What do you do at the first sign of fever?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you do at the first sign of fever? My five-year-old woke up with a 99.8 fever this morning and he is very lethargic, doesn’t want to eat or drink. I gave him a dose of elderberry and a probiotic chewable. What else can I do to speed recovery? We are leaving on a trip in two days!

Give the little guy a baby aspirin. Woo-woo medicine isn't going to make him feel better any faster. It will just run its course.

[Anonymous]

Likely I wouldn’t even notice such a slight elevation.

If DS seemed out of sorts and feverish, I’d give him some Tylenol or Motrin or some Zarbees or whatever seeemd most relevant, plus all the juice and popsicles and Paw Patrol he wanted, and keep him home.

I personally wouldn’t even worry unless he was confused, exceptionally lethargic, unable to keep liquid down, or non responsive for some reason.

I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve taken 3 yo DS’s temp.

I worked with infants & toddlers for 15+ years and have seen most common illnesses many times over.

My own sickish DS is currently home napping after a morning of juice boxes and TV.

No idea if he has a fever... he felt like a furnace last night so I gave him some Tylenol.

[Anonymous]

The first thing I do is re-plan my day! Note to school, pickup aftercare, WFH notification on the team calendar at work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you do at the first sign of fever? My five-year-old woke up with a 99.8 fever this morning and he is very lethargic, doesn’t want to eat or drink. I gave him a dose of elderberry and a probiotic chewable. What else can I do to speed recovery? We are leaving on a trip in two days!

Give the little guy a baby aspirin. Woo-woo medicine isn't going to make him feel better any faster. It will just run its course.

Just in case it wasn't clear that you are joking, don't give him a baby aspirin or any type of aspirin! Aspirin use in children under 18 has been linked to Reye's Syndrome, a serious illness.

"Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not give aspirin or any medications containing aspirin to your child or teenager when he has any viral illness, particularly chickenpox or influenza. If he needs medication for mild fever or discomfort, give him acetaminophen or ibuprofen."

From Boston Children's Hospital:
As a result, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have released warnings about the relationship between aspirin and Reye syndrome. Parents should not give aspirin to children unless instructed by your child's physician.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If he has a fever, his body is probably doing what it should and working to fight off something (and 99.8 isn't terribly high). I would be concerned if it climbs quickly, but otherwise I'd just push fluids and let him rest. If he complains of a sore throat, maybe take him in for a strep or flu test since you're leaving town soon.

And give him a fever/pain reliever.

No, don't! Unless he is uncomfortable. Let the fever do its job and fight the infection. We never medicate for fevers unless they are crying in pain. It usually climbs to 103, and then breaks, and then my boys are as good as new. I truly think not medicating makes the illness go away faster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If he has a fever, his body is probably doing what it should and working to fight off something (and 99.8 isn't terribly high). I would be concerned if it climbs quickly, but otherwise I'd just push fluids and let him rest. If he complains of a sore throat, maybe take him in for a strep or flu test since you're leaving town soon.

And give him a fever/pain reliever.

No, don't! Unless he is uncomfortable. Let the fever do its job and fight the infection. We never medicate for fevers unless they are crying in pain. It usually climbs to 103, and then breaks, and then my boys are as good as new. I truly think not medicating makes the illness go away faster.

\

Can others talk about this more? I take medication myself when i get a fever because dang they feel horrible, so I always feel like my kid deserves the same. Is there actual research on this? I will do my own digging but if anyone wants to really back this up I'd be interested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If he has a fever, his body is probably doing what it should and working to fight off something (and 99.8 isn't terribly high). I would be concerned if it climbs quickly, but otherwise I'd just push fluids and let him rest. If he complains of a sore throat, maybe take him in for a strep or flu test since you're leaving town soon.

And give him a fever/pain reliever.

No, don't! Unless he is uncomfortable. Let the fever do its job and fight the infection. We never medicate for fevers unless they are crying in pain. It usually climbs to 103, and then breaks, and then my boys are as good as new. I truly think not medicating makes the illness go away faster.

\

Can others talk about this more? I take medication myself when i get a fever because dang they feel horrible, so I always feel like my kid deserves the same. Is there actual research on this? I will do my own digging but if anyone wants to really back this up I'd be interested.

What do you think a fever is? It's body's response to fight infection. It heats up to kill the bug. If you lower it while is mild then it won't kill whatever the infection is. Until about 101 fever in and of itself is not dangerous to the body (barring some medical condition) its a body's natural response.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fever/symptoms-causes/syc-20352759

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If he has a fever, his body is probably doing what it should and working to fight off something (and 99.8 isn't terribly high). I would be concerned if it climbs quickly, but otherwise I'd just push fluids and let him rest. If he complains of a sore throat, maybe take him in for a strep or flu test since you're leaving town soon.

And give him a fever/pain reliever.

No, don't! Unless he is uncomfortable. Let the fever do its job and fight the infection. We never medicate for fevers unless they are crying in pain. It usually climbs to 103, and then breaks, and then my boys are as good as new. I truly think not medicating makes the illness go away faster.

\

Can others talk about this more? I take medication myself when i get a fever because dang they feel horrible, so I always feel like my kid deserves the same. Is there actual research on this? I will do my own digging but if anyone wants to really back this up I'd be interested.

What do you think a fever is? It's body's response to fight infection. It heats up to kill the bug. If you lower it while is mild then it won't kill whatever the infection is. Until about 101 fever in and of itself is not dangerous to the body (barring some medical condition) its a body's natural response.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fever/symptoms-causes/syc-20352759

No need to be condescending. And I did intend the question for an actual fever over 101 because the pp said she goes up to 103 before medicating. I’ve always been told to give a fever reduced by the pediatrician when my 14 month old has a fever over that so was curious.

[Anonymous]

Reducer*

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If he has a fever, his body is probably doing what it should and working to fight off something (and 99.8 isn't terribly high). I would be concerned if it climbs quickly, but otherwise I'd just push fluids and let him rest. If he complains of a sore throat, maybe take him in for a strep or flu test since you're leaving town soon.

And give him a fever/pain reliever.

No, don't! Unless he is uncomfortable. Let the fever do its job and fight the infection. We never medicate for fevers unless they are crying in pain. It usually climbs to 103, and then breaks, and then my boys are as good as new. I truly think not medicating makes the illness go away faster.

\

Can others talk about this more? I take medication myself when i get a fever because dang they feel horrible, so I always feel like my kid deserves the same. Is there actual research on this? I will do my own digging but if anyone wants to really back this up I'd be interested.

What do you think a fever is? It's body's response to fight infection. It heats up to kill the bug. If you lower it while is mild then it won't kill whatever the infection is. Until about 101 fever in and of itself is not dangerous to the body (barring some medical condition) its a body's natural response.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fever/symptoms-causes/syc-20352759

No need to be condescending. And I did intend the question for an actual fever over 101 because the pp said she goes up to 103 before medicating. I’ve always been told to give a fever reduced by the pediatrician when my 14 month old has a fever over that so was curious.

1st PP here and I don’t think PP was being condescending at all.

My boys DO get to 103. If they’re crying or in pain, I would medicate. But every time they’ve been sick, they lay on the couch/sleep with TV and a cold cloth. And the next day, they’re fine.

[Anonymous]

Not sure what elderberry or probiotic would do, but I’d give Tylenol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is not a fever so I would do nothing

Would you send to school?

[Anonymous]

I'd be more concerned about his lethargy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is not a fever so I would do nothing

Would you send to school?

Not if he felt sick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If he has a fever, his body is probably doing what it should and working to fight off something (and 99.8 isn't terribly high). I would be concerned if it climbs quickly, but otherwise I'd just push fluids and let him rest. If he complains of a sore throat, maybe take him in for a strep or flu test since you're leaving town soon.

And give him a fever/pain reliever.

No, don't! Unless he is uncomfortable. Let the fever do its job and fight the infection. We never medicate for fevers unless they are crying in pain. It usually climbs to 103, and then breaks, and then my boys are as good as new. I truly think not medicating makes the illness go away faster.

\

Can others talk about this more? I take medication myself when i get a fever because dang they feel horrible, so I always feel like my kid deserves the same. Is there actual research on this? I will do my own digging but if anyone wants to really back this up I'd be interested.

What do you think a fever is? It's body's response to fight infection. It heats up to kill the bug. If you lower it while is mild then it won't kill whatever the infection is. Until about 101 fever in and of itself is not dangerous to the body (barring some medical condition) its a body's natural response.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fever/symptoms-causes/syc-20352759

No need to be condescending. And I did intend the question for an actual fever over 101 because the pp said she goes up to 103 before medicating. I’ve always been told to give a fever reduced by the pediatrician when my 14 month old has a fever over that so was curious.

There are differet protocols for different ages. I was told to give Tylenol or Advil at 100 for my son when he was a baby/toddler. It wasn’t until he was 5 that the Ped reommended waiting to 101. I can’t not using a fever reduct at 101 or higher, 103 strikes me as too high but that is more my gut talking then ay real research. Normally by 101, my DS is feeling pretty crappy and could use the relief.