My 20 month old is on day 8 of antibiotics for an ear infection. She also has 2 teeth coming in. By day 5 she still had an elevated temperature of between 99-100. Took her back to the Dr and rechecked ears and they said they looked better. Dr said that possibly she had another virus on top of it. She recommended that if still had elevated temperature by 10/20 we come back and possibly do blood work and urinalysis to rule some other stuff out. I took temp this evening and it was 99.4. I don't want to put her through unnecessary pain and testing and am worried I am being over protective first time mom. Should I wait it out over the weekend to see if it's viral or just teething and will get better with a little more time?
If her ears are looking good the temp is not from her ears. 99-100 is not that elevated. Especially if she is cutting 2 teeth. Mine ran at least 101 temps when cutting teeth. I would wait and see how she does over the weekend but that's just me. If you think you need to call the drs office and let them know she as a lot grade temp should you bring her in.
It's not going to hurt anything to call your doctor and just ask. You will probably talk to the nurse, who will ask you a bunch of questions to get a better idea of how your daughter is doing, and then the doctor will decide whether or not a visit is warranted.
I have zero medical training, so please keep that in mind. I can't remember my pediatrician ever wanting me to bring the kids in for any temp less than 102 (maybe even 102.6), and she's never ordered blood work. She did order a urinalysis once, but that was when we thought our youngest might have a urinary track infection.
I find it very strange that your doctor would order tests for such a low temp, but I didn't go to med school, and she did!
Give her a call. Let her know what's going on and let her tell you what is the best thing to do. Try not to worry about a blood test if that's what the doctor decides is best. It's true that your daughter won't like it and will be in pain for a moment, but it really is just a moment. She won't remember it 5 minutes later. Still, I doubt your doctor will order that test.
Don't be afraid to call your doctor, ever. That is what she is there for, and I'm pretty sure she's been called for less important reasons than an elevated temperature.
I don't know what your pediatrician says but mine didn't consider a temperature to be high unless it was over 104 degrees.
If she's not over 100 - most schools and daycare policies would not even consider that to be sick.
Ear infections can be tricky so finish out the medication you have so far and monitor for further symptoms.
My kids had tubes (ear infections) and we had plenty. Sometimes ears would look good, but we'd have another week left on antibiotics and my kids would just be off/hot/sick/not themselves. We just followed the course of the antibiotics and did the Tylenol/Advil combo (recommended by our doctor - alternating). Personally, I don't think that's that high a temperature (would not have been for us).
If it's possible to call and talk to the nurse and ask her this same question, you might feel better.
Mine never had blood work for something like this.
My only other thought is, sometimes colds, or respiratory infections go along with ear infections ... it might just be taking time for that to clear up.
I don't consider myself overprotective, but I do tend to listen to my doctor. Bring her in for the testing, if for no other reason than to rule other things out. It was her suggestion, defer to her concern right now. Then spend the weekend resting and cuddling :)
i would go with the drs suggestions, they tend to know things that internet mommas don't know.
get the testing to have peace of mind that it will pass and its not something that needs to be monitered or treated.
My son had a very hard time with teething and got low fevers like this all the time. Poor guy. He really suffered and didn't sleep well...and was super clingy. Anyway, keep working with your doctor...it could be a virus or it could just be teething. Remember also that antibiotics work on bacterial infections and do not work on viral infections. I hope your daughter feels better soon.
I'm a pediatrician. Sounds like it might be a virus on top of the resolved ear infection. I'm reassured that the pediatrician didn't find anything else when she re-examined your son and that no new symptoms have appeared. But if even the low grade fever persists a few more days or if new symptoms appear, I would definitely go back for a re-exam AND lab work, if necessary. It's a mistake to blame fever on teething; there is usually some other cause.
