A father brings his young son to the dental office. The child has a fever and dry cough. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

Fever with dry cough is consistent with an active respiratory infection that may be transmissible via droplets or aerosols. The appropriate immediate action is to provide surgical masks to both the child and accompanying adult, seat them away from other patients in the waiting area, and reassess whether dental treatment should proceed. Elective dental care should generally be deferred when a patient has signs of an active systemic infection. Triage protocols for infectious diseases emphasize source control (masking the infectious individual) and spatial separation from other vulnerable patients. If treatment is urgent, appropriate personal protective equipment (N95, face shield, gown, gloves) should be used.