Fever of 103.3 with no other symptoms... WWYD?

SerenityMay · May 2011

Hi Ladies, my DS is 18 months old and has had a fever pretty much all day. He has absolutely no other symptoms and beside being more clingly, he acts completely normal. His temp does go down with Ibuprofin but alway goes back up after about 4 hours. I am not sure if it is a virus he has since there are no other symptoms or if it could be food poisoning since we had some bad pizza last night that made everyone in our house ill although no one else had a fever. He also had his DTAP? shot on friday so I'm thinking maybe that is causing it as well? He hardly ever gets sick so I am going crazy right now worrying... Any advice? Should I take him in to the ER tonight or wait until the morning and see how he is to call the doctor? Is it most likely a reaction from the vaccine, food poisoning, or a virus? Sorry this is so long... TIA!

blissfully_caffeinated · May 2011

I'd stick it out since he doesn't have other symptoms. My doctor says there's no need to go to the ER unless the fever is 105. I doubt it's food poisoning. He probably has a virus. That has happened to DS before - he had a viral fever for a couple of days with no symptoms then he was fine. You could always call the pedi's advice line.

Bubbs1217 · May 2011

There are some viruses such as roseola (sp?) that present first as a high fever for a few days with no other symptoms. When the fever disappears, the rash appears.

My DD had viral rash a few months ago. She had a fever for 2 days and then all of a sudden a rash appeared all over her trunk and the fever was gone.

GL and hope you and your LO feel better!! I didn't know you could get food poisoning from pizza. How awful!

ReniaB · May 2011

It's probably a reaction to the vaccine.

This website has been helpful for me.. https://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/t082100.asp

DEBBIE33CASEY · May 2011

since there's no other symptoms I would definitely not run off to the ER. Keep giving motrin and add in some tylenol (3 hrs after last motrin) and alternate through the night if LO wakes up in the middle of the night.

I'd call the pedi tomorrow, but if this just happened today I'd do nothing rather than medicate for right now. There is unlikely anything different the ER would do for you. Hope it goes away! But I'd stay calm about it if he's acting ok- especially since I'd assume it's a mild reaction to the DTAP. That's a common reaction to shots. Good luck!

cooperme2871 · May 2011

I would hold off on the ER unless it gets to 105. DD had high fevers earlier this week with no other symptoms and then got a bunch of blisters in her mouth. Turns out she Hand, Foot, and Mouth (viral) and the fever is just a sign more is to come. I hope LO feels better soon!

wolverine8 · May 2011

As others have said I would not go to the ER. My DS has also had a fever all weekend without other symptoms other than acting miserable. It's so frustrating but since the motrin is helping to some degree then I'd say stick with that. Call your pedi in the morning just to give them a heads up. It could be a virus or a reaction. Who knows. Hope he feels better! I'm right there with ya.

sasa625 · May 2011

Our pedi always says treat the symptoms not the number... DD got up to 104.6 but she was still eating/drinking/playing, so we just monitored her and gave motrin, and it stayed around 101-102. She ended up most likely having Roseola (3 days of fever and then a mild rash when the fever finally broke for good).

I know it's super scary... I had to fight my instincts to go to the ER when I saw that number on the thermometer, but I trust my pedi. I would wait and touch base with the pedi in the morning.

g8trkim · May 2011

It sounds like it could be an ear infection. Give him tylenol to bring the fever down and I would go to the pedi in the morning. I don't think you need to go to the ER.

KTCaliL · May 2011

The same happened to us last week. A fever and no other symptoms. Then a few days later a rash broke out. I visited the pedi and she said it was a virus. I think you'd be fine waiting until morning.

denahamilton@cox.net · May 2011

DS is 15mo and got shots this week. The day after he spiked to 104 at 4am. I called the on call nurse and she told me to give him a luke warm bath, rotate Tylonal and Ibupro every 4 hours, and to not take him to the ER unless his fever his 105+. By the next day he was down to 102. And the day after that 100. Now he is good as gold.

Lesley0228 · May 2011

I agree with others, I would hold off on the ER for fever alone until 105. I would keep an eye on him tonight and call the pedi in the morning. I'm sure they will want to see him. DD had a 103 fever last Sat and 101 on Sunday. Her only symptoms were sleepiness and crankiness. We went to the pedi on Monday and it was strep throat. I had no indication if her throat was bothering her. Its rough when the little ones are sick and you don't know whats going on. Hope your LO is feeling better soon.

cherrykat · May 2011

You should google "roseola". My daughter had a high fever that came and went for 2-3 days. She had no other symptoms. All of a sudden the fever broke and then she developed a bumpy red/pink rash all over (but it wasn't itchy).

You should call the pedi just to be safe.

fivesecondrule · May 2011

I would wait it out and give ibuprofin for a few days but if it stays high for more than 2-3 days call ped. This happens to my daughter every once in awhile and most of the time it runs its course but once it was a UTI.

ASmallWonder · May 2011

Aiden just had this last week. We did take him to the doctor and because he had no other symptoms they did a finger stick to check his white count (fearing he had a UTI). That turned out fine and they said he just had a virus. If it's only been a day I'd probably wait it out a little. Hope he feels better!

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