My daughter had fever for 4 days straight last week (around 102.5-103.5 rectal). Every test we did on her came back negative. She was fever free for about 3 days, but she has now had fever again for the past 2 days (around 102.5-103.5 rectal). I took her to the dr again yesterday, but they said everything fine. She is a little bit more clingy and more fussy than normal...but overall she seems okay. I am at a loss as to what I should do? I have been switching between Motrin and Tylenol, but I just worry that this fever is not going away completely. Do I take her back for more blood work? Or should I just keep an eye on her. I just don't know how long a child should have fever like this. Any Suggestions???
The doctors were not able to determine what was wrong with my daughter. The good news is, she has been fever free for the last 2-3 days. So I am hoping we are in the clear. Thank you all for you help and suggestions. God bless, K.
Hi K.,
We are in the same boat. Even tho it is summer, my 21 month old LO has been sick on and off for the past 6 weeks. I agree with the other posts, and will only add this thought: as my pedi said, when they go to pre-school etc, they will probably get sick less :)
I hope this helps.
Jilly
This is not a high fever, especially rectal.
I know there comes a point though when you should not use motrin or tylenol past so many days. So, I would say unless she acts like the fever is bothering her, do not treat her anymore. Sometimes a virus can take a while to get over, and, there is nothing you can do for a virus besides make them comfortable until it passes.
Now, that said. My second daughter had a UTI with no other symptoms than a fever. But, she was crying a lot. She was only a few months old, so, harder to communicate with. Is your daughter acting like it hurts to pee? This will not show up in blood tests. They had to do a urine test. Simple, they taped a bag around her vagina, and, the next time she peed the bag collected it. We had to wait at the lab to "wait" for her to pee. But, her urine tested positive for the UTI. The pedi had told me that many times, an unexplained fever that lingers could be a UTI as there are no other symptoms such as coughing, runny nose, etc.
It sounds like you're doing all the right things by being in constant contact with your pediatrician.
My best advice is to follow your gut. Instincts are amazingly powerful once you become a mom, so don't talk yourself out of listening to them if they're pointing you to continuing to be vigilant for your daughter.
Hopefully it's just a virus that needs to run its course. I'm hoping they told you to alternate tylenol/motrin every 6-8 hours to help keep the fever at bay and explained some of the viruses going around right now.
I'm not sure that blood work will help at this point, it likely wouldn't be able to culture a bacterial or viral sample. But, I do hope she gets to feeling better quickly.
K., you mentioned that you have all ready taken her to the Doctor. The Doctor told you she was fine. Her immune system is building up. Everyone is different. She will eventually out grow these fevers. As mothers we want the best for our children but sometimes we really have to sit back and watch! You need to calm down and enjoy your baby. It is to be expected that your baby is fussy and clingy......she has a fever, therefore she does not feel well. Ask your Pediatrician but I was told once that if the fever is a low grade fever and baby is tolerating it fine don't give them medicine for it. Let their body do the work. If the fever gets up to 101 to 102 the give them Tylenol or Motrin (alternating) Try not to worry to much, enjoy your baby they grow up too fast!
Hi K.! I have to know, are there any other symptoms? Anything at all? Does the Tylenol/Motrin brake the fever at all?
It could be teething or something like that. Or it could be something else. I'm not trying to alarm you, but I saw people say it could be pneumonia. It could also be something else. My son was sick back in Jan. and he had a fever that just wouldn't brake. He seemed fine at first, but then he started getting other symptoms. Long story short, it turns out he had Kawasaki's disease. (If anyone has any questions about it, feel free to message me! :D)
I hope you get some answers and I hope it turns out to be nothing! Let us know what happens! Good luck!
A lot of moms I know have had an issue with fever of unknown origin lately. The doctors run every test they can think of but nothing pops up. Have they not only looked at her throat and ears, but also considered that it might be a UTI? This is just my experience, but teething fevers have never lasted that long for us, nor do they get that high. Not saying they don't exist, I absolutely agree that kids get fevers from teething, but mostly what I have seen in childcare and my own child is that its around 101ish, MAYBE 102 and only lasts about a day or two.
I think you're taking the right steps right now. Keep in contact with her doctor and push fluids. If alternating the meds is helping then keep up with that too. If you're not confidant that the doctor is doing everything he or she can to find out what is wrong, get a second opinion.
Is she teething? My kids had fevers while they were teething.
I would suggest another Dr. for a second opinion. 103.5 is a bit high.......did it stay that high for long?
Did they check her throat?
Get a second opinion just to be safe......
Take care and good luck.
Rectal tends to read higher. Invest in one of those forehead ones that scan. Ours is right on the money. I once thought as you switching between the two painkillers but guess what. Last time we took my son for a fever they said to use both simultaneously because the other way, we were under-dosing him. So it's Tylenol every 4 hours and Motrin every 6. They have completely different mechanisms so that is why they said to do it that way. Lo and behold, the meds kicked his fever.
My 8 month old had the same thing for about 5 days last week. His doctor said ears, throat and lungs were all clear and that it may be a virus that will run its course. He was also a bit more clingy and fussy but for the most part acting normal and playing. I would call the doctor again since it went away and came back.
Does she have any other symptoms besides the fever? Sometimes you can get a minor virus and then it can progress to a more sinister like an infection. I think what concerns me is that she had the fever, it went away, and now it's back again. Have you called the doctor to see what he/she suggests? You may also want to check the askdrsears.com website. They usually have some pretty good guidelines for when to call your doctor, when to go straight to the ER, etc. I have found that site to be very helpful a time or two. HTH! :)
With fevers plus hot weather, I suspect that she might have a touch of dehydration. My son gets a fever even still when he hasn't had enough to drink for the day, and he's twelve! Flavored Pedialyte tastes good, and even if she doesn't need it, it certainly won't hurt her. Other than that, it could just be that she's around some new things or new people, and her immune system is just adjusting. If you're in communication with your pediatrician, you're doing the right things.
My daughter had a fever with every tooth she cut. My son... None at all.
Hi K.,
She could be teething. Does she have any other symptoms? Not to alarm you, but if she has labored or shallow/rapid breathing when laying down, she could have pneumonia (our son had this when he was 2). Also, more recently, our 11 month old daughter had fever for four days straight with no other symptoms, but when the fever came down, she broke into an awful rash all over her body. Apparently, it was roseola and ran its own course. She was fine after a couple more days.
If your daughter continues to have fever, I suggest another battery of tests to rule out pneumonia, etc.
Good luck, and I hope she gets better soon!
J.
