Do you freak out when your kid has a fever?

[addicted_to_WDW]

My DS (8) has a temperature of 103 with no other symptoms whatsoever. He's a little quiet, but other than that he's eating well and acting well. I just noticed the fever a little while ago.

The rational side of me says he caught a virus (I wasn't feeling well late last week) but the irrational side of me wants to put him in the car and take him to the ER.

Waaaaah...parenthood! Someone make me feel better.

 

[luvmydogs]

I understand you 100%. My DS7 had bacterial meningitis when he was three, and just now I am getting to the point where I don't cry when he gets a fever or even just sneezes (we almost lost him, and I'm the one who still hasn't completely recovered). My son has had countless fevers/illnesses/viruses since then (he actually caught rotavirus while hospitalized for the meningitis), and each time I worry myself sick, although they have never amounted to anything serious. Last winter he had a 104 fever, with no other real symptoms except being a little lethargic. Dr. said it was just a virus, feed him Motrin, and she was right--within two days he was back to normal (in the mean time I need therapy--my poor DH--he's the rational one). I'm sure you'll have a sleepless night tonight while keeping an eye on him, so {{HUGS}} to you, and I hope he feels better soon. Don't hesitate to call your Dr. if concerned. Parenthood...

 

[honeywolf7]

No, but I flip out when I hear the littlest wheeze from my son.

 

[LisaTx]

No. Chelse gets those high fevers with no other symptoms. They almost always last 24 hours then she's just fine.

I hope your DS is feeling much better tomorrow.

 

[janette]

It can be scary, just give him some motrin and keep an eye on him. Make a Dr visit in the morning.

The only time I've been really scared was when their fever got over 104 or one time my DD had hallucinations.

Sending some pixie dust your way!

 

[missymouse3367]

Sorry to hear your DS isn't feeling well. Push the fluids, alternate the Advil and Tylenol. If he starts complaining that something hurts then I would call the doctor. I hope he gets well soon.

 

[Mom2Em]

As a matter of fact, I did Friday... DD has only been sick 3 other times (knock on wood) and she is 5... the first being right after she was born... when I got home from work Friday, she was sleeping at Mom's... this did not concern me because she has been tired this week because she has been not sleeping well... anyway, temp under arm was 102.9... you bet I put her butt in the car and we went to ER... the condescending doctor told me I should not give her Tylenol and this could have been handled by her PCP... ... I don't know about anyone else, but every thing I have read says high fever= immediate care... Obviously, it was not his DD

 

[luvmydogs]

Mom2Em--while my son was in the hospital, he ran a continuous fever of 105 for about a week, even with the Motrin/Tylenol. I was flipping out, but the Drs. kept saying they weren't going to worry about it until it got to @106-107!!! I guess they didn't have to worry, because I was doing it for them! I understand that they know best (and they were right), but when it's YOUR child......And I HATE being condecended to! That's uneccessary.

 

[Mom2Em]

Oh...you better believe when I get my survey to fill out, the powers that be will know that I was not at all happy with his manner, plus the fact that I could only understand about every 3rd word he said... the good thing it is the hospital I work at and I know how much emphasis they put on their surveys...

He told me not to give her Tylenol... just take her clothes off and wash her with rags... he kept referring to how "American" physcians put too much info on pain/fever relievers and antibiotics...he also all but accused me of abusing the ER to put her on antibiotics!! My DD is now on the 3rd set of antibiotics she has ever been on... once right after birth... she was in the neonatal unit for 5 days... the second when she was 15 months with an ear infection... and now... if that is abuse, then I am sorry ... he put her on antibiotics but told me not to start them until today... he said only if she got worse... she was running high fever (IMHO), sleeping, lethargic, coughing, headacey and her eyes would not fix on anything... I don't know what he considers worse...

 

[Michelle]

No, I don't.

My daughter ran fevers off the charts as young child. When the Thermoscan thermometer said it was "out of the range of normal human temperatures" it did freak me out a bit, but her pediatrician just said she is a kid who runs high fevers when she runs fevers. That she did, 105-106 was normal in her toddler years when she got sick.

Now that she's 9 she rarely runs a fever above 103 if ill. The only time I go to the doctor for fever is if she runs a fever AFTER being ill for a while, that is generally a sign of a secondary infection.

The rest of the fevers are generally viral.

 

[nancy679]

My kids are also the type to get really high fevers. I give them motrin and cool compresses to get the fever down. I would give my pediatrician a call ( they have on call hours) before taking my child to the ER for a fever. You would probably have to wait a long time to be seen too. I had one incident when my DD was 2, she had a fever of 104 and I call the pediatrician on call , and she actually told me to drive over to her house!! It turned out my DD had an ear infection. She gave me some antibiotic samples that she had at her house and a prescription for the next day. (It was 9pm) She was really nice to me, but I have been spoken to condesendingly by other pediatricians, even in the office!!!

Hope you little one is better soon

 

[Serena]

Missymouse, that's exactly what the emergency room doc told me and charged $400 for.

I don't panic anymore. Well, not too much.

 

[missymouse3367]

I would have only charge $200.

 

[Serena]

 

[WDW2002]

Nope, I have delt with too many fevers to get too worried about the run of the mill low fevers.

I do begin to worry when they get up to 102 plus for a long period of time

 

[browneyes]

I ony freak out if their temp gets over 102.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

Thanks everyone...my little one is now sleeping peacefully. I gave him some Advil, and that took his temp down to just under 100...enough of a drop that I'm not spazzing anymore. For now.

It's funny, blood I can handle. Boo boos? Bring them on! I turn to mush, though, when the thermometer gets up past about 101.

Thanks again!

 

[Serena]

I am perfectly alright if I can do something. If I have to watch someone else take care of one of my kids, especially if they are bleeding, then I freak a little.

I'm really good during crisises, it's afterwards that I fall apart. lol

 

[MosMom]

I used to freak out but my daughter is a fever kid. I learned to expect it. She gets 103 fever with the slightest thing...if she is really sick it goes up to 105-106...then I do freak out. I asked the doctor and she said that some people are just prone to run higher temps than others. We just break out the Motrin and run a warm bath.