What would you do if this was your child?

Joseph had a fever of 101.3 @ 8PM on Sunday night. By 2AM it went to 103.3. I spoke w/ the kidsline @ St Charles at that time and stuck him in the bath. He's been on tylenol every 4 hrs since that night. Mon AM it was at 100.4. Yesterday we saw the pedi who said it was viral. Last night @ midnight it shot up again to 103.9. In the bath again and this morning it's back to 100.

I spoke w/ the pedi again this am and he said since he's cranky and irritable and the tylenol doesn't seem to be helping we can send him for bloodwork. Or just keep an eye for another day.

I don't want to put him thru the bloodwork. Should I wait another day and see what happens tonight or should I just do it now? I'm so upset!

Re: What would you do if this was your child?

I would do the bloodwork, only because I wouldn't want him to suffer another day without a diagnosis, especially since he's had a high fever for 2 days now and just to make sure the fever is viral.


Hope he feels better soon Poor baby

Re: What would you do if this was your child?

I would not do the blood work. It's that time of year where all the virus/fevers go around with kids. Mine just had it for 4 days each with about 102 +. I just gave them motrin and hydrated. Sure enough, the fever broke and the body rash came out.

Why don't you think tylenol is working? Tylenol/motrin is only going to bring a fever down about 2 degrees and not get rid of it completely. I prefer motrin only because it works for 6-8 hours as opposed to only 4. Also, you could alternate the motrin/tylenol doseage for a high fever (I'm surprised your ped didn't mention that.)

I hope he feels better! I know it's hard, but hope he gets some sleep! I know we didn't sleep for the last week.

Re: What would you do if this was your child?

I would wait it out another day, making sure he's hydrated. The fever is going to go up at night. Keep in mind his fever is his body trying to fight off the infection on its own.

Re: What would you do if this was your child?

I would wait another day before putting him through the blood work. Are you just giving tylenol? I would do back to back with the Mortin.

Seee how he feels tomorrow and then decide about the blood work.
I hope he feels better soon.

Re: What would you do if this was your child?

Posted by nrthshgrl

I would wait it out another day, making sure he's hydrated. The fever is going to go up at night. Keep in mind his fever is his body trying to fight off the infection on its own.

Re: What would you do if this was your child?

If your gonna stick it out I would do the motrin and then wait an hour between and give tylenol and flip flop between the two to help keep the fever down.

If its a viral thing there is really nothing to do but wait it out unless you do the blood work and they find it to be something other then a viral infection

If it was meI would do the bloodwork to make sure everything was ok and its nothing serious

I hope your son feels better

Re: What would you do if this was your child?

Bllod work after only having a fever for a little more than 48 hrs? I think that is jumpin the gun a bit, My kids usually have fever for 3-4 FULL days, usually is it is high grade for 3 days then they worry, but your little one is low grade. I say hold out on blood work, if by tomorrow the fever is not gone then follow the peds instructions, but fevers can take a fews days (even 5 days) to break if the viral illness is stubborn enough. I hope he feels better soon!!!

Re: What would you do if this was your child?

Thank you! I am going to wait. It's just so hard to watch him so sad and not know what I can do to fix it. I think the motrin bothered his belly because he cried an awful lot the 2 times I gave it to him. He seems much better on the tylenol. Wish him luck that it doesn't spike again tonight.

Re: What would you do if this was your child?

Damien has had at least 3 viruses that have had a fever that has lasted over 10 days. They ended up being just viruses. Frustrating as all heck!! Hang in there!!

Re: What would you do if this was your child?

I would wait another day. Viruses can take a long time to pass. The bloodwork can be heartwrenching. I would just keep an eye on the fever and do what you have been doing. If it hasnt leveled off by tomorrow then i would go for BW.

Re: What would you do if this was your child?

Posted by nrthshgrl

I would wait it out another day, making sure he's hydrated. The fever is going to go up at night. Keep in mind his fever is his body trying to fight off the infection on its own.

Re: What would you do if this was your child?

Go now Danielle! I know when Alex had a really high fever a few weeks ago, around 103.2, the doc told me to give her tylenol and if she responded well, to just keep her home and well hydrated. It ended up that she had coxsackie, which is a common virus for young babies during the summer and the main symptom is high fever. He told me though, if the tylenol wasn't working and her fever didn't lower, to go to the hospital... so if Joseph's fever is remaining high despite the tylenol, I'd say GO