What are some tricks you use when your child has a fever?

~Jennifer - posted on 09/15/2009

Emily,



If your child is running a fever that high, please take him to the doctor or call your physician for suggestions. Without ANY of us knowing your child's medical history, I don't believe that this situation is something you want to look for answers to on a message forum.



Ladies, in a situation like this, with a fever that has spiked at 103.5 - I think it would serve better if the general consensus was "take the child to a doctor /medical professional". Please be aware that although you may have advice that has 'worked' for you, a fever of 103.5 is NOT something that should be diagnosed and treated on an online forum.



Again, I would suggest contacting your physician, please, Emily.

Emily - posted on 09/15/2009

Thanks for all the help ladies. I will probably take him to the doctor tomorrow because the fevers lasted so long as well as his other sympthoms not getting better(cough, runny/stuffy nose sore throat & headache) I'm also worried because he's still not taking in much liquids. I will keep everyone posted & any new ideas are appreciated. Thanks again

Hope - posted on 09/15/2009

first off i would take him to the drs. but you could keep a cool washcloth on his forehead. you can give him tylenol and motrin both at the same time they are used for different things the dr told me this. just remeber to follow the directions for both cause i think you can only give motrin every 6-8hrs and tylenol is 4-6hrs. would also not put a heavy blanket on him because that just locks the heat in and you are trying to get it to go away. if anything cover him up wth a light blanket or a sheet..

Amy - posted on 09/15/2009

give them tylonel (sp) and than and hour later u can give them motrin and repeat i think tylonel is every 4hrs and mortin is every 6hrs not sure check the bottle they sont have the same drug in them so its safe

Shannon - posted on 09/15/2009

And the more popsicles the better! Fluids are fluids no matter what form they come in. Remember, anything that will melt is considered a fluid--and pushing fluids is very important. At 6, I don't think he has as much of a risk to get fever convulsions as a young toddler/baby does. However, 103 or greater is nothing to mess with. And yes, you can cool from the outside and in. Tylenol and fluids inside, cool baths/cold wash cloths etc. on the outside. With this high of a fever you gotta hit it from both angles..... And letting him be the boss of the covers only makes sense; let him be as comfortable as he can be.

Gina - posted on 09/15/2009

Put him in a comfortably warm bath and let him stay in it as it cools off. This will prevent the shock of being put in a cool bath while he's so warm. Keep wiping his forehead and face with a wet rag. Keep fresh cool water available cause the water will get warm quick. Alternate tyelenol and motrin. Let him be the boss of his covers. If he feels hot let him kick them off, if he's cold he can cover up.

Lee - posted on 09/15/2009

When my son was a baby he would run high fevers.He use to get fever convulsions.He ended up in the hospital once because of them and the doctor had ordered ice baths for him.What I found that worked the best and quickest was to put him in the bathtub with a popsicle, start the water as luke warm and decrease the hot water until it is all cold while he was eating the popsicle.Oh yes they will shiver like crazy but the fever will come down.I would let him have all the popsicles he wanted just to help keep the fever down.

Missi - posted on 09/15/2009

Well it will sound crazy, but it works!!! Cut an onion into 4 slices and put them on the wrist and ankles. My grandmother taught me that and it does water when they can't keep anything down including medicine.

Michelle - posted on 09/15/2009

from what ive heard cooliong him from the outside is not really possible...all it will do is make him uncomfortable...for example a cool bath will just make him misserable, the tip given to me by a health fanatic ( alll home remedies for her) is to make some pepermint tea, cool it, and have them drink that as it can cool them from the inside... uncover him, cause you can increase the temp if he is kept too warm... also a ice pack on the wrist back of the knees where the veins are close to the surface. but to be honest 103 is quite high... i would take him in to the clinic.

Miranda - posted on 09/15/2009

There strips that they sell at pharmacies called Be Cool strips for fevers that you can put on their forehead, back of their neck, or tummy. I also rotate Tylenol and Motrin every two hours. Rubbing alcohol on their foreheads and behind their ears helps. You can also try stripping him down to him undies and only a sheet. When all else fails a cool bath or shower will definatly do the trick but I save that for last as they always cry like you are torturing them. Hope this helps. Good luck and I hope your son gets better. One more note usually anything below 101 is a virus and anything above that is an infection requiring antibiotics. I was told this by a family friend that is a PA.

Shannon - posted on 09/15/2009

My oldest also had astma and brochitis, you are right an antibiotic is needed, Brandon went into convulsions twice at different ages with high fevers when he had double ear infections, very scary stuff, they used Keflex then for him. I am a nurse too, just not working anymore, but all the stuff you said Shannon I agree with, my kids are all gone but one and a few months left for the last one. I know how hard and scarey it can be when they have a fever.

Shannon - posted on 09/15/2009

Rotating Tylenol and Motrin is a good idea, especially if you can't keep the fever down. The Motrin will help with his body aches as well........

Shannon - posted on 09/15/2009

Well, as high as his fever is and with his asthma/bronchitis, it sounds like he may need an antibiotic. Definately Tylenol for the fever, keep pushing fluids popsicles, jello, juice, water anything even ice cream if he will. As long as he is drinking, it is not that worrysome that he isn't eating right now. A cool bath may help, cold washcloth on the forehead/back of neck if he will. I am a nurse, and with my adult patients with a fever that high I do ice packs as well but I don't think that is very appropriate for a 6 year old ;) If his fever persists through the night, definately take him to the doctor tomorrow. Is he coughing? What other symptoms does he have? What worries me is the asthma/bronchitis thing.



Let me know if any of this helps,

Shannon

Shannon - posted on 09/15/2009

You can try rubbing him down with alcohol, putting him in the tub full of cool water, not extremely cold though, strip him down to just underwear and cover him with a sheet only. These things have always worked for me, oh and alternate the tylenol with motrin every for hours or whatever the dosage says. Good luck, Shannon