child may have an infection of the skin called CELLULITIS.

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Does your child have a low-grade fever and sore throat?

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Possible Diagnosis

Your child may have STREP THROAT or PHARYNGITIS.

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Is your child experiencing shortness of breath?

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Does your child also have a severe sore throat, problems swallowing, and are the child’s skin or lips turning blueish? Is your child sitting up and leaning forward putting weight on one or both arms (“tripoding”)?

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Possible Diagnosis

You child may have EPIGLOTTITIS, the swelling of the airways.

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Does your child have a slight fever (less than 101.5°F), along with rapid breathing and wheezing?

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Possible Diagnosis

These may be symptoms of BRONCHIOLITIS or BRONCHITIS. While BRONCHIOLITIS produces a dry cough, a BRONCHITIS cough usually produces a yellow-green mucus.

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Does your child have a high fever with shaking chills, chest pain, and coughing up green or yellow mucus?

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Possible Diagnosis

Your child may have PNEUMONIA.

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Is your child feeling very ill, complaining of headaches and vomiting, and does he or she have a stiff neck?

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Possible Diagnosis

Your child may have MENINGITIS, a serious infection of the membranes and fluid around the spinal canal and the brain.

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Does your child have blisters scattered over their face, back, chest, and stomach?

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Possible Diagnosis

Your child may have CHICKENPOX or MEASLES, extremely contagious viral illnesses.

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Did your child’s illness start with a high fever and cold-like symptoms, with a red rash appearing on his or her face (slapped cheek appearance) 4 or 5 days later?

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Possible Diagnosis

Your child may have PARVOVIRUS INFECTION, also called FIFTH DISEASE.

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Did your child’s illness start with a sore throat and fever, with a red rash with small bumps that spread from the face downward appearing 3 to 5 days later?

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Possible Diagnosis

Slightly larger bumps may be from MEASLES. Small “sandpaper” bumps may be from SCARLET FEVER, a strep infection in the blood. Other symptoms of SCARLET FEVER may include vomiting, abdominal pain, and muscle aches.

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Does your child have swelling under the jaws on one or both sides of their neck?

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Possible Diagnosis

Your child’s fever and swelling may be from the MUMPS.

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Does your child have either a runny nose or diarrhea with a high fever?

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Possible Diagnosis

Your child may have a simple VIRAL INFECTION, even with the high fever.

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Does it hurt or burn when your child urinates and does he or she have back pain?

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Possible Diagnosis

Your child may have PYELONEPHRITIS, a kidney infection.

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Does your child have a fever following a recent immunization?

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Possible Diagnosis

This may be a REACTION TO THE IMMUNIZATION.

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Self Care

Call your child’s doctor or go to the nearest emergency room.

Self Care

Treat your child with non-aspirin fever-reducing medicines (children’s acetaminophen and/or children’s ibuprofen). Make sure your child drinks plenty of fluids and gets enough rest. Chicken soup may also help relieve COLD and FLU symptoms by breaking up congestion. See your child’s doctor if symptoms persist for more than 48 hours or worsen, or if your child is complaining of ear or throat pain. Also, be sure to contact your child’s doctor if your child’s temperature continues to climb despite frequent use of the anti-fever medicine. Do not give children 5 years and under cough or cold medicines.

Self Care

Mild cases of croup can be treated at home. Make sure your child gets plenty of rest and drinks lots of fluids. A cool mist humidifier or cool air can help. See your child’s doctor right away if your child is having problems breathing or swallowing, or if your child develops a blue or grayish color around the nose, mouth, or fingernails.

Self Care

Contact your child’s doctor immediately.

Self Care

DIARRHEA and vomiting can quickly lead to DEYHYDRATION. Give your child an oral rehydration solution to prevent it. A simple way to make a home-based ORS is to boil a cup of white rice until the rice has completely overcooked and split and the water is cloudy. Keep the water and throw out the mushy rice. The water replaces the electrolytes lost in diarrhea.

For the fever, give your child a non-aspirin fever-reducing medicine (children’s acetaminophen or children’s ibuprofen). Call your child’s doctor after 24 hours if the fever continues to climb or if your child cannot keep down any fluids.

Self Care

A warm, moist cloth placed over your child’s ear may help relieve the pain. If your child’s symptoms last longer than 24 hours, see your child’s doctor.

Self Care

See your child’s doctor right away. This condition needs to be treated with antibiotics.

Self Care

See your child’s doctor right away. STREP THROAT is usually treated with antibiotics. If your child has a viral infection, antibiotics won’t help. Give your child lots of water if they are over 1 year. If the child is under 1 year, continue to offer breast milk or formula regularly. If they are able to gargle, a warm salt water may also help soothe your child’s throat.

Self Care

See your child’s doctor, take your child to the closest emergency room, or call an ambulance right away.

Self Care

Give your child a non-aspirin fever-reducing medicine (children’s acetaminophen or children’s ibuprofen) and be sure he or she drinks plenty of fluids. A cool-mist vaporizer may help ease congestion. See your child’s doctor if your child can’t keep liquids down, or is breathing very fast, or you can see the child’s ribs clearly with each breath. Seek immediate medical attention if your child’s skin is turning blue, especially around the lips, nose, or fingernails.

Self Care

See your child’s doctor right away.

Self Care

See your child’s doctor or go to the closest emergency room right away.

Self Care

See your child’s doctor right away. These can be prevented by vaccinating your children per the recommended schedule.

Self Care

See your child’s doctor right away. Treat your child with non-aspirin fever-reducing medicine (children’s acetaminophen or children’s ibuprofen), if needed.

Self Care

See your child’s doctor right away. SCARLET FEVER is usually treated with antibiotics. However, antibiotics are not effective in the treatment of viral infections, such as measles. If your child has measles, make sure he or she gets plenty of rest. For the fever, use a non-aspirin fever-reducing medicine (children’s acetaminophen or children’s ibuprofen).

Self Care

Call your child’s doctor right away. MUMPS is a viral infection, so antibiotics aren’t effective in treating it. Apply ice or heat to the swollen area to help relieve the pain. A warm salt water gargle, soft foods, and lots of fluids may also help. This can be prevented with routine childhood immunizations.

Self Care

Call your child’s doctor. Your child’s doctor can rule out other causes for your child’s symptoms. Use anti-fever medicine (children’s acetaminophen or children’s ibuprofen).

Self Care

See your child’s doctor.

Self Care

Treat the fever with children’s acetaminophen or children’s ibuprofen. If the fever is higher than 103°F, see your doctor right away.

WARNING:

Don’t give children aspirin without your child’s doctor’s approval due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome.

For more information, please talk to your doctor. If you think the problem is serious, call your doctor right away.

DISCLAIMER

Symptom Checker content is provided for informational purposes only. This tool may leverage certain generative artificial intelligence tools to generate results, but you should not rely on this tool as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health or the information provided when you use this tool, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional. Do not disregard, avoid, or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your healthcare professional because of something you may have read using this tool or on the FamilyDoctor.org website. Use this content solely at your own risk. If you think you may have a medical emergency, dial 911.