Fever of 103 - San Bernardino,CA

Take him in to another doctor for a second opinion right now if you are concerned. Doctors are not always right

I think behavior is as important than the actual fever...fever signifies that the body is working to fight an infection. But if he's acting really lethargic, hard to wake up, really fussy or just seems really sick, that would be more of a red flag for me. I'd place a call to the pediatrician on call and ask them what to do if that happens. Otherwise, treat the fever to help him feel better...and keep a close eye on the fever too...if it starts rising above 104 I'd probably go to the er or immediate care because if he's got meds in him and it gets that high that means it's actually higher.

That is not a teething temperature.

Since your Doctors were not much help... I would go elsewhere.

Make sure baby does not dehydrate. Babies can dehydrate quickly.
Feed/nurse on demand, with whatever you are using, breast or Formula.

Call the ER or Nurse line and see what do to.

Go with your gut instinct.
Because he is young... I would take him in.

A 103 fever is NOT from teething. I think now would be a good time to go, or at least call your Dr. and see what they say. My Dr. told me older then 6 months to take them in if there is a fever 102, or higher.

You go to the emergency room if it's an emergency - he's really lethargic, dehydrated, inconsolable, fever above 104. It doesn't seem like it's an emergency, just that he doesn't feel well.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't call the doctor, though. If you are worried, it's always better to check with the pediatrician or the nurse on call. My guess is that they'll recommend fluids, tylenol, motrin and rest, but better to check with a medical professional.

I think a call to the dr. at least is in order. But, if he really seems like he is feeling bad - lethargic, etc., I would probably go ahead to the ER. Teething does not cause a fever of 103. When my son had a high fever at 7 months, the pediatrician told us to take him to the ER if it got over 104. How a child is behaving is more important than the degree of fever. Both of my kids have fevers over 103-4 pretty much any time they get sick and it never slows them down. They still run and play. Even if the temp is lower and they are acting like they feel bad, they are probably sicker than a kid with a higher fever that is still mostly acting normal.

I tend to err on the side of caution. If your gut is telling you to go to the ER, then go. I figure that I would rather be laughed at for bringing in my child when he didn't need it rather than not taking him and have him end up much more sick.

A fever alone is not a reason to take him to the doctor. Fevers are useful in that they are helping to fight off something. Check out the seattlemamadoc blog. (Type in seattlemamadoc into google and you should be able to find it.) She (a mama and pediatrician) just wrote about fevers in babies and how you pretty much don't have to treat the fever. If the kiddo feels yucky and has a fever, then give him tylenol/motrin. If the kiddo just has a fever but is eating, playing, etc., then let him be.

Last month my DD (she was 9mos at the time) woke up with a fever of 103.4... We were able to get it down with Ibuprofen and a lukewarm (NOT cool, body temperature, and let it cool on it's own) bath. It stayed in the 100.5-102 range for the day, then spiked back up to 103.7. We got that down with another bath, and after that she was fine. BUT my DD was eating, drinking and playing. She did get pretty clingy and fussy in the evening, but didn't act in a way that was alarming to me. I would take him in if you can't get fluids into him (dehydration is NOT good.) or if he is lethargic... Try getting his fever down, either with medication (tylenol, ibuprofen, or both), lukewarm baths (again, NOT COOL or COLD, lowering the temp too fast could cause seizures) cool cloths on the back of neck, undressing, etc. I would say take him in if his temp isn't down by tomorrow...

Teething... I don't think high fevers (103 NOT - 100 would be ok for teething) and teething go together. It is not an infection and the body does not need to fight it. Another interesting fact to know is that Tylenol stops the production of Glutathione which is what is needed to make the liver and immune system work. So when you give Tylenol, the body cannot protect itself as it was intended, for up to 22 days with each dose. Best to find something else.

When did your grandson get his last set of shots? Within three weeks-four weeks? That would more likely be the cause unless he is truly fighting an infection for another reason. Watch for him rubbing his ears in case of an ear infection and there are things that you can do there instead of antibiotics (if I had only known when my kids were little).

We've had great success with dye-free Motrin.

Call and talk to an advice nurse at the ER. They will tell you over the phone if you need to come in or if it can wait until morning.

http://drtenpenny.com/fever.aspx

Go read this. It's about the importance of fevers.

My pediatrician said and ER visit for a fever over 104 that won't come down with tylenol or motrin. Use your judgment or call the doctor back if you see other symptoms you are worried about.

This happened to my daughter when she was about 18 months and spiked a fever of 104.9 (I was very stressed). We had just been at the doctor a few hours before. I was instructed to alternate tylenol and motrin every 4 hours (motrin is slightly better at reducing a fever). It eventually went down about 90 minutes after a dose of Motrin. I was on the phone with the doctor's office ever half hour all evening!

When my kids got fevers, I would give the children's tylonol and motrin alternated every four hours. When the were under a year, I gave then 1/2 teaspoon. You can also put a warm rag on his head, back of the neck, and torso. When he's got the fever, the rag will feel cold to him. But this will help cool him down as well.

My doctor says if his temp is above 103 with Tylenol then it is worth concern or a fever for more than 3 days call the doctor. Just teething usually doesnt cause that high of a fever but then again i am just a med student not a Dr. I would listen to your gut you know the baby more than we do and if he is acting really out of character I would make another appointment.

Bsed on what I remember from the dr. Advice in the baby411 book, teething doesn't cause fevers, esp. That high. Also talks about why/when u should or should not give tylenol. Remember it's the bodies way of fighting of an infection. Also talks about what to look for and wen to take your child to see the dr. When he/she has a fever. U may want to get that book and read that portion. Also call the nurses line to discuss your concerns. Finally, go w/your gut. If you think something is just not right, take the child back in and express your concerns.
Good luck

Make sure he keeps his fluids up, give him tepid baths, and alternate Tylenol infant and Motrin infant in the proper dosage for him every 3 hours so each motrin dose is 6 hours from the last and each tylenol dose is 6 hours from the last - like 6am Tylenol, 9am motrin, 12 noon tylenol, 3pm motrin...etc. If he is acting super lathargic or doesn't want to lie flat, I think it might be an ear infection or something rather than just teething -- it is amazing how quickly inner ear infections can come on (took my daughter to the doc in the morning once and fine, by mid-afternoon totally bulging and infected ear drums :( ugh). If the fever rises higher than 103 or he shows signs of febrile seizure, call the pediatrician again or go to the ER but unless you get to that stage, I would stay away from the ER because all you will do is expose him to more germs unnecessarily!

Best wishes!

With your baby running a high temp try some motrin to bring down the temp and if it doesnt bring it down then i would go to the er. Also take a cool wash cloth over the babys body (not cold) and make sure he only has a diaper on. Do not give him milk since that may make him puke and try water to keep him dehydrated.

I would feel my baby's gums, if see or feel the gums swollen most likely it is teething, at that age its very normal that their teeth start to come out. Rub baby Orajel on the gums, give Tylenol or Motrin according to doctors dosage if the fever persist just put a cool wet rag on baby's forehead to keep the temperature down. If you have the time you can go to the emergency room but you will wait for hours for them to just tell you that baby is fine and send you home. Most likely he is acting that way because he is in pain from teething. I would take the baby to the emergency if temperature is 104 or higher and has other serious symptoms. Many times my kids will get diarrhea when they are teething but not always.

Call the 24/7 nurse hotline at the hospital you'd be taking him to the ER.

They'll get ALL the info from you (plus asking questions about what meds at what doses he's been given when, color, activity, etc., heartrate, etc... whatever they need to know), and will tell you to either bring him in, take him to the dr's tomorrow, or treat at home using x,y,z ... and at which point to bring him in. The 24/7 nurse hotline rocks.