WWYD?

lsson12

My baby developed a fever of 100.04 a day and a half after his 2 month vaccination (I took him a little late because I misread the appointment date on the booklet our hospital hands out). Anyway, I went to my local pediatrician and she sent us to the ER because he's under 3 month old. Anyway, we got to the ER and his fever dropped from 100.04 to 99.5 after about 4 hours. They took an x-ray of his chest there and everything was clear. 

Without going into further detail we went to another hospital ER and by the time we got there his fever dropped to 98.96. The doctor at the ER thought that we should admit our baby for observation for which I agreed to. As we were getting admitted, the nurse checked his temp and it dropped again to 98.24. They still wanted me to keep him there for tests which included blood, urine, stool test and a SPINAL TAP! Not only that, they wanted to keep him for observation for 5 days. 

I told them that I would take him home and bring him back right away if his temp start creeping up again but the nurses & doctors gave me a scare saying that it may be sepsis or meningitis.  For my H & I, our guts tell us that its just the vaccination and all those tests would be unnecessary and keeping him in a room full of sick children for 5 days would be worse than to take him home and watch him carefully.

My baby isn't sluggish. He's eating well and his output his fine. He isn't fussy and sleeping well these days. He even gave us a real laugh yesterday!  What would you do?  Obviously we've already made our decision on what to do but I'm curious as to what everyone else would've done.

 

ETA: His fever dropped all on its own. He was never administered any tylenol or any other medicine. 

nycgirl88

I probably wouldn't have gone to the second ER if I got the all clear at the first one. Good job for following your gut though and leaving!

lsson12

nycgirl88:

I probably wouldn't have gone to the second ER if I got the all clear at the first one. Good job for following your gut though and leaving!

We didn't get cleared at the first ER. They also wanted to admit our baby but didn't have enough beds. 

daronsmommy

I wouldn't have taken him to the first ER. After shots, a fever can spike up to 103. If my LO had a fever of 100, I would give Tylenol and see if it came down. If it didn't, then I might think about going in. I definately wouldn't put LO through all those tests. The pedi should have known it was from shots and not sent you to the ER.

alyson686

daronsmommy:

I wouldn't have taken him to the first ER. After shots, a fever can spike up to 103. If my LO had a fever of 100, I would give Tylenol and see if it came down. If it didn't, then I might think about going in. I definately wouldn't put LO through all those tests. The pedi should have known it was from shots and not sent you to the ER.

This

hs10

daronsmommy:

I wouldn't have taken him to the first ER. After shots, a fever can spike up to 103. If my LO had a fever of 100, I would give Tylenol and see if it came down. If it didn't, then I might think about going in. I definately wouldn't put LO through all those tests. The pedi should have known it was from shots and not sent you to the ER.

This

hboo2011

daronsmommy:

I wouldn't have taken him to the first ER. After shots, a fever can spike up to 103. If my LO had a fever of 100, I would give Tylenol and see if it came down. If it didn't, then I might think about going in. I definately wouldn't put LO through all those tests. The pedi should have known it was from shots and not sent you to the ER.

Yep.

Wally3

hboo2011:

daronsmommy:

I wouldn't have taken him to the first ER. After shots, a fever can spike up to 103. If my LO had a fever of 100, I would give Tylenol and see if it came down. If it didn't, then I might think about going in. I definately wouldn't put LO through all those tests. The pedi should have known it was from shots and not sent you to the ER.

Yep.

This and I would think about a different pedi. It seems weird that the Er wanted to admit him is there something else they saw.

nealbl

Was there something else going with your LO beside the fever. I just find it so odd that your pedi and two ER's wanted to admit your baby and run tests just b/c of a slight fever after shots that went down on its own. 

 

 

blondie42107

nealbl:

Was there something else going with your LO beside the fever. I just find it so odd that your pedi and two ER's wanted to admit your baby and run tests just b/c of a slight fever after shots that went down on its own.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;

This. But personally I wouldn't have taken my baby to the pedi for a temp of 100.4 after shots but maybe would have called them if it hadn't improved.

lsson12

They said it's because his fever appeared approx 36 hours after the shot and not within the normal 24 hours. All three doctors said it was the time that's causing concern. They said that the protocol was for them to admit any babies that got a fever before the 3 month mark. H thought the docs were just covering their butts just in case they sent us home and something happened. They'd be responsible. 

Mrschica

I think you need a new pedi. Mine said that the fever can appear as late as 48 hours after the shots. Yours shouldn't have sent you to the er!

PixelPosy

I'm surprised your pedi sent you to the ER, ours only wants us to go if the temp gets to 104. A slight fever is a normal reaction to shots. My pedi said it's a good thing showing the immune system being kicked into gear. Glad your LO is okay and feeling better, and yes I think you did the right thing by not putting LO through tests you didn't feel were necessary.

Sillygirl85

lsson12:

They said it's because his fever appeared approx 36 hours after the shot and not within the normal 24 hours. All three doctors said it was the time that's causing concern. They said that the protocol was for them to admit any babies that got a fever before the 3 month mark. H thought the docs were just covering their butts just in case they sent us home and something happened. They'd be responsible. 

We were in the ER for a fever not related to shots and were released after blood work ruled out anything bacterial.