18 MO With Unexplained Fever

Updated on September 21, 2010
S.S. asks from Albertson, NC
15 answers

Friday night as I was getting my DS ready for bed, I noticed he felt warm. He had been super cranky, but he had gotten better before his bath. When I took his temp, it was 100.7 rectally. I gave him some Tylenol so he would sleep good. When he woke up yesterday, he was feverish again. It was 101.2. I gave him some Motrin and it brought down to about 99.5. He is not snotty, coughing, vomiting, or anything like that. He has ear tubes and when we were at the doctor about 2 weeks ago, they were still in place and not blocked. I haven't seen any drainage.
Last night his temp went up to 102. I gave him more Motrin and waited about 45 minutes to give him a bath. I didn't want him to get chilled. When I checked it again before the bath, it had spiked up to 103.
He slept good, but when he woke up this morning, it was 101.8. He hasn't acted "sick" until this morning. He was really clingy and fussy.
Any ideas about what could be going on? He's had viruses before, but he's never had roseola that I know of. He has had hand, foot, and mouth.

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So What Happened?

We went to urgent care and everything looked normal. They sent us to the hospital for a blood count and cultures. His CBC came back fine. Doctor said it was a virus. If temp suddenly spiked high, behavior changed, or if he had trouble breathing to take him to the ER.

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A.I.

answers from Tucson on

sounds like teething TO ME, I HAVE AN 18 MO daughter and she just cut 2 teeth, ran a fever and now that the teeth came in, she is fine:) i know everyone says they dont get fevers when they cut teeth, but some kids do..mine did and there was nothing else wrong, took her to the dr..just to be told it was her teeth :)

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C.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

This sounds typical of my son's ear infections. My son also has tubes and I never see drainage but he still will occasionally get ear infections with a fever that sounds a lot like this. Low grade fever can mean infection. Good luck! I hope he feels better soon!

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L.C.

answers from Knoxville on

My daughter had similar fevers on and off for a few days a few weeks ago. On day 4 of fever she developed more symptoms - bad cough and breathing sounded bad when she cried. I took her to the doctor the next day (would've been sooner, but it was Labor Day). Diagnosed with croup - caused by a virus will run its course, but she got a dose of steroids to help with breathing and we had her sleep with humidifier for a few nights.

M.S.

answers from Lincoln on

My daughter is 20 months. Whenever she gets a tooth coming in she gets random fevers.

V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

3 days of a fever for any reason is a good enough reason to take him to the doctor. Our docs always said anything over 102 is cause to bring them in. Likewise, any fever under 102 that last for more than 48 hours. You have both.

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C.S.

answers from Victoria on

Ok, fever is our bodies natural defense, so unless he appears uncomfortable, i wouldn't give him meds. Let his body do what it is supposed to. With that said, if he does begin to act sick or uncomfortable, then first use the bath to bring the fever down to a more comfortable level. I just make sure the water is room temp or just a bit warmer. i bought cheap finger paints and let my kids finger paint on the shower walls & themselves and them I bathe them to get the paint off. They have a blast and never know the bath was to get them to feel better. Once you have done those things and the fever is high enough to make him be uncomfortable of act sickly, then I will give meds just to keep the fever down to a comfortable level, not break it. if the fever is present more than 4 days, then we go in to the Dr. or we go in immediately if I can bring it down using bath or meds within 15 mins. as long as it goes down, you really shouldn't worry over much. Consider the fever a treatment for whatever is ailing him and not a problem. Hope this helps you. Kids get viruses all the time and with each one their immune systems are getting stronger, but I know in this day and age that there are some very scary things out there! My daughter apiked a fever in the middle of the night and hers was 105 armpit!! I got her in the bath and called my local emergency room. Nurse stayed on the phone with me while I took her temp again and it had started to go down. She told me that little kids can spike very high without the dangers we adults have and she was the one that told me the scary fevers won't go down. Best of luck to you.

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D.M.

answers from Detroit on

Unless a fever reaches 104 degrees, it's best to let the fever run it's course. (I learned this at my chiropractor's office.) A fever is the body's way of fighting a virus or bacteria. If we give tylenol or motrin to reduce the fever, the bug wins. I know it's hard to see our little ones uncomfortable, but we really have to try to let the immune system do it's job. When we interfere, we mess things up. Fevers will spike in the evening so that's not unusual.

Keep him comfortable with cool baths, light clothing, lots of fluids. Yes, you will be occupied with comforting him during this time. Who knows what the issue could be. Just keep watching him for any sudden changes or appearance of rashes. Let his body do what it knows how to do and he will be healthier for it in the long run.

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/high-fever-in-toddlers.html
http://www.righthealth.com/topic/When_Is_A_Fever_Too_High...
http://www.righthealth.com/topic/When_Is_A_Fever_Too_High...

I wish your little one a speedy recovery. In health, D.

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K.S.

answers from Raleigh on

These are not considered high temps for a baby. Today may tell you a little more. He may have a sore throat or a virus, it has to run its course. Sounds like you are doing the right things. Dress him lightly, let him stay close to you, don't go out, you don't want him to catch a secondary infection, and you want him comfortable. When children are young, someone is always sick it seems.
I always took a book into the bathroom and read while they played in the tub.
K.

Updated

These are not considered high temps for a baby. Today may tell you a little more. He may have a sore throat or a virus, it has to run its course. Sounds like you are doing the right things. Dress him lightly, let him stay close to you, don't go out, you don't want him to catch a secondary infection, and you want him comfortable. When children are young, someone is always sick it seems.
I always took a book into the bathroom and read while they played in the tub.
K.

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S.L.

answers from Lexington on

I suggest you call the doctor.

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A.F.

answers from Raleigh on

My 20 month old daughter had this about 2 months ago. I did take her to the doctor and they just said it was probably a virus and to treat the fever and not let it get too high. Once the fever broke completely, she got a rash on her trunk, and it sort of spread to her arms, neck and face. It was gone by the next day. This all indicated that it was Roseola. After further research, Roseola just has to run it's course and you just treat the symptoms and make sure the fever doesn't get too high and then once they have gotten it, they will never get it again. My infant son even got it a few weeks ago. I think they got it at our church nursery, since I stay home with them and they don't go to daycare. BTW, when they were feverish, that was the only real symptom of sickness and they were maybe a little more fussy. Just watch for the rash and then you will know for sure, if it is Roseola. He will be ok, you are doing a good job, mama!

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K.A.

answers from Dallas on

There are lots of viruses that can cause a fever to spike and not a lot of other symptoms. My daughter had roseola infantum and had fever up to around 104, but we didn't know until the fever broke and she developed a rash all over her body. Not a lot we could do for her at the time, just manage the fever and keep her hydrated. He could have some type of infection. Is he eating normally? Call his pediatrician and give them his symptoms. You will most likely have to take him in since they need to make sure he doesn't have something that will require antibiotics. I hope he feels better soon.

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L.K.

answers from Chicago on

Strep throat is going around. My twins never have any symptoms other than a fever. I would take him into the doctor to be sure. Good luck:)

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B.W.

answers from Pittsburgh on

It could easily be the roseola. My daughter had that. Just keep up the motrin and tylenol so it doesn't get too high and go see the doctor first thing in the morning. You should also be able to call your pediatrician after hours and on weekends to see what they have to say.

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E.M.

answers from Louisville on

sounds like he could be getting his molars. best thing to do its really not give them tylonol with that low of a fever. fever helps fight infection with someone his age wait until its 102. sounds high i know but fever can be good. if it goes over 103 call the doc or if it lasts more than 2 days

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K.A.

answers from Little Rock on

My daughter run a fever for 2 days that ranged 101 - 103 with no other symptoms. It started over a weekend. I took her to the doctor first thing on a Monday and after various test, she was diagnosed with pneumonia. I was surprised because anyone else I had known to have pneumonia was sneezing and coughing and had a runny nose. She didn't. The doctor said it was a form of walking pneumonia. I would take your baby to the doctor first thing Monday and get it checked out. If it reaches 104 get him to ER. It might not be pneumonia, but a fever means infection or bacteria.

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