Temp of 103.9. Go to ER?

[mountainash]

Benji is running a temperature of 103.9. I haven't given him ibuprofen or tylenol yet because of his corn allergy. He woke up at 5 a.m. this morning vomiting but no diarrhea. He says he hasn't pooped in a couple of days. He just got done with a ten day round of amoxicilin for a sinus infection two weeks ago. He's about 80% recovered from that--still a little sniffly and coughing occasionally. We've been pretty much homebound for the past two weeks. I'm trying to imagine how he would have contracted something like the flu?

Since he's been sick for so long, I'm starting to really worry that this is more than just a common cold.

Do you think a fever of 103.9 warrants a trip to the ER?

[Barefoot Bookworm]

If you can safely give him ibuprofen, I would. That's what they would do in our hospital and then send us home. If it's still that high being medicated, then I'd take him in.

[chasingbutterflies]

I personally wouldn't, unless there was something else going on (retracting/other breathing issues, dehydration issues, etc). I'd personally push fluids & call the ped in the AM if it was still up.

[DoulaClara]

for you- I know most ERs would just do the Ibuprofen and let them rest deal and then send you on your way. You know what's normal for your little guy, though, so if he's acting strange or listless and not making sense or any other little "off" thing, trust your instincts. I'm so sorry- nighttime makes sicknesses so much worse.

[SilverMoon]

Have you tried other ways to help reduce the fever, like cool wash cloths on the forehead/back of neck pulse points? My daughter never responded to Tylenol or Motrin; the only way to get her fevers down was cool wash cloths, reapplying when they were no longer cool, and popsicles.

[PurpleButterfly]

The first thing the ER will do is medicate him w/fever reducers, so I would do that at home and monitor as well as encourage fluids through safe/homemade popsicles. You can bring him to the ped tomorrow if you are still feeling concerned about the length of illness, but the ER is going to be much more invasive. Not to mention exposure to all sorts of other nasties.

When my ds's fevers go high (104-105), I piggyback Ibuprofen and Tylenol and use room temp damp washclothes to pat down his feet, head/face and neck.

Also, if he's not already on a probiotic, I would start that asap.

and

[cindergretta]

Here's what happened here last night.

Dd3 woke up yesterday morning just fine, playing and healthy. By afternoon, she drooped down and popped a 104.1 temp. We gave her acetaminophen and she fell asleep. She woke up 4 hours later with a 104.6 temp. I phoned the on call ped. (Her hands, only her hands, were trembling. Her breathing was shallow.) The on call ped was condescending and annoying and informed me that it doesn't matter what the actual number on the temp is. They (medical folks??) don't concern themselves with that or worry about it. It was a matter of how the child was acting and dd was acting fine. I got annoyed (and told her I was annoyed, a mother of 6, my oldest was 17, and she was being condescending. She apologized. ) I informed her that my dd wasn't acting fine. She was listless, hands trembling, and breathing shallow. She said, "Well, it sounds like it would make you feel better to take her in." No! We ended up giving her ibuprofen on top of acetaminophen and an hour later she was up and running around, eating, drinking, playing, and FINE.

I *hate* taking my dc to the ER as it takes hours and there are seriously sick people all over and since it is down town, the clientele can be, er, um, questionable? Especially when they come with police escorts. So, I try to avoid it except for clear emergencies, kwim?

Use cold cloths, cool baths, plenty of fluids, and if safe, OTC meds and see how all that works for bringing temp down. I would just really try to avoid the ER.

[TestifyToLove]

Fevers are cyclic and tend to run higher at night than even a high during the day. The ER is going to give fever reducers and tell you to see your normal doctor, unless the child is dehydrated. So, push fluids, give fever reducers and so long as those are working, you can wait to call his doctor in the morning.

[mountainash]

Thanks!! We gave him children's ibuprofen, had him drink some water, and he's sleeping now.

[Auroras mom]

I hope he is feeling better today!

Generally, I let a high fever burn as long as we can all stand it. It's the body's tool for fighting off the bad guys. (and for my dd, it makes her stay in bed and sleep instead of getting up and running around b/c the meds fooled her into thinking she felt better).

[mountainash]

He's feeling MUCH better today! His fever broke around 11pm--not too long after I posted. It was weird, when his temp was 103.9 he was not sweating at all but when his temp dropped to 100.3 about an hour later he was soaked. He vomited up the Motrin about a half hour after we gave it to him so it's hard to tell if that's what brought the fever down or not. Judging by the fact that he didn't react to the corn in the Motrin, he didn't absorb much of it.

[Zooey]

Originally Posted by mountainash

He's feeling MUCH better today! His fever broke around 11pm--not too long after I posted. It was weird, when his temp was 103.9 he was not sweating at all but when his temp dropped to 100.3 about an hour later he was soaked. He vomited up the Motrin about a half hour after we gave it to him so it's hard to tell if that's what brought the fever down or not. Judging by the fact that he didn't react to the corn in the Motrin, he didn't absorb much of it.

Breakijg a sweat is a sign that the fever is breaking. (My grandmother used to break a fever by doing whatever it took to get you to sweat).

[mamacat]

Glad he is feeling better.I wouldnt take to ER either.I venture to guess that he probably was exposed to a stomach bug when went in for the ear prob. Sounds like 2 diff. things

[PurpleButterfly]

I remembered something else we use to manage fevers that might be helpful to you. I'm not sure if corn is present in homeopathic remedies but ferum phos is helpful for fevers.

So glad he is feeling better! Thank you for the updates!