BTDT mommies - how serious do you treat fevers?

shockandawe · #1 January 26th, 2012, 07:56 AM

So Maggie has had 3 bouts with bad fevers since she was born. The first two were really serious and required hospitalization, and this most recent one we're dealing with has me right on edge. I'm packed and ready to go to the hospital at a second's notice, and am trying soooo hard not to overreact.

It's bouncing around between 36 and 37 degrees to as high as 38.6 celcius (about 101 F). Hospitals here don't typically prioritize anything lower than 38.8. Only things I can put it down to are teething and perhaps a cold. I had a sinus infection a couple weeks back, and it wouldn't surprise me if she picked up something.

We have a dr's appt this afternoon. I just hope I'm not overreacting. Hate that I feel this way. Last night her cheeks and jaw line were soooo red. They looked and felt like they'd been on fire.

inyourhonor · #2 January 26th, 2012, 08:19 AM

I treat a fever of 101 with a cool bath and alternating tylenol with motrin. I keep cool cloths on their foreheads to help them. They normally sleep them off. I've thankfully never had to deal with a fever causing us to go to the hospital. Other reasons but not a fever.

I hope it settles down for her.

sfarrow3 · #3 January 26th, 2012, 08:28 AM

I normally treat a fever with tylenol and motrin (alternating) and keeping them cool. Her temp to me seems managable at home. If it gets to be in the higher than 102 and last longer than a couple of days I would phone the doctor. I would definately keep watching her, but make her comfortable as possible. Did her fever break at all with the assistance of medication? Fevers can be really scary, if you feel you need to take her in than i would. Hope she feels better.

Trish36 · #4 January 26th, 2012, 08:48 AM

Unless the fever is over 39, I don't worry. I give Tylenol or Advil to help get it down and to make them feel better. I avoid hospitals at all costs nowadays.

If she's not lethargic and not crying all the time, it's probably just a virus.
Does she have the sniffles or a cough? It's good to take her to be seen, just to make sure she doesn't have an ear infection or a chest infection of some sort.
Hope she's feeling better soon!
There is also a virus called 'Roseola' where the child has a really high fever for up to 4 days with no other symptoms and then when the fever breaks the child gets a rash. Nothing serious though. Just keep her comfortable and make sure she's drinking lots.

Jule'sMomInOR · #5 January 26th, 2012, 09:05 AM

I don't think 101 is anything to be concerned about, but as a baby my DH had Roseola and a 105 temperature, which caused him to have seizures. Getting into the 102+ range would be really scary for me and I'd be into the doc in a heartbeat. Luckily we haven't had to deal with that so far.

Celine · #6 January 26th, 2012, 09:40 AM

I think go with your gut feeling, that's what I do.

I monitor the temp when Sophia has a fever and take the temp often. We haven't had more than 102 and that was an ear infection + teething. We did go to the Dr, I could tell she was in pain.

Hope your LO feels better soon.

Irish_Wristwatch · #7 January 26th, 2012, 09:42 AM

pretty much ditto to everything Marisa said. I dont worry about anything under 102, I give tylenol, advil and cool baths. over 102 would worry me and i would probably bring them to the walk in for a 102+ fever, 104 or higher would have me at the ER

thankfully none of my kids have ever had a fever high enough that i needed to bring them in, though once Ross was almost at 102 and I did call my MIL in a panic about it, but it went down after a few hours

mommytokem · #8 January 26th, 2012, 09:54 AM

Yeah, I would just alternate the tylenol and motrin for now, I know I hate taking my kids to the drs so if it's been going on for a couple of days I'd take them in.

rachel_anne · #9 January 26th, 2012, 11:45 AM

I wouldn't worry about 101, unless tylenol or motrin aren't bringing it down. I usually give tylenol and baths to help bring it down.
Holden had a horrible fever and roseola right before his ear surgery, when motrin wasn't an option. His fever was really high and tylenol wasn't helping, that's the only time I've taken him to the ER for a fever, it was 105+ when we got there

krislati · #10 January 26th, 2012, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inyourhonor

I treat a fever of 101 with a cool bath and alternating tylenol with motrin. I keep cool cloths on their foreheads to help them. They normally sleep them off. I've thankfully never had to deal with a fever causing us to go to the hospital. Other reasons but not a fever.

I hope it settles down for her.

Pretty much this. Thankfully Tommy hasn't had very many fevers.

I hope she feels better soon.

shockandawe · #11 January 27th, 2012, 06:05 AM

Thanks ladies. I hate to over react, but since the last two ended up in the hospital, I guess they put me right into high alert, and I hate that feeling.

I ended up getting an appt with our family dr yesterday. Turns out she has tonsilitis. This is the second time he's diagnosed it in 7 months. She's on amoxicillyn now. We're still fighting the fever, but for the moment, we're dealing with it all at home. She had it spike to 39.4 this am, but it came down quickly with tylenol, and I have to imagine that part of it was from being stuck between DH and I in bed...only way I could grab 5 winks of sleep last night.

sfarrow3 · #12 January 27th, 2012, 06:45 AM

Glad you took her in! Hope she starts to feel better really soon!

I<3HelloKitty · #13 January 27th, 2012, 09:54 AM

I hope she's feeling better soon! High fevers are scary!

MamaAnna · #14 January 28th, 2012, 05:53 AM

What have they said about the tonsillitis? I'll echo the other ladies that I just alternate Tylenol And Motrin. If the fever stops responding to those (along with cold compresses, baths, etc.) and hits 104 then we go in to be safe. The worst fever we've ever dealt with was when my son hit 105.9 despite everything and had a seizure. That turned out to be tonsillitis.

shockandawe · #15 January 28th, 2012, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MamaAnna

What have they said about the tonsillitis? I'll echo the other ladies that I just alternate Tylenol And Motrin. If the fever stops responding to those (along with cold compresses, baths, etc.) and hits 104 then we go in to be safe. The worst fever we've ever dealt with was when my son hit 105.9 despite everything and had a seizure. That turned out to be tonsillitis.

That's terrible. Her fever seems to have finally broken. Took til this morning to break it though.

All he told me about the tonsilitis this round was that it's extremely rare in kids this age. I know the last time he diagnosed it, I ended up in the hospital because of the fever she had with it, and none of those doctors at the hospital believed he was right...of course she'd already started antibiotics by that point so it wasn't as clear. It is reassuring to hear that this isn't brand spanking new or unique to Maggie though. I know that as a rule, they only let them go a few times before they make arrangements for surgery. I know they don't want to take her in this early if they can help it.

sunnysky24 · #16 January 29th, 2012, 11:15 AM

If your LO doesnt have any lethargy or fever seizures then just a nice bath and some tylenol/motrin. My new Lo get fever seizers (and goes unresponsive) at 101 so i am no help.. Hopefully it will pass for your LO but they cant tell you that you are bad mom for being over concerned about your child so do what you think comfortable with...

shockandawe · #17 January 30th, 2012, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunnysky24

If your LO doesnt have any lethargy or fever seizures then just a nice bath and some tylenol/motrin. My new Lo get fever seizers (and goes unresponsive) at 101 so i am no help.. Hopefully it will pass for your LO but they cant tell you that you are bad mom for being over concerned about your child so do what you think comfortable with...

That's so scary. So sorry you have to deal with this. Maggie hasn't had seizures from it that I could tell, but she get's so darn close you know? And man they are hard to break. We go days before she gets any real relief with all the standard treatments.

She's feeling better enough now, that she's been in screaming banshee mode since 4:45 am today. Apparently she likes the special attention she gets when she's sick...kinda like her Daddy.