When do I have to go to the doctor?
If fever and diarrhea persist for several days and the symptoms show no signs of improvement, one should see a doctor after 3 days. Many infections that cause fever and diarrhea are self-limiting and go away on their own after 2 to 3 days.Babies and toddlers have a low threshold to develop febrile convulsions in case of fever. Therefore, you should consult a pediatrician with your child if he or she has a fever. For infants and schoolchildren, fever should be approached with caution and the pediatrician should be consulted prior to any drug therapy.
Duration
Self-limiting diarrheal diseases associated with fever often subside on their own after one to three days. This is the case with food poisoning such as salmonellosis. Other diseases that cause fever and diarrhea can last longer. In Yersinia, a diarrhea illness can last up to 14 days. Complications of yersiniosis such as joint problems can occur even weeks or months later.
Special features for children
Diarrhea and fever are not only unpleasant for children, but also extremely disturbing. Children dehydrate quickly and usually do not have the consciousness like adults to have to drink more in case of diarrhoea. Children dehydrate faster than adults.
Dry mucous membranes, a dry mouth, hardly any tears and lack of urine are signs of pronounced dehydration. In children, initial dehydration usually requires a hospital stay. Rotaviruses are dangerous for children and can lead to life-threatening dehydration, especially in infants and toddlers.
The Robert Koch Institute therefore even recommends an oral rotavirus vaccination for babies. Children are said to have a high fever from 39°C. Temperatures above 41.5°C are seriously life-threatening for children because the body’s own proteins are destroyed.
Children fever faster than adults, especially small children. Babies and children tend to develop febrile convulsions when the fever is high. Similar to an epileptic seizure, the child loses consciousness during a febrile convulsion and twitches all over the body for a few minutes. High fever and diarrhea lasting for days can therefore lead to complications in children and therefore require medical attention.
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