High Fever in Toddler

Updated on April 23, 2011
E.K. asks from Kalamazoo, MI
14 answers

So my dd is 21 months- she has been a little stuffy and running a slight fever so i took her to our doctor yesterday. her fever was 101.5 and the dr said there were no signs of infection and just to give her tylenol to treat the fever and she would get better on her own. well i just took her temp and it was 103.4 underarm- so 104.4 or so actual. gave her another dose of tylenol ( her last one was 4+ hrs ago) so hopefully it will come down soon...im still debating taking her to the ER- On one hand the dr already said theres nothing they can do but a fever that high is scaring me! what would u do??

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So What Happened?

So thanks to everyone for your thoughts and suggestions... her fever came down with the tylenol and finally broke around 4 am. today she is back to her old sassy self and feeling fine:)

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K.M.

answers from Detroit on

You need to alternate ever4 hrs motrin n tylenol. if it hits past 101 she needs a luke warm bath to cool off. push cold liquids n dont go to the er no formula or milk gaterade or pedialite

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J.S.

answers from Chicago on

Have you tried alternating tylenol with motrin?? My 3 kids use to get high fevers fairly often. Unfortunately, with no infections, there is really nothing that the doctors can do. My pediatrician always has me alternate the tylenol with motrin, 3-4 hrs between. Just give a dose of tylenol now, and then a dose of motrin in 3-4 hours. That is usually what works best for my kids.
I hope she gets better :)

6 moms found this helpful
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S.S.

answers from Denver on

I would say call your pediatrician's office and speak with the on-call doctor. You really need to be seen if the Tylenol does not bring the
fever down. I think our doctor has us call if it is ever above 104.... They don't want it going too much higher. Good luck and I hope your little one
gets better soon.

1 mom found this helpful

K.M.

answers from Chicago on

UMMMM IF you have NOT taken her in yet then DO SO NOW!
I do not mean to yell but ... there is no other way to get it across.

1 mom found this helpful

C.W.

answers from Las Vegas on

I agree with Jackie about alternating. At 106 your supposed to take them into the ER, cuz at 107 it damages the brain. Push liquids, clear juices and water, pedialyte... she's got to stay hydrated. They could hydrate her if you brought her in, if she gets higher, like 106, take her to the ER, tell them and insist they treat her and hydrate her if they decline b/c that is when it gets risky and dangerous.
Personally I would be blowing up my ped's phone, telling them omg her temperature is 104, what do I do lol... I'm a worry wart about her when she's sick.

C.C.

answers from Sacramento on

Ditto what Jackie said - alternate Tylenol and Motrin. 99% of the time, that will bring the fever down. Wait 2 hours after the last dose of Tylenol and give her a full dose of Motrin. Good luck! Sorry your little one feels so yucky!

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D.G.

answers from Houston on

If fever doesn't come back down with Tylenol I would call the doc right now for advice or head to the ER. Especially if your daughter is acting lethargic or in pain.

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M.W.

answers from Detroit on

Keep doing what you're doing. I would only take her to the ER IF the tylenol doesn't bring the fever down. The danger of a high fever is the febrile seizers that can happen. 104 and above is a temp you want to break, the other ones are the bodies way of fighting off a virus/infection. Hang in there, fevers can be scary. Keep monitoring her so she doesn't stay that high.

Best wishes!

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T.M.

answers from Philadelphia on

A luke warm bath helps also. It feels mean, they shiver and cry, but the temp drops. You can also do a cold washcloth on her forehead. Sometimes i give them a light sheet and a fan for a little. I hope she feels better soon.

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K.A.

answers from Dallas on

Sounds like when my daughter had roseola infantum. She had high fever for a couple of days, then developed a lacy rash on her torso. There are lots of things than can cause a high fever, some contagious or treatable, and a lot that are not. I would definitely call the doctor, but take a rectal temperature as well to get a more accurate reading.

L.S.

answers from Dallas on

Usually in children a fever does mean infection some where~ ear, strep throat ect. Is she teething? Teething can bring on different symptoms like runny nose, drainage, fever, refusal to eat or sleep, even a yeast infection. Motrin normally will be more effective then tylenol, at 21 months she should be able to have this or the off brand for motrin. If the fever gets to high fill your sink with room temp water and soak her feet, put a room temp wash rag on her neck, head and wrist. This should drop the fever with in mins.

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K.M.

answers from Detroit on

My daughter had similar symptoms and got worse like your daughter. We took her back to the doctors and her virus turned into pneumonia! I would take your daughter in since the fever has gotten worse. Good luck!

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M.C.

answers from Washington DC on

I think she is just under the recommended age for Motrin, which I think is 2y. You should ask your dr. if its okay. Motrin works better on high fevers.

Did the dr. do a strep test? My daughter had those symptoms.

Check her fevers throughout the night. Which includes midnight, 130a, 3am, 430a, 6a, etc.

Give Tylenol every 4 hours on the dot, as needed. It takes 20m to start working.

Did they weigh your daughter yesterday? My daughter had a fever and the tylenol wasn't keeping it down. Weighed her, turns out she'd gained weight and the dose was different then what I was giving her.

Keep her feet uncovered. Lets the heat escape.

Give warm baths. Too cool and it will cause other problems.

If the fever gets much higher I would take her to the ER.

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C.C.

answers from Dallas on

My 4 year old had a 104.3 fever about a week ago because of strep throat. If you give her Tylenol and the fever doesn't start dropping in about 1/2 hour, then you can also give her children's motrin -- I've had that recommended by several doctors (my 12 year old used to get high temps when she was younger and her doctors recommended the same thing). That's what I wound up having to do. I don't like to dose her with too many meds but thankfully I only had to do that once.

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