Diurnal Temperature Variation: Addressing Once-Daily Nighttime Fevers in the Era of COVID-19.

ABSTRACT

Pediatric patients with "once-daily" fevers are often referred to pediatric infectious disease specialists for evaluation. Often, these fevers occur at nighttime in the absence of additional symptoms and come to the caregiver's attention after a viral illness. It is crucial for caregivers and providers to be able to define and measure fever accurately when trying to ascertain the true etiology of this clinical picture. Fever education is critical in providing reassurance to parents, and fever diaries should be encouraged. In a well-appearing child without any additional symptoms, at least a percentage of these fevers can be explained by normal diurnal variation of temperature. [Pediatr Ann. 2022;51(5)e202-e205.].