What symptom is unlikely to be present in a child with atypical pneumonia?

Atypical pneumonia, which is often caused by pathogens such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae or Chlamydia pneumoniae, typically presents with milder symptoms compared to typical bacterial pneumonia. One of the hallmark features of atypical pneumonia in children is a non-productive cough, which can be persistent and may not produce mucus. Intermittent fever can also be common, but it is usually of lower grade as opposed to the high fevers seen in typical bacterial pneumonia.

In this context, a persistent high fever is less characteristic of atypical pneumonia. Children with this condition often experience fever, but it tends to be intermittent and not as high as one would expect with typical pneumonia caused by organisms like Streptococcus pneumoniae. The other symptoms listed (intermittent fever, non-productive cough, hyperemic throat) can all be associated with atypical pneumonia, making the symptom of persistent high fever less likely.