103.3 temp- call dr or wait it out?

LittleMs.Wifey · May 2010

DD had been feeling warm all morning while running errands, but was acting normal/happy self. When we got home she just fell apart and was crying inconsolably, wanting me to hold her, not wanting to eat or drink. She could barely keep her eyes open.

So I took her temp-103.3 (rectally). She then perked up a bit and ate some cheerios and a few sips of milk. but she was still pretty sad and tired. So I gave her some tylenol and put her down for a nap.

She is sleeping peacefully, although a bit sweaty. DH is all nervous now and wants me to call the dr. But will they tell me anything that I haven't already done? I want to let her sleep and get the rest her body obviously needs and then re-assess...wwyd?

erin.m · May 2010

Call ASAP!

snowinlv · May 2010

I would call.

desmerelda317 · May 2010

When DS had a temp that high I took him to the doctor and he was diagnosed with an ear infection. Definitely take her in or call.

Ljd425 · May 2010

Hmm..I would let her sleep and take temp when she wakes up and if it is still high then call, because if the tylenol isn't working then they may want to see her..

DD had the same temp a few wks ago and medicine didn't seem to be helping her mood or fever so we took her (thinking maybe another ear infection) in and they took a urine sample and blood to make sure it wasn't a UTI..thankfully it was negative and we went home with "just a virus" and she was better the next day. So that is why I would wait and see..I wish we didn't take her to the pedi and make her go through a catheter, but I guess you just never know and want to be sure.

GL - I hope she is better after some rest! Oh and I would just try lots of liquids and not much milk for now. We didn't give DD milk for a whole day and just did water, juice, and pedialyte.

JLW10 · May 2010

I'd call now just for my own peace of mind.

akiernan · May 2010

Call immediately.

carolinaem · May 2010

Wow. I guess I am in the minority and would not call. Let her nap, wait at least 20-30 minutes after she wakes up to take her temperature and see. If the fever is controlled by medicine I would just watch and wait. 103.3 (without any medicine) isn't so high.

wellfleet04 · May 2010

I think people on here tend to way overreact to fevers. 103 is not that high in a non-newborn child. She may have an ear infection or more likely a virus, neither one of which requires you waking her up and calling ASAP. If she's sleeping comfortably, I'd let her sleep. If the fever goes down with Tylenol and she doesn't seem in pain (ear infection), I would just try to keep her comfortable. Of course if you'd feel better, call. That's what they are there for, but I wouldn't freak out like people on here tend to do.

vintagegirl5 · May 2010

I would call just for peace of mind - the doctor will likely tell you to do what you're already doing, but i just like the reassurance from calling.

LittleMs.Wifey · May 2010

Thanks for your input ladies.

I am going to wait it out for now. If she still has a temp after her nap, then I will call.

Thanks!

Mrs.Greeko · May 2010

Seriously you would all call over a fever?!?

Kids get fevers, they get viruses, the doc can't do anything. They are going to get sick a lot in the coming years. If you call every time they get a fever and freak out about it you will go crazy.

Might I suggest this book https://www.amazon.com/Your-Childs-Health-Emergencies-Illnesses/dp/055335339X which tells you what symptoms warrant a call to the doc during office hours, which symptoms should be treated at home, which symptoms warrant an emergency, etc?

It also has a whole long section about the fever phobia today's parents seem to have.

LittleMs.Wifey · May 2010

Mrs.Greeko:
Seriously you would all call over a fever?!?
Kids get fevers, they get viruses, the doc can't do anything. They are going to get sick a lot in the coming years. If you call every time they get a fever and freak out about it you will go crazy.
Might I suggest this book https://www.amazon.com/Your-Childs-Health-Emergencies-Illnesses/dp/055335339X which tells you what symptoms warrant a call to the doc during office hours, which symptoms should be treated at home, which symptoms warrant an emergency, etc?
It also has a whole long section about the fever phobia today's parents seem to have.

No, I wasn't planning on calling and I am not freakind out.

Like I said, my DH is worried about it and thinks we should. I don't think we need to right now. I wanted to see what others thought to make sure I wasn't off base.

Luckystar2 · May 2010

wellfleet04:
I think people on here tend to way overreact to fevers. 103 is not that high in a non-newborn child. She may have an ear infection or more likely a virus, neither one of which requires you waking her up and calling ASAP. If she's sleeping comfortably, I'd let her sleep. If the fever goes down with Tylenol and she doesn't seem in pain (ear infection), I would just try to keep her comfortable. Of course if you'd feel better, call. That's what they are there for, but I wouldn't freak out like people on here tend to do.

ITA

Our pedi info says in non-newborns to call if the fever is over 104, if it's been 72 hours of an unexplained fever or if they are very lethargic. They say that parents are often overly concerned about numbers but children get high fevers. It's more important to focus on how they are acting. A child that is extremelely lethargic (And that doesn't just mean tired, a dr told me it means that if they were poked by a needle they wouldn't flinch/care...that's lethargic) with a low fever is more worrisome than a child acting okay with a much higher fever.

missfire · May 2010

Mrs.Greeko:

Seriously you would all call over a fever?!?

Kids get fevers, they get viruses, the doc can't do anything. They are going to get sick a lot in the coming years. If you call every time they get a fever and freak out about it you will go crazy.

Might I suggest this book https://www.amazon.com/Your-Childs-Health-Emergencies-Illnesses/dp/055335339X which tells you what symptoms warrant a call to the doc during office hours, which symptoms should be treated at home, which symptoms warrant an emergency, etc?

It also has a whole long section about the fever phobia today's parents seem to have.

Maybe people on this board freak out over things like fevers because we have seen HOW FAST OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE LOST THEIR CHILDREN with few symptoms other than fevers.

Congratulations on being such a cool and relaxed mom. Good for you, aren't you wonderful. Personally, I'm okay being a little less cool and a little more paranoid. To each her own.

Alex26 · May 2010

I always call pedi with a fever over 101-102

Rubygirl · May 2010

Can you take her temp again without waking her up? It should go down about an hour after administering Tylenol. If that doesn't work, call the Dr. You might also try ibuprofen (Motrin) - that tends to work WAY better for DS' fevers.

LizzieandGar · May 2010

missfire:
Maybe people on this board freak out over things like fevers because we have seen HOW FAST OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE LOST THEIR CHILDREN with few symptoms other than fevers.
Congratulations on being such a cool and relaxed mom. Good for you, aren't you wonderful. Personally, I'm okay being a little less cool and a little more paranoid. To each her own.

The all caps there means you want to be taken seriously. LOL.

vanillacourage · May 2010

I call if it's 103+ - if only to give them the rest of his symptoms and let them make the decision on whether or not to see him. It's just a phone call, and it's worth the peace of mind.

I don't call for fevers lower than that. A fever of 101 in a toddler is not that big a deal when it's unaccompanied by other symptoms. Treat it with medicine and keep an eye on it.

To the OP - I might call now, but only because it's getting close to the end of the day and if her fever is still high later, they may not have any time slots left to give you.

Echowysp · May 2010

I never call for a fever that "low". There's not much they are going to do. Give Tylenol or Motrin and see if it goes down.

And LOL for the "Call ASAP!".

Echowysp · May 2010

carolinaem:
Wow. I guess I am in the minority and would not call. Let her nap, wait at least 20-30 minutes after she wakes up to take her temperature and see. If the fever is controlled by medicine I would just watch and wait. 103.3 (without any medicine) isn't so high.

You're not the only one. Maybe my kid just runs hot, but I've never rushed to call for a one time temp of 103. Shoot, my kid has 105+ fevers that the ER does nothing but give a double dose of Motrin, which I can do myself wihtout the wait.

If it doesn't go down or comes back, then I'd call to make an appointment, not to get advice.

Echowysp · May 2010

missfire:
Mrs.Greeko:

Seriously you would all call over a fever?!?

Kids get fevers, they get viruses, the doc can't do anything. They are going to get sick a lot in the coming years. If you call every time they get a fever and freak out about it you will go crazy.

Might I suggest this book https://www.amazon.com/Your-Childs-Health-Emergencies-Illnesses/dp/055335339X which tells you what symptoms warrant a call to the doc during office hours, which symptoms should be treated at home, which symptoms warrant an emergency, etc?

It also has a whole long section about the fever phobia today's parents seem to have.

Maybe people on this board freak out over things like fevers because we have seen HOW FAST OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE LOST THEIR CHILDREN with few symptoms other than fevers.

Congratulations on being such a cool and relaxed mom. Good for you, aren't you wonderful. Personally, I'm okay being a little less cool and a little more paranoid. To each her own.

I'm sorry, but that gets a Confused from me.

lilliebear · May 2010

I would call but my DD has had lots of ear infections So I would assume she has another.

LittleMs.Wifey · May 2010

Wow, didn't mean to start such a heated debate! (sorry, bad pun)

She just woke up and i took her temp again (3.5 hours after Tylenol) and it's just a smidge over 100. So I am not going to call. DH is much calmer now. He is quite the nervous nelly...

carlab44 · May 2010

I wouldn't call. The only time I call is if it is over 104, doesn't come down with medication, if they are acting really lethargic, or if they seem really uncomfortable (if their ears are hurting, etc).

trizzie · May 2010

I would call, but only because DS never runs fever. The only time he has run a fever (102), he had strep. So, I base it on what is typical for my child.

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103.3 temp- call dr or wait it out?

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