What temperature warrents a trip to the E.R. in a 19 month old?

Pamela - posted on 11/10/2012

My daughter temperature is at 103.1. I just gave her some medince for it!! Should I take her to the ER

Teresa - posted on 11/27/2009

Quoting Jessica:

That said I know that over 103 degrees Fahrenheit can cause damage and needs to go in if it will not break, period.

Actually, I believe it is at 106 (over 6ish months, at least) that damage begins.  My girls have had a temp of 105 on several different occasions.  It is different if the temp won't go down though...

I'm glad she is doing better!!

Rachel - posted on 11/27/2009

Thank You everybody for your help! We rotated the Motrin and Tylenol all day yesterday, and she is doing aot better today. No Fever, and she's back to her adorible self. She is still a little tired, but that is to expected. Whatever the fever was fighting, it won! She never got any other symptoms, Thank God!

Catherine - posted on 11/27/2009

Did the fever respond to tylenol or motrin or both? Are there any other associated symptoms? Pulling on ears? can she keep fluids down and is she having her usual amount of diapers? If the fever responds to tylenol and she can continue to take fluids, usually it is viral and will go away with time. 103, 104 that does not respond to tylenol and ibuprofen warrant a trip.

Dalia - posted on 11/26/2009

i recently had to take my 10 month old to out of hours doctor for high temp - was told it was a virus and to give ibuprofen every four hours and calpol every four hours but to stagger doses - e.g calpol 8am, ibuprofen 10am, calpol 12pm, ibuprofen 2pm etc so that he was getting something every two hours. keep your little one in as little clothes as possible and i hope all is well soon - it's a horrible feeling!!

Jessica - posted on 11/25/2009

Ok Rachel, I've been told my several doctors to monitor a fever closely and use your intuition. That said I know that over 103 degrees Fahrenheit can cause damage and needs to go in if it will not break, period. If you can put some cool cloths on her, draw a lukewarm bath and let her soak or at last resort break it with medication (you don't want to use too much as this could cause issues and she may build up resistances) then consult your doctor as you're doing. If you haven't tried cool, wet cloths yet or a lukewarm bath, do so while you're on hold and keep monitoring her temperature.

Other than above 103, I'd say anywhere below 102 merits monitoring, but not a trip to the E.R. Remember though, she has a fever for a reason and if it is manageable and she is not in distress then the fever is trying to rid the body of a contagion and it's usually best to let it run it's course. If she is in distress, try to calm the fever a bit and take note of the other symptoms. Runny nose, cough, fuzzy, excessive drooling, diarrhea, dry diapers (dehydration if it goes on too long), etc? The fever is just the defense, the other symptoms may tell you better details of what is going on. Make sure to get her plenty of liquids, water or watered down juice (milk may curdle and cause vomiting) so that she doesn't dehydrate and keep a check on her poo. If she has diarrhea then try to get some electrolytes into her drinks.

Good Luck!

Rachel - posted on 11/25/2009

I've been on hold with the after hours doctor for 20 minutes now. She is sleeping ok now, so I'm thinking that I should just wait until morning. I'm still going to wait it out on hold though. I never really thought about rotating the medicine. I just normally give them motrin above 102, and tylenol beneath it. Thank you so much for all your help, I really appreciate it.

Jen - posted on 11/25/2009

Keep alternating between the tylenol and IB profen. If she still keeps spiking you may have to give in. I hope she feels better. Poor baby.

Rachel - posted on 11/25/2009

The highest that she has reached is 104.6 degrees. I don't remember her ever getting this high before. That's the thing: She's eating and drinking pretty normal and her diapers have been very wet. My insurance for her lapsed, and I'm waiting to get reapproved as well. Her temperature does lower with ib profin, but it spikes again after 5 or 6 hours. This all started about 40 hours ago with a mere 101.1 degree fever. I figured that was do to her canines coming in. I gave her tylenol, and she seemed allright. When she woke from nap 8 hours later, it had hit 104.0 degrees. I just put her down a little over an hour ago, but i'm starting to worry.

Jen - posted on 11/25/2009

I won't take my daughter to the ER again until she's 103, it's after hours, and the fever doesn't go down with tylenol or motrin. We took my daughter when she was 4 months old and her fever had hit 102. They gave her tylenol, diagosed her with a cold, and sent us on our way after her fever had gone back down to 100. I can do that at home and save the $100 co pay.

Christa - posted on 11/25/2009

I have five children (10 & under); my youngest is 19 months. I was always told to treat with medication at 102 degrees and go to the hospital @ 105 degrees. Four of my children suffered from H1N1 this year already. For approx 48 hours they each had a fever of 101-102.7, followed by a nasty cough and body aches. I called into the doctor's office but never took them in. There are now fine. The part that I would monitor the most is the attitude of the child.....can you get the fever to break? if the child stays lethargic.....that would worry me. Are they eating or at least drinking? Do you notice diapers with urine in them? If so, give her alot of TLC and follow your mommy intuition.

Lisa - posted on 11/25/2009

She could have an ear infection, my lil one get them when she is acting the exact same way. I would go soon.

Shereta - posted on 11/25/2009

I would go at 101