Low-grade fever question (taytee? You around?)

amyliisa

At what point do you start administering Tylenol/Motrin for fever?  DS has a slight fever of 100 this morning and I'm planning to take him to doctor because he's also complaining of a sore throat.  Taytee I know you've mentioned it's ok to give fever relief meds before seeing the dr, but I also thought I remembered reading that  for low grade fevers it's better to let them work to fight the virus.  Not sure why I have that in my head, am I way off base?  

ali-1411

I always wait to give motrin/tylenol.  Probably flameful but half the time I don't even know what their temperature is.  I judge by how they look, how they act.  When they are obviously sick, lethargic or miserable then I treat it.  But if they are still somewhat happy then I let it go.

Persa

ali-1411:

I always wait to give motrin/tylenol.  Probably flameful but half the time I don't even know what their temperature is.  I judge by how they look, how they act.  When they are obviously sick, lethargic or miserable then I treat it.  But if they are still somewhat happy then I let it go.

This. I give Motrin or Tylenol for pain or very high fevers that are making them uncomfortable....or sometimes at night if I want her to sleep

Fever is your body heating itself up to kill off the infection. It's not a bad thing in and of itself.  

If he's got a sore throat and is uncomfortable, I would give it to him 

carlinlp

We give Motrin based on behavior too rather than a number. That being said, they haven't gotten really high fevers. I would give it at around 103.5 or higher.....I think that's my personal comfort zone but we also try to avoid meds if possible. Anything over 101 and they get a homeopathic relating to specific symptoms. That has always worked so Motrin hasn't been necessary thankfully. We don't use Tylenol, I refuse to even have it in my house actually because I'm afraid dh or a caregiver would forget and give it to them. Tylenol destroys all the sulphur in the liver, 100%, within 2 minutes. You need that as it's part of a major detox pathway in the body that is used for so many functions, including fighting illness. Anyway, I hope your little one feels better soon.

amyliisa

Ok, thanks y'all.  Glad to know I was on the right track, I was also thinking about around 102 or for obvious discomfort behavior. He's not at 100% of his normal self this morning but probably about 90%.  He's pretty stuffy and just told me he doesn't want to okay but I also think that's because the tv is on and he's watching shows he doesn't normally get to watch!

 

Thats interesting to know about Tylenol.  I never take it because it just never does anything for me and never did anything for him the couple times I tried to give it to him for EIs or fever as a baby.  I'd just as soon not keep it in the house at all. 

Taytee

Personally, I let low grade fevers go. Although, when it's persistant, it begins to worry me. Hence Abby's 5 month work up =(

Doctors don't even call it a real fever until above 101. Those "low fevers" are just how the body makes white blood cells faster. So yes, you should let the body do that unless it's making the kid miserable or it's becoming dangerous to their health.