he has been running a fever since Friday with no other symptoms. it sticks in the 101.4 area. I have been giving him ibuprophen to keep it down but not sure if I should just take him to the doctor to see whats going on. it makes me wonder if there is something really wrong that is causing this. any helpful insight would be wonderful. Thank you.
A fever is a sign that he's fighting some sort of infection....I'd take him to his pedi to play it safe
hope he feels better
Every pediatrician has someone on call 24/7 including holidays and weekends. Have you placed a call yet? I know it's a holiday weekend but still...
Lots of things cause fevers - some are viral and you wait them out, some are bacterial and you need more help, some are things like mono which are viral but may need more attention. He may have no symptoms that you can see or that he can articulate, but I would imagine that a doctor would ask different questions that you are asking and also check his glands and his spleen to see if there are signs of enlargement that come with fighting an infection.
If he's comfortable, I wouldn't medicate that fever. The body is working, the immune system is kicking in. If he's uncomfortable with pain or aches, then I'd medicate it - but according to you, he isn't. I would absolutely increase fluids no matter what he says - lots of water, soup, and perhaps some decaffeinated tea. No caffeine drinks - they can increase dehydration.
So yes, I would either call now to consult with the pediatrician on call, or I would call in the morning to make an appointment. I agree that this is not an emergency situation and we really don't need our ERs filled up with cases like this. But I think his body is telling him something and it's up to you to find out what.
I agree with Diane B. CALL (not go to) the doctor. Doctors and clinics have nurses to answer the phone 24/7. It's part of their service. It's free. Call the number and talk to the nurse. Nurses have a check list. Normally the nurse will ask a series of questions to determine whether or not to talk to the doctor or even to be seen.
Just call the doctor. You will feel better.
If the fever lasts more than 48 hours, I would take him to the doctor. Period. It could be anything. There may be symptoms you just haven't noticed. If it is something like mono (that someone else mentioned), most people tend to downplay its severity, but it actually can inflame the spleen and it can rupture if the person does strenuous physical activity or it gets bumped too hard. There are not a lot of symptoms that go along with it, but fever is one. And I'm not saying your child has mono. Only that a fever that doesn't go away after 2 days is worth getting a professional medical opinion about.
You need to get him to the doctor to make sure he doesn't have pneumonia. Not everyone with pneumonia coughs.
Honestly, the doctor is your BEST bet. A heck of a lot better than asking mamas here.
Sounds like a virus. I know a bunch of sick people right now, some with fever as the main symptom. So there are definitely some viruses going around. Still, if it were my kid, I'd call his dr tomorrow to ask if there is anything more to do, other than ibuprofen.
3 days is usually when I call the doctor, unless the cause is obviously a virus. His body is fighting something, it may be viral or something for which he needs antibiotics. If he's still running one in the morning, I'd call for an appointment. If your doc is anything like mine, calling today would be useless- they'd say " take him to the ER if you're very concerned" or "call in the morning for an appointment".
There's an expression (not my original one, and I'm sorry, I don't know the source) that says to treat the child, not the temperature. In other words, a fever without a sore throat, extreme lethargy, pain, rash, swelling, redness and other visible symptoms can be a good thing.
Fevers are useful. They're helpful. They stimulate the immune system and help the body fight things. Fevers are a sign that the immune system and antibodies are doing their job.
Now, obviously, this doesn't apply to fevers in the 102 or 103 and above range that don't go down. And it doesn't apply to fevers accompanied by obvious symptoms of illness or pain or injury, nor does it apply to children with immune deficiencies or chronic illnesses, or to any child whose doctor has warned the parents to watch for any slight fever for a medical reason.
But for a relatively healthy, "normal" kid whose temp is hovering around 101, or just a little above what is an average temperature, giving ibuprofen or acetaminophen to reduce that fever is actually counter-productive. You're suppressing the fighting properties of the fever.
Make sure he is drinking plenty of water (not sugary juices or sodas). Make sure he appears to be acting normally, free of pain, with no rashes or unusual symptoms, and let the slight fever do its job.
If low grade fever is the only symptom, it could be anything.
Just a cold or mono or anything else.
Have him keep up his fluids and have him rest up.
There's never anything bad about having a good chicken soup.
I wouldn't call the doctor yet.
If he's 13, he can communicate if something is bothering him like sore throat or headache. Ask him!!
I would take my child to the Dr and not wait it out. You don't know if it's a virus or something else.
We are not Dr's and can't diagnose over the Internet.
Go to the Dr and get a diagnosis so you can stop wondering what's wrong. I'm talking his pedi or urgent care NOT and ER situation.
Why are you checking your son's temperature if he has no symptoms and doesn't feel sick? 100.4 is not considered a fever. My daughter's pediatricians consider a fever anything over 100.4 but google it and see for yourself.
