When would you take an adult to the ER for high fever?

[AmericangirlinFrance]

Glad he is doing better.

Please make sure the fluids he's drinking aren't a diuretic

He's drinking mostly Gatorade and some water and ginger ale.

 

[anniemck]

Rather than going by the temperature on the thermometer, I'd look at the person's lucidity, their energy level, and whether they were staying hydrated.

If the person was lucid, had some energy and was well hydrated but it hit 104, I'd might think about a Minute Clinic or an Urgent Care but not about the actual ER..

My thoughts exactly... going to an ER you will sit there for HOURS as a fever is nothing to them compared to the Heart Attacks, Gall Bladder, Broken Bones and such that come in.

 

[arminnie]

In July I had a fever slightly over 100 starting about noon. I felt horrible.

That night I told my husband I thought I needed to go to the ER (I am kind of an ER junkie - I go for anything).

Thank goodness I went. My BP was 40/30. The last thing I remember is them cutting my clothes off.

I was on a vent and feeding tube and unconscious for a week. I had acute sepsis (blood poisoning) from e-coli. If I had waited even a couple hours more I would be dead. My heart, liver and kidneys were all shutting down. I came very, very, very close to dying.

I now have instructions to go to the ER immediately if my temp goes over 100.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

As the title says - at what point would you consider taking an adult with a high fever to the ER?

My husband tested positive today for type A influenza, and his fever spiked at 103.5 tonight. He's lucid, and it's coming down (a little) with Tylenol and Motrin, and he is drinking a little fluid (not as much as he probably should be, though). He's a healthy person normally, so I don't think he needs to go to the hospital. But seeing a number that high on the thermometer kind of freaked me out! I thought if he hit 104 after medication, then we might go.

So, hypothetically, at what point would you take a healthy adult to the ER for a high fever?

I wouldn't, unless I saw other complications, like dehydration, trouble breathing, pneumonia, is not drinking, urinating, etc...

I took my dh to the urgent care for fluids a couple of days ago but he has the stomach flu and could NOT keep anything down. He was pretty dehydrated and took 3 bags of fluids and anti nausea meds for 2 days to get him on the mend.

You know you are dealing with the flu so high temps are a part of the illness.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

In July I had a fever slightly over 100 starting about noon. I felt horrible.

That night I told my husband I thought I needed to go to the ER (I am kind of an ER junkie - I go for anything).

Thank goodness I went. My BP was 40/30. The last thing I remember is them cutting my clothes off.

I was on a vent and feeding tube and unconscious for a week. I had acute sepsis (blood poisoning) from e-coli. If I had waited even a couple hours more I would be dead. My heart, liver and kidneys were all shutting down. I came very, very, very close to dying.

I now have instructions to go to the ER immediately if my temp goes over 100.

That is pretty darn scary. Did you have any other classic symptoms of e coli infection like bloody diarhea and/or severe vomiting?

 

[Christine]

Make sure you are using enough Ibuprofen. When I had strep throat as an adult, I had a very high fever. I was taking the standard dose of 400 mgs. of ibuprofen. When I told my doctor, she laughed and said "oh that won't be enough, for a high fever you need to be taking 800 mgs." She was right--it worked MUCH better.

 

[AmericangirlinFrance]

Make sure you are using enough Ibuprofen. When I had strep throat as an adult, I had a very high fever. I was taking the standard dose of 400 mgs. of ibuprofen. When I told my doctor, she laughed and said "oh that won't be enough, for a high fever you need to be taking 800 mgs." She was right--it worked MUCH better.

Yep, we gave him that much when it got really high. We're also rotating Tylenol, as well - doesn't work as well but helps some.

His fever stayed around 100 all night, and is 100.7 this morning. Big improvement over nearly 104! I set a timer to give him meds through the night and I think that helped.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yep, we gave him that much when it got really high. We're also rotating Tylenol, as well - doesn't work as well but helps some.

His fever stayed around 100 all night, and is 100.7 this morning. Big improvement over nearly 104! I set a timer to give him meds through the night and I think that helped.

That is pretty darn good but don't expect "well" yet. He fever will probably rise again.

Expect the flu to take 5-7 days to get well.

Yikes, he is going to have to stay home for Christmas!

My dh might not make it to my sister's tomorrow for C. Eve if he is still sick. So far, not looking good. Although he just got up and his temp was 98 something. He needs to be fever free for 24hrs. More importantly, he really feels like crud.

 

[ez]

I had the flu right after Thanksgiving and my fever got up to 103, but I think that was just for one day. After that it was around 101 but I did have a fever of some sort for 6 days. Still coughing almost 4 weeks later

 

[mamacatnv]

My DS had Influenza A a couple of years ago when he was 20 - He was down for a solid week, we brought him home from college so we could monitor and medicate. The fever came and went for several days.

Day 1 he called us early in the morning with a temp of 104, we rushed to get him, got him to urgent care, onto Tamiflu etc. On day 5 his fever spiked back up to 103, scared us. His Dr. checked him over on day 6 to make sure there were no secondary infections. Day 8 he was finally on the mend.

So sorry your DH is sick for Christmas and not in his own bed. My best advice, don't let up on the Advil/Tylenol/Aleve for several days even when you think his fever may be dropping on its own.

My son likes otter pops and we were able to get those into him. It was several days before broth/soup appealed to him.

 

[AmericangirlinFrance]

Spoke too soon about the fever coming down. It's up to almost 103 again, AFTER two ibuprofen!

Just gave him more meds and cold compresses. Poor guy! I feel so bad for him.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Spoke too soon about the fever coming down. It's up to almost 103 again, AFTER two ibuprofen!

Just gave him more meds and cold compresses. Poor guy! I feel so bad for him.

Not sure what your waiting for at this point.
103 over & over again for an adult could be very serious. I would load him into the car.

 

[suemom2kay]

No offense to OP, but I can never understand why people come to a Disney Fan board for medical advice. Dehydration is the biggest danger with flu and can cause dangerous complications. His high fever could be caused by dehydration or it could be just a symptom of the flu. If you are concerned, call your Primary Care Physician or take him to the ER.

 

[npmommie]

I stopped reading when you said your mom is a nurse.

Listen to her and she will guide you.
she knows what to do if she is a nurse.

 

[npmommie]

No offense to OP, but I can never understand why people come to a Disney Fan board for medical advice. Dehydration is the biggest danger with flu and can cause dangerous complications. His high fever could be caused by dehydration or it could be just a symptom of the flu. If you are concerned, call your Primary Care Physician or take him to the ER.

I totally agree, and especially if they have a nurse or other healthcare provider in the house

 

[Allison]

I stopped reading when you said your mom is a nurse.

Listen to her and she will guide you.
she knows what to do if she is a nurse.

I agree. I would certainly listen to a trained professional who is physically with the patient and not strangers on the Internet.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We are at my parents' house for Christmas, so he went to a CVS Minute Clinic this morning, not the family doctor. He swabbed positive for influenza A. The nurse practitioner did not give any instructions about when to seek further care. I guess I didn't expect it to be this bad. Before we went to the Minute Clinic, his fever had only hit 102. My mom is a nurse as well, so he's getting pretty good care.

I know he'd sure feel better after a bag of fluids, but since he's lucid and keeping down some fluids (although not a lot, like I said), I'm hesitant to drag him out in the cold when he feels so bad.

What worries me is that a lot of fevers spike higher at night... I hope this was it for tonight.

He also started Tamiflu today.

OH, get some Tamiflu for everyone! As soon as someone gets the flu I take the Tamiflu. It helps, at least for us.

 

[AmericangirlinFrance]

Yikes! I am not using the Disboards as a source of medical advice. I'm following the advice of my mom (a nurse) and the healthcare professional who diagnosed my DH with flu yesterday (yes, he's been to the doctor). Just a lot of time sitting around the house and thought I'd see what everyone thought about it, get some anecdotal opinions, all that.

He's doing better now. I know he'll be running a high fever for a few days, at least. We're treating it appropriately and will take him to the ER if it gets too high or he gets dehydrated.

Thanks all for your advice and concern.

 

[luvwinnie]

I had to go during a bout with the flu. Myntempmwas 103.6 and I had the worst headache of my life )that's saying a lot because I'm a migraine sufferer). Found out was dehydrated. Also they said Tylenol works better than Advil, which was what I was taking. Hope your dh is better soon!

 

[npmommie]

Just an fyi.......with a fever that high if he is not taking in adequate fluids he will be dehydrated.
What does your mom say about how he looks?