Ear Infections, Strep, and Fevers
The Most Common Fall Illnesses (and How to Help Your Child).
Fall and winter can be tough for families. School is in full swing, indoor activities increase, and germs spread easily. When your child starts coughing, running a fever, or complaining of ear pain, it can be difficult to know what to do next.
At Little Big Care, our pediatric-trained team helps families understand when an illness can be managed at home and when a same-day urgent care visit is the safest choice.
Ear Infections
What to Watch For
Ear infections often follow a cold or congestion. Signs may include:
Ear pain or tugging at the ear
Trouble sleeping or increased fussiness
Fluid or drainage from the ear
Fever or difficulty hearing
What Parents Can Do
Use children’s pain relievers as directed by your pediatrician, keep your child hydrated, and monitor for improvement. Warm compresses can help relieve discomfort.
If pain lasts longer than two days, if there is drainage from the ear, or if your child has repeated ear infections, schedule an urgent care visit. Our providers can examine the ear, check for infection, and discuss next steps.
Strep Throat
What to Watch For
Strep throat is a bacterial infection that spreads easily among school-aged children. Symptoms often include:
Sudden sore throat without a cough
Pain when swallowing
Fever
White patches or red spots on the tonsils
Swollen lymph nodes
What Parents Can Do
Because strep requires an antibiotic, testing is the only way to know for sure. Little Big Care performs rapid strep tests during your visit, and results are available within minutes.
If your child has a sore throat and fever but no cough, call us for a same-day evaluation. Untreated strep can cause complications, so quick testing and treatment are important.
Fevers
What to Watch For
A fever is a natural way the body fights infection. Most mild fevers do not require emergency care, but parents should call for help if:
The fever lasts more than 48 hours
The temperature is higher than 102 °F and does not respond to fever reducers
The child appears unusually tired, confused, or dehydrated
There is difficulty breathing or a stiff neck
What Parents Can Do
Offer fluids, keep your child lightly dressed, and allow rest. If your child is under 3 months old and has any fever, seek medical care right away. For older children, Little Big Care can assess the cause of the fever and provide treatment when needed.
Why Pediatric-Trained Providers Make a Difference
Pediatric providers understand how illnesses affect children differently than adults. At Little Big Care, our team knows how to:
Interpret symptoms that may look mild but require attention
Use age-appropriate testing and gentle exam techniques
Explain care clearly so parents feel confident at home
Because we focus only on children, we can offer specialized care that keeps families out of the ER whenever possible.
When to Choose the ER Instead
ER is more appropriate for: severe injury, obvious broken bone or large wound, difficulty breathing (respiratory distress), severe abdominal pain, immediate need for imaging or bloodwork, fever in a newborn, suicidal or acute psychiatric crisis.
If you have an emergency, call 911.
Little Big Care is designed for non-emergency pediatric needs. We will always refer you to emergency care if that is the safest option.
Getting Help
If your child has ear pain, sore throat, or a fever that will not go away, call (719) 435-9979 or book a visit online. We provide expert pediatric urgent care when and where you need it most.
Emergency Reminder: ER is more appropriate for severe injury, obvious broken bone or large wound, difficulty breathing (respiratory distress), severe abdominal pain, immediate need for imaging or bloodwork, fever in a newborn, suicidal or acute psychiatric crisis. If you have an emergency, call 911.