Help, My Daughter Has Had a Fever off and on for Almost a Week!

Appendicitis? I would take her in and have them do a blood test. Pain in the left side & a tummy ache, along with fever are symptoms that I had. My white blood cell count was abnormal and they finally began to probe a little deeper into what was making me feel bad.

Sounds familiar! My 5 yr old daughter had this (what I will call a virus) about 10 days ago. It started 4th of July with a 103.5 fever and no other symptoms other than very red throat (which tested negative for strep). She maintained a fever of 100 for about 4 days and had a fever for a total of 7 or 8 days. Then it just disappeared.

Now (4 days later) my 3 yr old daughter seems to have the same thing - no symptoms other than fever.

So...my point..it seems to be a virus going around. It is slow moving and wipes them out. She will come out of it soon.

My husband was actually the first to get it over 3 weeks ago. All symptoms have been the same. I just hope I am not next.

Hang in there!
M.

There is a virus going around. My son had this a few weeks ago and I've talked to 4 or 5 moms (work and friends, so absolutely no chance of my son getting it directly from some of these people, just an example of how widespread I think this little bug is) who said their children had the same thing. He had VERY high fever, but no other symptoms. He spiked fever varying from 104 to 106, and his average fever stayed around 103. We did take him to the doctor because it was so high and lasted so long, and they said as long as he acts fine when fever is down, and as long as fever continues to go down with medication, not to worry. They did run blood work to rule out all the scary things some other moms have posted (pneumonia, leukemia, etc.) and all came back normal. His fever lasted almost a full week. I would ride it out, and unless he fever continues to run late into next week, or other symptoms appear, not worry too much about it.

Take her to see the chiropractor! An adjustment will break a fever in about 3-15 minutes. It allows their own immune system to function properly. If her tummy hurts it could be something coming from her back, you never know.
Dr. J.

What kind of fever are we talking about... is it the 99.5 or 103?!?! There is a viral fever going around that usually lasts anywhere f/ 3-9 days and that is the only sign or symptom.

The fever in and of itself is not a problem. It signals that her immune system is working. On something. You just don't know what it is. I seldom medicate unless the fever is above 100.5-101. I let the body do it's job. Although the tylenol and motrin help a person feel better and do relieve fever, why would I lower it if that is the bodies way of fighting off germs?
Several good responses are listed below. Urinary tract infection, teething with molars, ear infections, sore throats, sinus infections. I would seriously doubt any type of pancreatitis or gall bladder in one so young, but I am sure it has been known to happen. Same for appendicitis. I would think that the symptoms would be a little less vague. Blood work would tell you if the white count were elevated, therefore showing you an infection, but I would think that you already know that because she is running a fever.
Are you sure that she has no complaints? No sore ears, sore throat, pain or burning on urination? No diarrhea? No swollen lymph nodes or knots under the jawline below the ears?
If she only has a vague stomach complaint and is taking fluids and eating, I don't know what the doctor will do. He might put her on antibiotics, but it sounds like it may be a virus. He may not know anymore than you. By the time you get there she will have already weathered the worst of it. If it were me, and she were eating, drinking, no real complaints, mild fevers, etc. I would leave her at home and watch her. But we don't usually run right to the doctor at the first sign of a fever. I usually manage them at home and try everything else first before going to pediatrician. Usually, I seldom even take a temperature, even when going to the doctor. I know bad me. And I am a nurse even. So maybe I feel a little more comfortable waiting at home. My middle son had a 103.1 fever one night, sounded stopped up and had a mild complaint of sore throat. I did give him the motrin because he also said he had a headache. Gave him fluids and sent him to bed. Waited and watched. He still felt bad, so we went to the late clinic at our pedi office at about 7pm, almost 24hrs after first symptoms. Still had a fever, taking liquids ok, lymph nodes swollen, sore throat. So we went and got on some antibiotics. Now, the only reason we didn't ride this out is because in May he had strep throat twice, and was on two rounds of antibiotics and gave it to my two other sons, a friends 3yr old, and my friend. All, I suspect accidentally, drinking from the same cup or straw adn passing from one person to another unknowingly. I use lysol room spray for doorknobs, bleach in the bathroom and dishwasher, and change toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes etc, with illness, colds---especially strep throat. So go figure.
Anyway, I would take her to the doctor if you are feeling uncomfortable taking care of her or are feeling guilty for not seeking medical help. Or want a script for antibiotics. Other than that the doctor may not be able to tell you exactly what it is beyond what you have described.
Give her some yougurt with good cultures also.
Good luck,
L.

I know most of the responses are talking about the fever but I am interested in the belly. My son mentioned pain in his belly only a few times and would sweat when he slept (from high temps) he would be fine when he was up, sometimes feeling a little clammy. (I don't treat high temps only fevers above 101.) The day before we noticed a lump sticking out of his belly he had constipation and diariaha. I would ask the doctor for an x-ray or something to check it out just to see. We could feel my sons belly being hard, we only thought it was big because he had just ate. It wasn't until it became larger on his right side did we realize there was a problem. Oh my son ended up with cancer, I don't take chances anymore. Since this has happened I have talked to several other parents and many seemed to have symptoms that mocked other diagnoses like colds, and infections.

My 12 year old son had the exact same thing last week. Fever for a week and occasional stomach aches. He also had a headache the first couple days. My Dr. thought it was a virus. I just treated the fever and after exactly a week it all went away. If the fever continues I would take her in to the Dr.and have him do a good check up. Maybe even get lab work done.
Good luck, hope she feels better soon!

My 3 yr old daughter started running one last night at about 101 but no symptoms. The sitter said it was 100.5 today but she say's she feels fine. I could use some input too. :)

My daughter who is 5 went through something similar a week ago. There was a fever (very short lived) and she would complain about her tummy hurting off and on. She never threw up but eventually she did have a a day or so of diarrhea. I think it was a viral bug and I saw it with 2 of my friends kids as well. Hope she feels better soon!

when my babies have molars come in they run fevers for some time. Some times the fevers have gotten as high as 102 even though most drs say that high of a fever is probably not molars; for my kids, it was. But one baby had a fever last week that lasted for 4 days; no other symptoms. He was teething with molars. could be the virus, but his twin did not get the fever so far. If your baby is teething with molars he is probably chewing on his hands and anything he can find, so you could probably tell if its molars.

My kids all had this within weeks of eachother in the Spring, the doctor said it was just a virus that wasnt causing a lot of symptoms and it would work its way through.

It did, after about a week and a couple of days the fever never came back.

Ours was wierd too, with the here one day and gone one day fever.

GL!

I just wanted to second the advice about having them check for a urinary tract infection. My 8-year old daughter has had several that have had no symptoms other than a come & go fever. The first time I suggested the urine culture myself because my doc said she'd be in pain if it was a UTI, but when they did the test it was a pretty bad infection. Not all kids develop pain or burning, or may have chronic infections and just think that it's normal to feel that way.

I also don't want to alarm you to much, but both my younger sister in law and my best friends daughter had similar symtoms that when they did blood work turned out to be leukemia. I would definatly ask for blood work. The pain on the side in the case of my little SIL came from an enlarged spleen, due to it's working so hard to get the bad things out of her body. The off and on LONG fever with no other symtoms is how my friend found it. I would insist in blood work, what will it hurt if they find nothing? 10 minutes of upset to draw blood vs. worry, and possibly waiting longer then is needed to begin treatment. I'll take the 10 minutes.
I should also add both moms were told OH it's just the flu, in the begining. Please let us know what happens. I pray I am wrong.
M.

My kids both had a little bug this past couple of weeks. Both did the fever off and on for about 4 days or so. My son had tummy cramps one night. He's 4 1/2.
Baby was a little more miserable it seems. Fever was most of it, but could tell her stomach was hurting.

I'm guessing yours had a similiar or same bug???

I'm not a doctor though!

Our three year old son had an episode like this very recently. He had a low fever between 99.6 and 101 for about seven to ten days. There was even once or twice just for a little while, he did not have a fever, during this time frame. We took him to the doctor after a few days, and they did a strep test and did a urine test for a Urinary Tract Infection. They also checked him out and found nothing. His throat was a little red and hurt a little during part of this time. His fever then went to 103.2, around day 6, and we took him back to the doctor. Again they did a strep test and checked him out and was negative. He also lost his voice and would having some coughing episodes. A couple of mornings, he would sound as if he was about to vomit, but never did. We kept giving him Motrin and Tylenol as suggested by the doctor. It finally went away by itself around day ten. However, for the next couple of days, he was a little fussy and tired, due to having a fever for so long. We continued to give him some Tylenol, during part of this time after he did not have a fever. He is back to normal now.

Hello R.,
When my son was 5, he would run a fever on the weekends but would be fine on Monday so I would send him to school. This happened 2 weekends in a row so despite him being fine on Monday, I made him a Dr.'s appointment. It turned out he had WALKING PNEUMONIA! I felt like a horrible mother. He had no other symptoms besides a fever, not even a cough. The Dr. listened to his chest and that's how he knew. I sure hope that's not the case with your daughter. I would make an appointment, not just call them.
M.

This is weird, a child that is turning 6 this next week in my day care also had this. Mom was very concerned and had to miss a lot of work. None of the other kids had it. G. W

Hi R.,

I debated on whether to answer this because I certainly don't want to scare you. Hopefully, it's "just a virus" and will pass. Be sure to keep her well-hydrated and rested.

However, if she should develop signs of jaundice, do NOT take her to Cook's Children's Hospital. Instead, take her to Children's Medical Center of Dallas. For details on why I so strongly recommend one over the other, you can look at my angel's website: www.jfcfoundation.org.

Please keep us posted so we'll know she's OK. That is the outcome I'm praying for!

God bless,

M.

I would definitely keep an eye on that. When their side and tummy hurt it could be the appendix. 2 of my nephews had side/stomach pain at the ages of 6 and 7 and had to have their appendix's removed. I hope she is feeling better!

An ear infection can often go unnoticed except for the fever. also gall bladder or pancreatitus can be symptomatic on the upper left side... if the fever continues I would take her in for some CBC's to rule out infections...My son has a fever and his ear started bleeding and we took him in (terrified, needles to say) and turns out he had a really bad ear infection and we had no idea.

Good luck, hope she feels better
A. J

ok dont panic but...it needs to be checked because it could be anything as simple as a virus or it could be a kidney infection or even appendicitis since she is complaining with her side hurting try googling the symptoms on a site like web md but you definitely need to get her to the pediatrician and if the pain in her side gets worse or she starts vomiting take her to the hospital i am sure all is well but better safe than sorry. good luck and i hope all is well with your little girl.oh and least i forget she may even be constipated ask her when is the last time she had a bowel movement.that too will cause a fever.

My daughter went thru the same thing awhile back ....have her checked for Mono....with kids that may be the only symptom that she may have .....

A co-worker has been having this same fever thing with her 2 yr old daughter this week as well. I don't know how high the fever is but I do know she said her daughter had no other problems, just on/of fever.

It's quite comforting to read all of these responses, even if it means that many of our little ones have been under the weather! But same here - our 9 month old has had a nasty fever (the highest it's gone is 102) for the past week. We've been to the doctor, done the bloodwork (no pneumonia, that's what they were looking for). The doctor settled on a diagnosis of bronchitis (she could hear some congestion in the chest). Gave her a three-day dose of Zithromax and told us to treat the fever. We're on day 10...only 4 of those days were fever days (home from daycare).

yes! i'm having the same situation,my son 5 yrs old..has fever now for 4 day..we went to doctor and check the urine, and CBC,blood test for dengue..what they found is normal,except some kind of bacteria only..maybe as you said viral and bacteria..body was infected..but they still give some antibiotic,or amoxillin.

Have them check her for a urinary tract infection. Sometimes those aren't easily identifiable. Kids may complain of their stomach, but really it could be their bladder. Ask her if it hurts to go pee pee, etc. Sometimes they could have an infection without pain (I know...got a UTI myself and never hurt to go, just fever). Good luck!!!