My 2 1/2 year old son has been running a fever (averaging around 100-101) for 7 days today. We took him to the dr on Thursday. She said his ears and throat looked fine, but he had a couple of sores in his mouth. She said it was just something viral he picked up and it should be gone by Friday or Saturday. Well, it's Sunday now and he's still running a fever and really crabby and whiny. Yesterday he started coughing and he coughed all night. This morning he woke up still coughing and now he has a stuffy/runny nose and is sneezing a lot. He doesn't have allergies, so I know it's not that. First, I thought it was Roseola, but the dr said you typically only get this once. He had it when he was 1. Plus, no rash. Could it be his 2 year molars? Would he run a fever this long if it was? I'm thinking about taking him back to the dr tomorrow, but my husband thinks he's just sick and it will run its course and go away. What would you do? Am I just being to paranoid? He plays fine, but really whiny. He's not taking very good naps and he's not eating very good either. Am I worrying too much?
It sounds like Hand Foot Mouth disease. By the time the sores come it isn't contagious any more. There isn't anything you can do for it as it is a virus. My daughter had it when she was 2.5 yrs as well. She had lots of sores in her mouth. It takes a few days to clear up. Popsicles help numb the pain from the sores.
There is no reason to reduce a fever using tylenol or ibuprofen if the fever itself is not above 104. The fever he currently has is the bodies way of fighting off whatever virus is within it. You can give plenty of fluids and let him rest. Let him play in the bathtub with warm not hot or cold water for awhile. Give your doc the heads up if it makes you feel better.
There is a summer virus called coxcaskie virus. Does he have any sores on his hands and feet or just his mouth? It is also referred to as hand, foot, and mouth disease. The blisters are very painful. A virus can go from 5 to 7 days if it continues get him rechecked. I would make sure he is hydrated because of the fever, with the blisters I would stay away from hot foods, try ice pops, shakes, ice cream, smoothies, so he stays nourished and hydrated, and Tylenol for the fever and discomfort.
My daughter is 10 1/2 months and has gone through this 3 times already. I hated that she was a newborn and such a young infant during the cold and flu season of winter. Took us two trips to the ER to be diagnosed with nothing before we realized that her trend is to develop a fever for 3-5 days before a cold sets in. Hand, foot and mouth disease sounds like such a terrible disease but is actual an extremely common form of the cold virus, and sometimes the only visual proof of it can be just a few sores in the mouth, but it will still cause a fever. And sometimes, like in my daughter's case, the common cold virus can cause a fever for a few days before the cold sets in. Both of the doctors we saw at the ER, as well as our pediatrician said that it's very common and normal for someone to have a fever for a few days before a cold. PLUS, they all said that in the medical world, it's not even considered a fever until it reaches 101.4. I always give her infant motrin and rotate that with infant tylenol when she does get a fever. Even if it doesn't greatly reduce the fever, it helps keep her comfortable. And once her cold sets in, humidifier in her room all night and during naps, along with baby vicks on her chest - works great!
Melanie G. is right. If the fever is that low do not give him any tylenol or ibuprofen. Fever is the body's way of fighting off infection. I would be wary of taking him to the doctor, where the waiting room is full of sick people, sneezing and coughing on everything, especially when 2 1/2 year olds put everything in their mouths.
NO !! Follow your mom instincts. Better safe than sorry. If nothing else, you will have the doctor's assurance that everything is fine. Husbands don't understand. Unless he's a doctor, don't listen to him. Hope your son feels better soon.
I would take him back to the Dr and I would tell them that I want labs drawn, they can tell for sure if it is bacterial or viral that way...since he is developing new symptoms, it could be turning into a bacterial infection. No reason to make the little guy suffer any longer... My kiddos are almost 5 and 3 with one on the way, I have had similar conversations with our pediatrician before :)
When in doubt, go to the dr. It could be he had a virus, it started going away, then got another virus. Getting a 2nd fever close after a 1st requires a trip to the dr, in my opinion. It's better to be safe than sorry.
Take the baby to the doctor. Why not? If it's something minor then it's something minor, but if it's not, better safe than sorry! I think anything that lasts over a week is cause for real concern, especially in kids so little.
Wow..7 days I would be concerned also. I have three kids that seem to get sick to often especially in the winter. We have respiratory issues. Anyhow NONE of my kids have ever had a fever longer than 2-3 days. Take care,
My nephew that is 2 just got over a viral infection that caused blisters in his throat. He ran a fever on and off for a week. He was and is still trying to cut his molars too. My sis rotated with Tylenol and ibuprofen for his fever. Offer some cold foods and liquids for his teething. Id call the doctor first thing in the morning if he still has a fever.
go ahead and take him to the doctor again. A fever that long can be damaging. also have you been giving him fever reduce and is it working? it will help him sleep with the fever and he will be less whinny.
sounds like it could maybe be hand foot and mouth.
I would go back in. I had a virus last fall that made small sores in the back of my throat/mouth. It took about 10 days to clear up but my fever did not last that long. The fever is not too high but the duration is a concern for me. I would at least call in.
I too wondered about hand foot and mouth.
That said...when my first son got his 1 year molars, we were at my inlaw's house. My son started getting an off and on fever; it was hard to tell, though, because it was 100+ degrees outside. Then he got a rash all over his belly. Then he stopped eating solids, and started eating only milk, ice cream, and yogurt. Then, because he was eating mostly liquids and still spitting up at 13 months, he would spit up/throw up. Then he got diarrhea (from all the dairy). Then he got diaper rashes. After a bit over a week of all this going on, wondering what on EARTH was wrong with my son, he popped two molars and was fine. We went through the same thing for his other two one year molars. It IS possible for kids to be a mess when they teethe, but those sores in his mouth sound like a concern.
