Go to the doctor?

[Anonymous]

Our 4 year old woke up with a fever on Saturday. She was pretty unhappy and slept a lot that day and night. Sunday, she woke up very unhappy. She took some motrin and once the fever came down, she was bouncing around like usual. Sunday night she had a pretty bad cough and needed motrin to keep the fever down to sleep. Yesterday, she was mostly happy but needed motrin in the afternoon when her fever went up again. This morning she was warm but generally happy. No motrin needed and she is still tired, but playing. Everything says take a kid to the doctor after 3 days of fever, but she seems to be on the upswing. Any advice? Do we need to bring her in if she seems to be getting better? Waiting for a call back from the nurse but wondering what you all think. We'll definitely keep her home at least one more day to rest.

[Anonymous]

I would listen to the advice of my doctors office. Personally I wouldn’t have even called because she’s on the upswing unless there is something else like a weight loss.

[Anonymous]

What is the temperature? If it is over 101 and does not come down with medicine, then I would bring her in. If her temperature is coming down with the motrin and she is eating and drinking normally, I would not bring her in.

[Anonymous]

You take the kid to the doc if the fever is still relatively high even after motrin. AND if there are other concerning symptoms- breathing, vomiting,lethargic, sore throat, etc.
Otherwise, it sounds like her body is starting to kick butt against this garden-variety virus and the fact that she shows signs if normalcy is good.
Keep her hydrated and follow her cues. Besides, you'll probably pick up (another) bug going to the doc office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the temperature? If it is over 101 and does not come down with medicine, then I would bring her in. If her temperature is coming down with the motrin and she is eating and drinking normally, I would not bring her in.

Thanks. The highest temp was 103, but the motrin is bringing it down enough that she is comfortable and able to play. She's not eating her usual enormous quantities but is eating and drinking enough. Mu inclination is just to keep her home and resting but everything on the internet said 3 days of fever=see the doctor without regard to whether she seems to be improving. We'll just keep resting and watching.

[Anonymous]

I would not go to the doctor if it seems like shes getting over it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the temperature? If it is over 101 and does not come down with medicine, then I would bring her in. If her temperature is coming down with the motrin and she is eating and drinking normally, I would not bring her in.

Thanks. The highest temp was 103, but the motrin is bringing it down enough that she is comfortable and able to play. She's not eating her usual enormous quantities but is eating and drinking enough. Mu inclination is just to keep her home and resting but everything on the internet said 3 days of fever=see the doctor without regard to whether she seems to be improving. We'll just keep resting and watching.

The only piece of medical advice that I swear by is the cough for 7 days is a doctor visit. But that is because I ignored a cough for too long and ended up with pneumonia, which triggered my asthma and caused all sorts of problems. So we adhere to the 7 days of a cough get to the doctor rule.

Fevers are tricky, if the motrin has been bringing it down and she is resting fine and playing then she seems to be fighting the virus pretty well. If she is eating and drinking and there has not been vomiting or sore throats and the like she sounds like she is healing. By bringing it down enough, do you mean back to 98.5 or under 100?

It sounds like you called the Doctors office, listen to what the nurse says. My Doctors office always recommends coming in, I am pretty sure that is because they don't want a law suit if something goes wrong. THe last couple of times we went in, the PA ended up telling us that the next time don't bother coming in unless and then gives us the laundry list of things to look for. It is harder to figure out because when they are younger you are suppose to bring them in for everything and as they get older, the thresholds move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the temperature? If it is over 101 and does not come down with medicine, then I would bring her in. If her temperature is coming down with the motrin and she is eating and drinking normally, I would not bring her in.

Thanks. The highest temp was 103, but the motrin is bringing it down enough that she is comfortable and able to play. She's not eating her usual enormous quantities but is eating and drinking enough. Mu inclination is just to keep her home and resting but everything on the internet said 3 days of fever=see the doctor without regard to whether she seems to be improving. We'll just keep resting and watching.

The only piece of medical advice that I swear by is the cough for 7 days is a doctor visit. But that is because I ignored a cough for too long and ended up with pneumonia, which triggered my asthma and caused all sorts of problems. So we adhere to the 7 days of a cough get to the doctor rule.

Fevers are tricky, if the motrin has been bringing it down and she is resting fine and playing then she seems to be fighting the virus pretty well. If she is eating and drinking and there has not been vomiting or sore throats and the like she sounds like she is healing. By bringing it down enough, do you mean back to 98.5 or under 100?

It sounds like you called the Doctors office, listen to what the nurse says. My Doctors office always recommends coming in, I am pretty sure that is because they don't want a law suit if something goes wrong. THe last couple of times we went in, the PA ended up telling us that the next time don't bother coming in unless and then gives us the laundry list of things to look for. It is harder to figure out because when they are younger you are suppose to bring them in for everything and as they get older, the thresholds move.

Our last ped did this too and I was so annoyed to be out my time and sick copay. I switched practices shortly thereafter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the temperature? If it is over 101 and does not come down with medicine, then I would bring her in. If her temperature is coming down with the motrin and she is eating and drinking normally, I would not bring her in.

Thanks. The highest temp was 103, but the motrin is bringing it down enough that she is comfortable and able to play. She's not eating her usual enormous quantities but is eating and drinking enough. Mu inclination is just to keep her home and resting but everything on the internet said 3 days of fever=see the doctor without regard to whether she seems to be improving. We'll just keep resting and watching.

The only piece of medical advice that I swear by is the cough for 7 days is a doctor visit. But that is because I ignored a cough for too long and ended up with pneumonia, which triggered my asthma and caused all sorts of problems. So we adhere to the 7 days of a cough get to the doctor rule.

Fevers are tricky, if the motrin has been bringing it down and she is resting fine and playing then she seems to be fighting the virus pretty well. If she is eating and drinking and there has not been vomiting or sore throats and the like she sounds like she is healing. By bringing it down enough, do you mean back to 98.5 or under 100?

It sounds like you called the Doctors office, listen to what the nurse says. My Doctors office always recommends coming in, I am pretty sure that is because they don't want a law suit if something goes wrong. THe last couple of times we went in, the PA ended up telling us that the next time don't bother coming in unless and then gives us the laundry list of things to look for. It is harder to figure out because when they are younger you are suppose to bring them in for everything and as they get older, the thresholds move.

To be honest I haven't taken her temperature again once she's happy and playing. So, she may still have an elevated temperature, but no fever that's making her uncomfortable. That's a good tip on the cough. Do you mean a cough that isn't getting better at all after 7 days? Cough with fever that doesn't get better after 7 days? I often have a cough that lasts more than 7 days but eventually resolves on its own.

[Anonymous]

Nope don't take her. Besides, there's nasty stuff floating around the doctor's offices right now. We got Flu A during our well child visit It was the only place we'd been that week and my pediatrician said we were the only healthy kids she'd seen that day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the temperature? If it is over 101 and does not come down with medicine, then I would bring her in. If her temperature is coming down with the motrin and she is eating and drinking normally, I would not bring her in.

Thanks. The highest temp was 103, but the motrin is bringing it down enough that she is comfortable and able to play. She's not eating her usual enormous quantities but is eating and drinking enough. Mu inclination is just to keep her home and resting but everything on the internet said 3 days of fever=see the doctor without regard to whether she seems to be improving. We'll just keep resting and watching.

The only piece of medical advice that I swear by is the cough for 7 days is a doctor visit. But that is because I ignored a cough for too long and ended up with pneumonia, which triggered my asthma and caused all sorts of problems. So we adhere to the 7 days of a cough get to the doctor rule.

Fevers are tricky, if the motrin has been bringing it down and she is resting fine and playing then she seems to be fighting the virus pretty well. If she is eating and drinking and there has not been vomiting or sore throats and the like she sounds like she is healing. By bringing it down enough, do you mean back to 98.5 or under 100?

It sounds like you called the Doctors office, listen to what the nurse says. My Doctors office always recommends coming in, I am pretty sure that is because they don't want a law suit if something goes wrong. THe last couple of times we went in, the PA ended up telling us that the next time don't bother coming in unless and then gives us the laundry list of things to look for. It is harder to figure out because when they are younger you are suppose to bring them in for everything and as they get older, the thresholds move.

To be honest I haven't taken her temperature again once she's happy and playing. So, she may still have an elevated temperature, but no fever that's making her uncomfortable. That's a good tip on the cough. Do you mean a cough that isn't getting better at all after 7 days? Cough with fever that doesn't get better after 7 days? I often have a cough that lasts more than 7 days but eventually resolves on its own.

Cool on the temp, if she is bouncing back and playing/resting without issues she is probably fine. Ww are in the habit of taking DS (6) temp an hour after meds if he gets over 101.

Just plain cough. If you cannot kick a cough, even with no other signs, in 7 days something is likely off. We do use allergy medicines and cough medicine when coughs appear. If there is still a cough, off to the doctor. Outside of my pneumonia and asthma, we have a history of lung cancer in the family so I am paranoid about lung stuff. I will say that there have been a good number of folks at work who have been hit with pneumonia this year, all under 60. So, take my advice with a grain of salt. Coughing is my hypersensitive area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the temperature? If it is over 101 and does not come down with medicine, then I would bring her in. If her temperature is coming down with the motrin and she is eating and drinking normally, I would not bring her in.

Thanks. The highest temp was 103, but the motrin is bringing it down enough that she is comfortable and able to play. She's not eating her usual enormous quantities but is eating and drinking enough. Mu inclination is just to keep her home and resting but everything on the internet said 3 days of fever=see the doctor without regard to whether she seems to be improving. We'll just keep resting and watching.

The only piece of medical advice that I swear by is the cough for 7 days is a doctor visit. But that is because I ignored a cough for too long and ended up with pneumonia, which triggered my asthma and caused all sorts of problems. So we adhere to the 7 days of a cough get to the doctor rule.

Fevers are tricky, if the motrin has been bringing it down and she is resting fine and playing then she seems to be fighting the virus pretty well. If she is eating and drinking and there has not been vomiting or sore throats and the like she sounds like she is healing. By bringing it down enough, do you mean back to 98.5 or under 100?

It sounds like you called the Doctors office, listen to what the nurse says. My Doctors office always recommends coming in, I am pretty sure that is because they don't want a law suit if something goes wrong. THe last couple of times we went in, the PA ended up telling us that the next time don't bother coming in unless and then gives us the laundry list of things to look for. It is harder to figure out because when they are younger you are suppose to bring them in for everything and as they get older, the thresholds move.

To be honest I haven't taken her temperature again once she's happy and playing. So, she may still have an elevated temperature, but no fever that's making her uncomfortable. That's a good tip on the cough. Do you mean a cough that isn't getting better at all after 7 days? Cough with fever that doesn't get better after 7 days? I often have a cough that lasts more than 7 days but eventually resolves on its own.

Cool on the temp, if she is bouncing back and playing/resting without issues she is probably fine. Ww are in the habit of taking DS (6) temp an hour after meds if he gets over 101.

Just plain cough. If you cannot kick a cough, even with no other signs, in 7 days something is likely off. We do use allergy medicines and cough medicine when coughs appear. If there is still a cough, off to the doctor. Outside of my pneumonia and asthma, we have a history of lung cancer in the family so I am paranoid about lung stuff. I will say that there have been a good number of folks at work who have been hit with pneumonia this year, all under 60. So, take my advice with a grain of salt. Coughing is my hypersensitive area.

I'm also pretty sensitive to coughing but mostly because this kid is very prone to croup. Luckily nothing croupy sounding so far. Thanks for following up.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Looks like having a little patience paid off. No Motrin needed today. She still napped (unusual) and went to bed early but no fever after the initial warm ness this morning. Hopefully one more day of rest tomorrow and then back to preschool!

[Anonymous]

I’m glad she’s feeling better.

If I’m not sure, I call the advice line for my insurance or call the office and ask to speak to a nurse. They have a nurse who fields calls like this. They’re pretty good about saying wait 24-48 hours or bring her in if temp gets above a certain level. At least it doesn’t feel like they’re trying to squeeze money out of us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Looks like having a little patience paid off. No Motrin needed today. She still napped (unusual) and went to bed early but no fever after the initial warm ness this morning. Hopefully one more day of rest tomorrow and then back to preschool!

Glad that she is feeling better and that things have turned the corner.