How to Brake a Fever

Updated on April 04, 2011
A.S. asks from Macomb, MI
14 answers

I have a one year old that has had a fever for 2 days,I have not been able to break it . She was at the hosptial today and she has a Upper respiratory infection. Her Fever has went from 99.1 to 101.4 when i checked her at 230am. any suggestion on how to break it and bring it down till i have to take her to her doc on monday cuz the office is closed on the weekend or i will take her back to the hosp.

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So What Happened?

Well thanks you ladies, i will take everything that you have suggested. I called the on call doc at ped.they told me that they could not ..give her nothing for her cold and nothing for the upper resiratory infection. so what am i suppost to do now.

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A.U.

answers from Detroit on

101.4 really isn't anything to worry about... over 104 is really the danger zone. 101.4 is just her immune system fighting something off. You can give her something to make her comfortable if she seems uncomfortable (tylenol or motrin) ... Definitely not high enough for the hospital until you're over 104... Hope she feels better soon!

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C.M.

answers from Detroit on

I know fevers are scarey, but they are present for a reason...to get rid of viruses and bacterial infections....so they are not all bad! A fever of 101.4 for a one-year-old isn't really that high, especially in the night. Fevers tend to go up at night. If you had her at the hospital, you probably have antibiotics now. If the fever doesn't go down with in 24 hours, it is probably a viral infection and the antibiotics won't help anyway. I would let it go...don't give her anything except the antibiotic if they gave you one...and see how high it goes. Don't let it go OVER 103. That was "the rule" when mine were little. I always found that bringing down the fever only made them feel better making them want to be up instead of getting the rest needed to heal. By NOT giving any Tylenol or Motrin you will be able to tell your doc how high it really went so he/she can better decide what is going on. Hope she feels better soon!

2 moms found this helpful

G.T.

answers from Modesto on

The fever will "break" when it's finished doing its job. 101 is not that high of a fever really. If you feel your daughter is uncomfortably hot you can put her in the bathtub with warm water and gradually cool it to bring her overall body temperature down. When babies are sick they feel better when we hold them and if that allows her to get the much needed sleep for her recovery that is what I would do. You have more control of keeping her upright for the respiratory if you let her rest in your arms. She needs to sleep and let the fever do its work, keep offering her clear liquids and I'd stay away from milky things that can cause phlegm.

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R.K.

answers from Appleton on

Make sure she is getting enough fluids. Water is best, but juice or even Kool-aide or Gator-aide is fine. Kids can dehydrate really fast so make sure you are changing the same number of diapers, or close.
New medical findings say not to try to break a fever under 102, the fever is the body's way of fighting an infection.
Be careful with the brand name Tylenol. This company has had so many recalls lately, I no longer trust them. I don't remember all of the products that were recalled but I know it also included Benedryl. I am sure you can look it up on line.
One more thought don't bundle her up too much. Jammies and a light blanket should be enough. Did the doctor's office mention anything about using a humidifyer or vaporizer? It sometimes helps with a respiratory infection.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.K.

answers from New York on

That is not really a very high fever. I know it is difficult to have a sick kiddo but a fever is her body's way of fighting the illness. I was told by our pediatrician er if the fever is above 104. You could try cold wash cloth on the head or back of the neck. A luke warm bath. Advil/ibuprofen rather than Tylenol.

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K.T.

answers from Detroit on

My child was a "burner" at that age, as I was. It was not uncommon for us to encounter a 103-104 degree fever when we were fighting a bug. As others have mentioned, a cool washcloth on the forehead or back of neck and ibuprofen IF she is uncomfortable and/or IF advised by her doc. Really, you'd be better to leave it untreated and let her body do the fighting. If she's not having trouble resting, then use the meds. Good luck at the doc!

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P.G.

answers from Dallas on

What Peg M said - the body fights the infection with fever. Germs can't handle the high temperatures of a fever the way our bodies can. Call your pedi to help you feel better and to know what temperature you need to worry about and ask them what they would recommend to help keep her comfy. Take care.

1 mom found this helpful

C.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

An Upper Respiratory Infection is just a fancy word for a cold. There's nothing you can do except let it run it's course. You can do a lot of things to keep your baby comfortable like running a humidifier next to her bed at night(if you don't have on then just turn on the hot water from the shower and get the bathroom nice and steamy and sit in there for about 20 minutes), keeping her upright when sleeping, put some saline drops in her nose and suction it out especially before sleeping,a nice warm bath before bedtime to let the mucous drain out, making sure she's drinking lots of fluids, and keeping her lightly dressed. You can also do Tylenol or Motrin generics if she's getting really fussy, but if she's happy and still playing around, then I wouldn't give her any medicines. If the fever starts getting high then I would give her some Tylenol or Motrin and put her in a lukewarm bath. But just hang in there!

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G.S.

answers from New York on

What the other posts said were totally what I would go with - my youngest spiked a 105 fever at about 12 mos w/a dbl ear infection and although i wanted them to medivac her to the hospital (being dramatic) that wasn't anything for a child that age. What i was told to do was to put a cool compress on her neck to help break the fever. You can try giving her infants tylenol if you feel comfortable doing so or even call the pediatrician to give them a heads up b/c they may even tell you to be there right at 9 am when they open to have her seen so she's not subjected to any other sick children. It's scary as hell, but just take deep breaths and know that we are all here for you. Best of luck to you and your baby girl!

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M.W.

answers from Detroit on

You don't need to break a fever if it is below 104!!!!! If it gets over 104 and Tylenol or Motrin will not break it, go to the ER!

Best wishes!

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L.P.

answers from Pittsfield on

I usually use Ibuprofin. If the fever starts coming back before the next dose is due, I give them Tylenol. They are different meds, and work differently, so it's ok to do. Hope she feels better soon! :)

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K.M.

answers from Detroit on

well to break a temop you give tylenol 4 hrs. and and than after those four hrs motrin and keep switching every four hrs along with tons of fluid water and gatorade pedilite

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B.D.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Call your pediatrician's office. They will have doctors on call that can help. There is a way to give a combination of tylenol and ibuprofen staggered but check with your pediatrician.

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