What to Do with High Fevers That JUST WON'T QUIT!

Updated on October 01, 2006
J.S. asks from Fort Wayne, IN
17 answers

My 1 year old has had a fever since Monday afternoon. It is in the 103 and 104 range -- sometimes with Tylenol and Motrin at their peak. I took him to the Redi-med (as we are 'between docs') and the doc was great. He told me the ears, and throat look good and that something has been going around like this. Last night my son was sooo feverish and vomited once because he chugged some massive amounts of water. He's certainly not himself (irritable). What should I do? I am fearful to take him to the ER because he will be subjected to sticks, and possibly a spinal before anything is known. My gut tells me to wait it out -- - but I wanted some feed back.

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So What Happened?

Day 3: Still a fever, but a MUCH better night last night. Today he is walking around and playing. Interested in other things besides just being held. :) Hopefully he's past the worst. Doesn't have to be on both Motrin and Tylenol at the same time -- I can stagger it now. THANK YOU for ALL responses. It is so great to have Dr. Moms support and ideas. YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!

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C.W.

answers from Raleigh on

J., it's something going around. My husband's boss' daughter has the same thing. Just keep giving pedialyte and cool clothes on his head. It will take a few days to pass. It's a virus.

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D.H.

answers from Greensboro on

I used to panic over fevers but after having 5 children, you learn to relax a little bit. My oldest is 19 and youngest is 3 1/2. It is o.k. to give a dose of tylenol and motrin at the same time and usually works like a charm. I have done it many times and never once did it not work. I learned that from a Dr. so I know it's o.k. and my children are doing great. You would be suprised how well it works. Good luck, let us know how it goes.

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T.C.

answers from Columbia on

J.,
Take him back to the place you took him earlier. His ears, and throat may have been clear then and may not be now. Also a fever is the bodies way of fighting an infection. With high fevers (and kids always seem to get the high fevers) you must watch out for dehydration, so for him and your peace of mind take him back to the doctor for a follow up. Take Care-T.

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J.H.

answers from Myrtle Beach on

My now 17 month old son would run these really high fevers over 104 degrees for several days with no other symptoms except a slightly decreased appetite. I took him to the doctor, they thought it might be roseola but he never broke out in the rash. This happened around month 13 and month 15 and hasn't happened again since. I just kept him on a strict motrin regimen. But like you, I was worried too and there just seems not to be an explanation except that their little bodies are trying to fight off something. After this a 102 degree fever which used to freak me out is nothing! ;) Hang in there and I hope your son gets better soon!

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A.K.

answers from Indianapolis on

Pour some rubbing alcohol on a rag and lay it on his neck. The alcohol will bring the fever down

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J.D.

answers from Greensboro on

I dont want to say anything to scare you but it doesnt sound good and if you cant go back to the last place that saw him take him to the er, I would rather my child be stuck with a needle and live than the alternative if you want to wait it out put him in a semicool bath to keep the fever down and stay up at night to watch him. God Bless You and your Child. My family will pray for him.

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S.F.

answers from Indianapolis on

My 16 month old daughter has had certain just viral type things that she has run a high temp for up to 5 days one time, but no other symptoms..As long as you rotate Tylenol & Motrin & as long as after at least an hour after giving him one or the other the temp. drops, he should be ok & just wait it out. My Dr. has always told us NOT to do the cool bath thing, maybe a slightly cool wash cloth, but no baths...they also said if she had a fever for more than 3 days or it didn't go down after rotating Tylenol/Motrin, then to call & bring them in. Even a couple times after I brought her in, I was still sent back home, just viral.. So, he may be ok. However, not to scare you, but when my daughter was 4 mths, she had a high fever that lasted a few days & was very irritable & then wouldn't go down but maybe 1 degree after giving Tylenol & she ended up having Meningitis :( But, I knew something was wrong. SHe just layed there & just looked aweful, wouldn't drink at all by the 3rd day. And yes, they did the Spinal taps. BUt had to to find out what was going on, and it was worth it... Just watch for those types of things, irritability, especially when being picked up, and just laying there, or sometimes they won't be able to touch their chin to chest or they extend the neck out & back when being picked up... If he seems to feel even a bit better after you give him Tylenol, then a few hours later Motrin, then it's probably just a virus that needs to run it's course. My daughter has had them kinds at least 3 times....Good luck..

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T.P.

answers from Charlotte on

My son had a fever on and off for about 5 days and also rashed from something viral. Make sure you are giving him lots of fluids' Pedialyte is better and there are also Pedialyte pops out there that can be frozen. You will need a bib for this one but I just hold it while my son sucks on it. I have a niece who has been feverish for nearly 5 days and she is not on an antibiotic. I do believe you need to wait it out for another day as long as your child is getting lots of fluids, the colder the better. Sometime water won't sit on an empty stomach good and can make them feel nauseated.

Motrin works the best since it lasts normally 6 to 8 hours and make sure you are not bundling your child up unless his teeth are chattering. If you bundle him the heat cannot escape. I know this sounds weird since we are prone to cover up when we have chills instead of uncovering. If he chills put something light on him. DO NOT WRAP IN A BLANKET!!! Take cool compresses or wash clothes and place on his forehead and or keep wiping his face with something cool. There are also cold compresses at the baby store and maybe pharmacy that you can actually attach to the forehead during naps.

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T.D.

answers from Asheville on

J.,
This also happened to my one year old a few months ago. The fever just came on unexpectedly and stayed at 103 to 104 for about 3 or 4 days. I took him to the doctor and he said he had Rosiola. ( I might be spelling that wrong) My son never vomited, but another kid I know who had this virus did vomit. It is a virus that lasts a few days and at the end the child gets a rash all over his/her body. I dont know if that is what your baby has, but it's worth checking out. I was instructed to rotate giving him tylenol and motrin. One dose you give one and the next dose you give the other and so on and so on. It was the worst sickness for my son so far, but the good thing about it is they only get it once.

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D.B.

answers from Cedar Rapids on

My daughter just got over that fever but she has a UTI, did he get checked for that?

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M.B.

answers from Norfolk on

My son had the same thing when he was 2 years old. It went on for
> about 6 weeks on and off. I took him repeatively to the hospital and
> to the pediatrician. Finally Christmas day we had to bring him and it
> was my final straw. I made the hospital have a true child doctor on
> call to come and diagnose my sons condition. He was having really high
> fevers and then when I gave him tylenol and other fever medicine I
> tried they would bring it down but by next day or even sooner it was
> up again. They had a child doctor come in and he did all kinds of
> tests the other doctors failed to do. He ended up haveing a blood
> infection caused by an ear infection, that none of the other doctors
> had caught, and because the redblood and whiteblood cells were trying
> to fight off one another he formed a bacteria in his blood. The doctor
> said we were highly lucky because it would have formed into a type of
> menangitis. After that was all cured he ended up with Cirious on his
> face for months. There are several types of cirious and one is from
> having high fevers. My friends uncle got it as well when he had
> pnemonia one time. I hope it works out that your child doesnt have to
> go that long till its resolved. But if so, just demand tests. I wish I
> would have sooner. But at the time I was a first time mom and didnt
> know any better than what his pediatrician was saying.

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J.P.

answers from Wheeling on

AS A PERSON WHO HAS A DEGREE IN THE MEDICAL FIELD, I WOULD HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE YOUR CHILD TO GET TREATED IF THE FOLLOWING DOES NOT WORK IN 24 HOURS. ALTERNATE MOTRIN AND TYLENOL. COOL NOT COLD RAG OR CLOTH ON THE BACK OF THE NECK. THE BEST YET IS A POPSICLE. IF A FEVER GETS TO HIGH IT CAN CAUSE MANY PROBLEMS THAT COULD LAST A LIFETIME FOR YOUR CHILD. ALSO HAS YOUR CHILD BEEN EXTREMELY THIRSTY LIKE THIS A LOT LATELY...I KNOW IT MAY SOUND SILLY BUT IF HIS BREATH HAS A FRUITY SMELL TO IT ( AND NOT AFTER JUICE) TAKE HIM TO THE ER ASAP..TELL THEM HES SICK AND NEEDS ATTENTION...FOLLOW YOUR MOTHER INSTINCTS AND NOT JUST THE ADVICE OF ONE DOCTOR...EVEN THEY CAN MAKE MISTAKES....GOOD LUCK....LET ME KNOW HOW YOUR PRECIOUS BABY IS DOING PLEASE??? IM SURE YOU KNOW TO KEEP HIM HYDRATED AND COMFY.

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W.E.

answers from Greensboro on

you will need t take him back to the dr bc they said if the child has 103-104 or high may get brain dead. Kids can't take that fever. they had me doin tyl. and motrin every 2 hours or 4 hour switch each time. the fevers are not to play with, if ya have to take him to ER. They might give him something to help it

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D.J.

answers from Spartanburg on

I would definitely get medical attention to find out what's causing the fever. But it may ease your mind to know that my doctor told me that sometimes really high fevers like that are actually helpful because it gives the body a chance to fight whatever the infection is. She recommended that I give her the proper dose of Tylenol or Motrin (alternating if necessary)but not panic as long as the fever stays under 104. But one way to help reduce the fever a little is to put ice packs under his armpits, let him suck on ice chips and give him SIPS of cold drink, something with electrolytes like Pedialyte or Gatorade.

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J.H.

answers from Elkhart on

One thing that we always do is to make a cool bath and let them sit in it. They may not like it because it will feel really cold to them, but it has always worked for us. We also use a wet cool wash cloth and dripple water on their heads. He will probably not like it, but hopefully he will cool down. Have you done tylenol and motrin at the same time? We also give a double dose first and then begin alternating every 3 hours. Hope he feels better!

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K.S.

answers from Spartanburg on

Sometimes fevers need to just run their course. I still get pretty nervous when my son reaches the 104 mark, but he doesn't get any higher and by giving him tylenol & motrin, cuz you can give them together, definitely helps. Just watch him closely, look for rashes, etc.. I'd often get a damp cloth and hold it against his head or the back of his neck as well.

I hope he feels better real soon.
Good luck!
K.

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K.

answers from Fort Wayne on

First and foremost..please consult a professional. We all have the greatest of intentions to help you but for what I can tell, only one of us has a medical background and that is what you need. With your little guy having vomited and with the irritable behavior after 48 hours of having a fever....I'd play it safe and call a doctor.

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