Can there be a link between growth spurts and fever in a 4 year old?

Question

My son has had a fever for 72 hours which is quickly controlled with motrin / advil. He does not seem to be affected by this fever except at night when he is more fragile. His nose does not run, he coughs a few times a day, but nothing more! He complains of pain in his legs when he stays still or sits for a while. Can there be a link between a growth spurt and fever? Thank you for your help!

Alexandre Chagnon · Accepted Answer

Hello Ma'am, According to my research, there is no connection between the presence of fever and growth spurts. In fact, since I don't refute the presence of fever, I would have to find out where the fever is coming from. It is common for children to fight off the arrival of a virus very effectively by producing a lot of fever, which gets rid of the virus. However, these children do not have symptoms that we would see more in adults, such as aches and pains, coughing, or runny noses. In all cases, I would try to wait about 3 days to see if it calms down on its own. If it doesn't, I'm of the opinion that we should consult to determine the "home" of the fever. As far as medications go, try to administer as little Advil™ as possible if the child isn't ugly. Indeed, there is no point in trying to lower the fever just to lower the "number". Fever is a good defense mechanism for your child, and reducing that fever too much in a child who is not otherwise ugly reduces the effectiveness of that natural defense mechanism. I still believe that a dose before bed makes good sense for everyone 😊 . Happy evening, Alexandre Chagnon, pharmacist