Would you take your LO to the pedi

LSU628

if they had a low grade fever (99.1 yesterday morning and 99.3 this morning), had been abnormally cranky/fussy? She keeps screaming, and grabbing and clawing at her head when she gets tired. She has scratches all over her face, and I've never heard her scream/yell like this. I'm so worn out from fighting her at nap/bedtime the past 2 days. Plus, even when she is awake she is whiny and unless I am holding her she is just miserable. do you think this is normal teething type behaviors, or should I go and get her checked out?

Manderlin923

Could it be an ear infection maybe?

I would call the office tomorrow and see if you can talk to a nurse. I'd probably bring her in...

 

mistresscox

what have you done about it?  tried teething tablets, tylenol, cool teething rings?

kristie06

LO was doing the grabbing/clawing at his head and has scratches all over his head (I've cut his nails and he still seems to do it).  And he has this high pitch scream that is ear piercing!  I looked in his mouth last night and he cut his first tooth.  I looked this morning and his second one is coming through. 

Have you checked her mouth/

LSU628

I've given her a little Tylenol, frozen pacis and teething toys. her gums look a little white, but I can't feel anything. Granted, I don't know what I am supposed to be feeling for, but I keep putting my finger in there regardless....it seems to make her stop crying for a few seconds.

volligtoll

I just took my LO in yesterday for this type of behavior and it was teething but he didn't have a fever. I would say get her checked out. My little guy is so much better with the motrin and orajel.

kristie06

LSU628:

I've given her a little Tylenol, frozen pacis and teething toys. her gums look a little white, but I can't feel anything. Granted, I don't know what I am supposed to be feeling for, but I keep putting my finger in there regardless....it seems to make her stop crying for a few seconds.

Maybe try a frozen washcloth?  You would see white bumps just under the gum and that would indicated that there is a tooth underneath.  It can stay like that for quite some time before it actually cuts through though.

I'm not sure if the scratching/clawing and high pitch scream are associated with cutting a tooth, but it seems to be for my LO. 

Pennylane824

I didn't think 99.3 was a fever... am I wrong?

kristie06

Pennylane824:

I didn't think 99.3 was a fever... am I wrong?

I wouldn't consider 99.3 a fever, but I'm sure everyone has their own idea of what a 'fever' would be.  I would probably give it a couple more days before bringing LO to the pedi...but I consider myself a pretty 'relaxed' mom.  If the temp goes higher, I would probably then give a call.  Sound like teething though so I would try remedies for that.

Heather & Nayt

I would call in the morning, just to get feel better

wwsurf81

I thought the same thing as PP.  It sounds like it might be an ear infection.  I've worked in our church's nursery for years and have learned that babies will often mess with their face, especially tug on their ears when they are infected.  I think it might be because ear infections itch?  I would probably take her to the pedi if she seems uncomfortable.

Kflie83

Sounds like teething to me! DS gets fevers around 100.2. Our pedi said teething can cause fevers of up to 100.4.

BigIsland07

LSU628:

I've given her a little Tylenol, frozen pacis and teething toys. her gums look a little white, but I can't feel anything. Granted, I don't know what I am supposed to be feeling for, but I keep putting my finger in there regardless....it seems to make her stop crying for a few seconds.

 

If rubbing her gums makes her stop crying, I'd bet it's teething. I have several friends who say the best remedy for teething is a gum rub by mom/dad, preferably after the finger has been pressed against an ice cube for a bit. 

That said, I'd call the pedi if it was my child. Wouldn't want to let an ear infection go untreated...

shortyran

kristie06:

Pennylane824:

I didn't think 99.3 was a fever... am I wrong?

I wouldn't consider 99.3 a fever, but I'm sure everyone has their own idea of what a 'fever' would be.  I would probably give it a couple more days before bringing LO to the pedi...but I consider myself a pretty 'relaxed' mom.  If the temp goes higher, I would probably then give a call.  Sound like teething though so I would try remedies for that.

I don't consider it a fever, either. How are you taking the temp? If you're doing it rectally, then 99.6 is normal (it's a degree higher than mouth or ear.) If you take it under the arm, 97.6 is normal (a degree lower than mouth or ear.) It's commont to run a "low grade" fever if they're teething...my kiddo has been very fussy lately and I think he's going through the same thing. I don't feel any teeth coming through quite yet, but I think it should be soon! Try some oragel, frozen pacifiers or teethers. Good luck! (FWIW, my kiddo scratches his face constantly- his face always looks beat up!)

cabo_kate

Sounds like teething to me. DS was acting like this (minus the face clawing) for a week or two, on and off, and on Sunday he cut his first tooth. I also didn't know what to look for in his mouth but thought I saw bumps, and his fever got to 100.0.

FWIW, I called the pedi twice and both times they said teething and try Tylenol (a dropper and a half) and call back or bring him in if his fever goes up to 101 or he's inconsolable. 

Here's a pic of what DS's gums looked like the day his first tooth pops through, in case you want a point of reference (Grins posted something like this for me and it really helped me realize that it was teething!):