Just curious...I tend to wait a while. I have a child that has a virus (he has seen a dr.) and has been sleeping on and off all day...sipping herbal tea and water (not dehydrating)...his fever has been climbing...but he's just been mellow and tired...not uncomfortable or showing any horribly sick behavior. He's got a bit of a post-nasal-drip sore throat thing going on, but that's all (and it's not keeping him awake). So, as I was sitting here resting (feeling pretty sick myself), I just got to wondering what other mom's do :) Do you pop the tylenol/motrim when it hits 100? 102? Do you wait for it to break on it's own if the child is not uncomfortable? To a certain point? What point?
*nod* Usually by the time the fever gets to 102-103...my child is uncomfortable anyway...so I was really debating this one. I know fevers in and of themselves are not dangerous (even a fever of 105 isn't harmful, just what the fever may signify) - and since he'd already seen a doctor and I knew it was just a virus (no strep, pneumonia, meningitis, etc.) ...I was trying to wait as long as I felt comfortable. It peaked ~ 104 and just started going back down on it's own. I'm going to keep monitoring him very closely...taking his temperature very frequently...etc. Oddly enough, when I have had extremely high fevers (105+), it's always ended up being a lousy virus...when I've got a serious infection, my fever rarely goes about 101.5-ish. Anyway...we'll see how the rest of the day plays out! Thanks for the thoughts! :)
(Had I not taken him to the dr. for it yesterday and had the reassurance that it was just a virus...I might have done it differently.)
lol...I was beginning to think I was the only 'anti-fever-reducing-meds' person...I tend to think more like the people who responded while I was writing my 'so what happened'...I know a lot of doctors that worry more if they have a patient that seems very sick and doesn't have a fever!
Beth - I totally agree - at least on the making them feel better and then having them less likely to rest, and thus having a harder time healing :)
Rachel D. - I agree, to an extent. We are our children's protectors...but in general, bringing a fever down doesn't 'protect them'...it doesn't do anything to make them less sick...it's just lowering the body's natural way of defending itself. My general rule is, if giving them medicine will help them feel better so that they can relax/sleep/and otherwise heal better...I'll do it. If they're resting, but able to communicate, move around, drink water, etc. I'll generally leave it. Like someone else mentioned - it's not 'dangerous' until it's over 106 (I know that sounds high...but I've never found any even REMOTELY reasonably reliable source that says otherwise...and I've looked :)).
**Also, I would NEVER do this it was an infant...they don't have the immune systems to handle it...I get them into the dr. to find out what the deal is.
***I actually do call the dr. once it hits over 104.5. The danger of fevers above 104 is that they are more likely to signify something more serious. I already knew his didn't, since he'd already seen the dr. I've actually never had a pediatrician express a lot of concern over fevers of 104-105. I tend to be prone to high fevers...my fevers are either 101-ish, or 105-ish. Febril Seizures, while scary, are not dangerous unless there are other issues. Again, I would have been more concerned had I not already taken him to the doctor and ruled out anything serious.
Kinda late for my response...but I usually give it around 102.5...that seems to be the point when my kids start getting uncomfortable.
That is for just a fever no other symptoms...if they complain of headache, body aches or a sore throat, etc...I will give it to them right away.
Honestly I rarely give my child meds for fever unless it's dangerously high. like 103 + . For the simple reason that when my kids fever goes down with meds and they are " feeling better" but not actually better they are always 10x harder to keep them settled down and in bed so they can actually heal.
If your child couldn't see, would you give them glasses?
If your child was cold, would you give them a sweater?
If your child was sad, would you give them a hug?
If your child is sick, would you give them medicine?
YES!!
I'm all for letting your body take care of itself, but you are your child's protector. If they're feeling icky, treat it! Hope your little one feels better!
I never medicate unless the kids are uncomfortable. I figure it's best to let the body fight naturally as much as possible.
My pediatrician told me to treat anything above 100.7.
Personally: when/if my kids have a fever, I do not give them Tylenol or Motrin. UNLESS, the fever is very high.
Meanwhile, I monitor them very closely and take their temp every 1/2 hour or hour. Day and night. At night, I do not sleep much because I am monitoring them and their fever.
A fever, serves to burn out the virus.
And yes, I wait for the fever to break. On its own.
Tylenol or Motrin, does not "cure" the illness. If the child is still sick, the fever will return. It only addresses discomfort and reduces the fever. Not eradicate it if the child is still sick.
Then also, you can put in a call to your Pediatrician. That is what they are there for. 24/7. Or take your child to the Doctor.
SOMETIMES, a fever can indicate an infection. And per any other symptoms your child may have.
Updated
Personally: when/if my kids have a fever, I do not give them Tylenol or Motrin. UNLESS, the fever is very high.
Meanwhile, I monitor them very closely and take their temp every 1/2 hour or hour. Day and night. At night, I do not sleep much because I am monitoring them and their fever.
A fever, serves to burn out the virus.
And yes, I wait for the fever to break. On its own.
Tylenol or Motrin, does not "cure" the illness. If the child is still sick, the fever will return. It only addresses discomfort and reduces the fever. Not eradicate it if the child is still sick.
Then also, you can put in a call to your Pediatrician. That is what they are there for. 24/7. Or take your child to the Doctor.
SOMETIMES, a fever can indicate an infection. And per any other symptoms your child may have.
I give meds only to help a feverish kid sleep, if they aren't able to on their own and/or when they become uncomfortable. My guys have never run a fever over about 103, and as long as they are comfortable I don't give fever reducing meds. According to my ped, giving the meds can inhibit the body's natural immune response. Sometimes it needs to be done, but if they don't need it, I wait.
I think your approach is very reasonable and I totally agree with your SWH.
If they aren't uncomfortable, then around 102.
Only if they are headachy and uncomfortable.
Fever is the body's way of fighting off the virus.
I also do not pile blankets on the kids, My husband seems to think if someone has a fever they should sweat profusely under a mountain of blankets.
As long as the kids are comfortable they can wear whatever they want.
I generally treat the symptoms and the fever. I may not give at 100.4 unless they are going to bed. I was concerned that you stated “even a fever of 105 isn't harmful, just what the fever may signify”. A fever that high needs attention. Even if it is only a phone call to the doctor to get their recommendation. My son had a 105 fever while at the doctor. He was not due for pain reliever but the doctor gave it to him anyway because it was so high. Fevers of 105 and higher can cause seizures. Hope he is feeling better.
I rarely give fever reducing meds. My daughter has only had a couple of really high fevers and if she was sleeping then I kept her in bed with me and let it run it course. I do check it every hour or half hour. They are usually gone in 24 to 48 hours. If it lasted longer or if she were unresponsive then I would call the doctor or go to the ER. I think a fever of 100 or 101 is not high and doesn’t need to be brought down.
If my son's comfortable I'll monitor symptoms and wait.
When he gets uncomfortable, then I'll give him Motrim or Advil.
When he was little sometimes he'd spike a temp of 102 and by the time I checked it 30 min later it would be gone with out my giving him anything.
Our pediatrician would not advise to bring him in unless the temp was > 104 or if a temp over 100 went on for more than 3 days.
If my child is not uncomfortable and is eating and drinking (specifically drinking), I wait. I'll use an icepack and push the cool/cold liquids. If it hasn't went down and it's bedtime, fevers above 100 will get a does of fever reducer.
102.5 if no discomfort to let the immune system work it's magic.
I would just be careful because if the fever spikes too high he could have a seizure. My son had a fever seizure when he was 2 years old. It scared me have to death. We had just been to the doctors and by the time I got home he was uncomfortable and hot to touch, so I gave him the medicine but it was way past the point and the seizure started. So just watch and try not to go too long. Good luck to you and hope to have your child better soon. It is not fun when they are sick.
My son was sick this whole weekend too.
At 100 I do not give meds (ibuprofen), unless he's got the 100 right before bed, in which case I DO give him meds so that blankets don't make his temp rise and so he can hopefully sleep more soundly.
At 101 I will likely give meds. Might depend on if it's in the low 101s or high 101s. Also depends on his mood or what is happening next - bedtime, bath, nap, etc.
At 102, yes for sure meds
At 103, yes for sure meds. If at bedtime, remove blankets, leaving only a sheet. Possibly remove clothes.
At 104, yes meds plus a cold shower (I hold him and we both take a cold shower).
I am tardy to the party here, but my ped told me to wait until the fever was 103/104 before giving meds because giving a fever reducer too soon can effect the body's ability to fight the infection off - who knew! My ped also told me that fevers tend to cycle - lower in the a.m. and higher in the p.m. and a high fever (over 102) in the morning usually signals something is VERY wrong. Anyway, I'm with the wait until they are uncomfortable before giving the meds - we offer cool drinks and cold compresses first (of course this is for kids over age 1 - NOT NEWBORNS OR BABIES!). Hope you and your little feels better soon :)
i give it when it hits 101. but thats just me
I wait til 104. Your brain wont acutally fry until it gets above 107 and it is very unlikely unless you are very malnourished.
I've had three different pediatricians over the years and they all were very anti fever medication UNLESS it approaches 104. Unless my child was really uncomfortable (usually with a headache) I would actually wait until it hit 103.
since my kids spike fevers i give them as soon as i notice a fever. problem is my kids, just like me, have a huge pain-tolerance. so they rarely complain of anything. my only indicator is that they lie down and want to cuddle up with me, but if someone is playing at the same time they will join in. so my kids get ibuprofen right away. there have been times i have waited but they could have gone from let's say 99 to 103 in matter of minutes. so i don't risk it.
I give it when it's over 100 or so, even if they aren't exactly complaining. It makes a big difference in how they feel and act. Sometimes our kids don't know to complain if there isn't a specific complaint or if it isn't a complaint that something hurts.
