How high of a fever is too high?

[holdemholmes]

First off let me just say that I've talked with my son's doctor about this, but I just want to get a personal opinion from everyone as a lot of you guys are parents. At what temperature would you take your child to the hospital? My son has strep, and we've been giving him motrin/tylenon mix throughout the day, but as soon as it wears off he shoots right back up to 103.8-104.1.

[Jaxen]

You say he has strep, so the fever is just his body fighting the infection. Just keep trying to keep him full of cool, clear liquids (Pedialite is great for a young one but it tastes awful). My doctor said we could water down Gatorade. But if he's vomiting the liquids back up, or also has a yellowish runny nose, get to the doctor stat.  Hopefully you have one of those After Hours pediatric places nearby.

But if the only symptom is the fever (with strep he's also probably got a really sore throat), there isn't much the doctors can do that you aren't already doing at home. Somewhere around 104.7 would be my threshhold, but you can probably temper the fever by putting him in a cool (not cold) bath and sponge him down to make him comfortable.

[Nerre]

The point here is: What could the hospital do that you can not do at home?

If I understand you right he has already been diagnosed and is getting antibiotics? (Streps are bacteria, thus antibiotics should work.)

The only thing is that if he gets dehydrated they can set a drop.


You don't mention his age, but small kids can have a lot higher temp than adults. When you're getting above 107 you can start getting worried.

[holdemholmes]

Thanks for the responses guys. He seems to be responding better to the motrin/tylenol mix, and if the fever does spike it comes right back down. It's my first child so I guess I can't help but be a little extra worried about it.

[Detroitdad]

When Jake was little, his fever spiked all the fricken time when he was sick. Heather (14) was watching him while we worked. I got a call from her that his fever had spiked to 105. I had her give him 2 IBP's, and get him in a tub of very cold water. I was home 20 minutes later, and his fever had already dropped to 101. I called the doctor's. They said as long as the med's brought it down, and maintained it, then we were good to go to stay home.

B

[Squiggly]

We just went through a bout of bad flu a month ago with the whole family. My daughter spiked up to 104.5 in the middle of the night, two nights in a row.

Up here we have a government program called the nurse's hot line where you can call an 800 number and talk to a RN for advice. The RN asked some questions regarding the mental awareness of the child. Upon confirming that the child was lucid and not dizzy, foggy, or "out of it", she then told me to give Tylenol and monitor for one hour. If the fever does not drop 1 degree in that hour, get her to the hospital. I guess the point is if he is acting unusual or seems not lucid it may be time for more serious action.

[holdemholmes]

The RN asked some questions regarding the mental awareness of the child. Upon confirming that the child was lucid and not dizzy, foggy, or "out of it", she then told me to give Tylenol and monitor for one hour. If the fever does not drop 1 degree in that hour, get her to the hospital. I guess the point is if he is acting unusual or seems not lucid it may be time for more serious action.

This was one of the main questions the nurse at his Dr. office asked us as well. She told us pretty much the exact same thing, and he seems to be doing much better today. My real area of concern was that it was going to spike at some point throughout the night, but his mother checked it throughout the night and he was ok.

[Buzzerbeater]

The only prescription...is more cowbell.

[holdemholmes]

The only prescription...is more cowbell.

Solid answer. I like it.

[pauld22]

As stated above the fever is the body fighting....which is good.  he's responding to the meds he is getting....good again.  The on call nurse when my son had strep said they don't send them into the emergency room until the fever hits 105.

As long as he's keeping fluids in and responds to the meds he's just going to have to fight through it.  Although the pediatrician put my son on Amoxicillan now that I think of it....

High temps always freaked my wife and I out with our daughter (first born).  Just a natural reaction, but he'll be fine.

[Dr. Neau]

When the fever gets as high as the rent, then it's too damn high.

[Buzzerbeater]

When the fever gets as high as the rent, then it's too damn high.

As a master of Karate, my fever never gets too high.