got home from work and found Logan with a 104 fever - WDID?

I first called the ped, left a message for a callback.

DS was given Motrin @ 3:30pm because he was a little whiny and his teeth seemed to be bothering him (he's getting some top teeth right now).

I walked in the door @ 6:45pm and kissed him up as usual and he felt warm to me. I took his temp with the Thermoscan first (ear) and it was 103.9. I figured it was wrong so I took it in his armpit and got 103.6. Took his diaper off and got 104.2 rectally.

I got a little nervous, this is his first fever. I dosed him with tylenol right away, stripped him and popped him in the tub. He was in there playing with Daddy (having a squirty toy water fight). He's laughing, "talking", splashing, crawling, cruising as usual. A little lethargic if anything.

Received a callback from a 24hr nurse - she said i did the right thing by piggybacking the motrin with the tylenol. she said to let him sit in the tub for 15 min, then take him out, dry him off and take temp again. (i did @ 7:30 - it was 104.4 rectally) If it nears 105 or if it's still so elevated @ 8pm, I have to call back.

He's in a diaper on the couch right now sipping cool water.

WWYD? He's not pulling on his ears, grabbing at his throat, crying, or showing any other symptoms. He ate fewer solids than normal today, but he's up around 27oz of formula and about 8oz of water so far. He usually goes to bed at 9pm, so I have at least another hour to monitor him.

eta: When *I* get a fever, it tends to run high. 103/104 is a normal fever for me. My Dad, too. It's possible this could be true for DS too, but we have no way of knowing!

Message edited 6/11/2010 7:42:43 PM.

Re: got home from work and found Logan with a 104 fever - WDID?

Going through the same thing here with the twins, and Noah always had high fevers too. to me...102 is not even a worrisome fever anymore. My kids tend to be 103-104 on average. Its so scary but the dr'.s keep telling me it is ok...

Re: got home from work and found Logan with a 104 fever - WDID?

No advice, just that this breaks soon

Re: got home from work and found Logan with a 104 fever - WDID?

I was going to say in an instant, keep him out of the tub! guess I would have been off base there!

good luck!!
if he is only running a fever and nothing else, i would guess roseola

Re: got home from work and found Logan with a 104 fever - WDID?

My kids run high fevers when they are sick. My daughter has had up to 104.6 and my son had 105 a few weeks ago (he is 13 months old).

Piggyback tylenol and motrin and continue doing that...it will prevent the fever from spiking. Once it spikes, it is harder to get back down than it is to prevent it from spiking.

Warm (not hot, not cold) baths getting the whole body wet (including hair) then out of the tub to air dry. If it is the middle of the night, do a sponge bath with warm water on a wash cloth....air dry. This helps the temperature come down. Do NOT do a cold bath....the body's natural response to cold water is to shiver...the purpose of shivering is the raise the body temperature b/c it is cold.

Otherwise there is not much else you can do besides wait it out. If he is acting totally normal otherwise and your ped has saturday office hours, I would bring him in to get checked in the AM. If the fever goes above 105 and he seems really sick call the Dr. right away for advice.

Don't get caught up in the numbers. I know that is hard to do, but a fever is the body's natural defense to fighting off a virus, so it just means that his body is working properly. Judge how sick he is by his temperment, not the number on the thermometer. Hope is gets better very soon.

Re: got home from work and found Logan with a 104 fever - WDID?

Thank you

Rooster, that was very helpful!

Re: got home from work and found Logan with a 104 fever - WDID?

You can take him to PM Pediatrics

Re: got home from work and found Logan with a 104 fever - WDID?

No problem. If you have ANY concerns page your pediatrician. That is what they are there for and they will not get mad. I annoy the c r a p out of my kids' pediatrician when they get super high fevers.

If it lasts a few days with no other fevers they will probably want to do a urine sample test to make sure no URI.

Hope he feels better soon.

Re: got home from work and found Logan with a 104 fever - WDID?

8:15 and we're down to 103.6

down .8 in 45 minutes!

Re: got home from work and found Logan with a 104 fever - WDID?

could it just be from the teething? I know baby's usually run a temperature when they cut teeth and maybe since your family typically runs high fevers, it would be the same for him

Re: got home from work and found Logan with a 104 fever - WDID?

he's asleep on DH's chest right now... neither one of us wanted to put him in his crib

I just took his temp in the ear and it was 100.8. i know the ear was almost a full degree off earlier this evening, but even if it IS off, the fever is still down. I dosed him with some motrin and we're going to put him in his crib now. Poor guy...whatever it is, I'm just glad it's responding to the meds.

Re: got home from work and found Logan with a 104 fever - WDID?

Posted by Janice

I was going to say in an instant, keep him out of the tub! guess I would have been off base there!

good luck!!
if he is only running a fever and nothing else, i would guess roseola

Re: got home from work and found Logan with a 104 fever - WDID?

My DS gets HIGH fevers as well...some have gone over 105.

I piggy back tylenol and motrin if it is that high as well starting with motrin since it's works faster than tylenol.

The only thing I warn you about is putting DC in the tub with a fever that high. I personally wouldnt recommend it because a sudden change in body temp is what causes febrile seizures, not the actualy height of the fever. When DS's fevers are that high I use a lukewarm washcloth on his forehead and back of his neck.

Re: got home from work and found Logan with a 104 fever - WDID?

when jack was at the height of teething one nite he hit 104 fever! we were at the ped that morning b/c his fever was spiking. She wasnt too concerned at that point because he was still happy, playing, eating. they get concerned when the fever is high and they are lethargic and not eating.

I would keep giving the motrin and keep an eye on him. If he's still eating and keeping it down, playing, being himself..it could be the teeth coming in.