Fever question, WWYD?

hthomas02 · August 2011

Yesterday Finn started complaining that he didnt' feel well and felt dizzy ("my head is all wobbly", lol!) and he had a fever.....after calling the dr they made us take him to the ER to rule out menangitis or strep. checked him out, he's fine, just has some kind of bug. he seems fine today, is eating and has energy, he still has a fever though and his eyes are glassy.....but would you give "tylenol" for the fever, or just let it go and let his body fight off whatever it is he has?

maykat · August 2011

I would give him something, but I've never thought about not giving tylenol or Motrin when the kids have a fever. I usually give Motrin for fevers.

You could also try and bring the fever down naturally with a luke-warm bath. That has always worked wonders for us.

snansley · August 2011

I would give Tylenol or Motrin to help keep him comfortable if he seems bothered by the fever. IReducing the fever doesn't minimize the work his body is doing to fight off the bug, it just makes it more bearable for him.

hthomas02 · August 2011

good point, thanks ladies! I personally hate taking medicine, don't ever take anything even when I have a headache, so I know I am projecting my own issues about it onto him, lol!

Daisy22 · August 2011

maykat:

I would give him something, but I've never thought about not giving tylenol or Motrin when the kids have a fever. I usually give Motrin for fevers.

This is me too.

K&P414 · August 2011

I would give tylenol or motrin.

smynings_bride · August 2011

My Dr. told us "treat the child, not the fever" so we only give Tylenol or Motrin if she has a fever and she's feeling badly.

frlcb · August 2011

smynings_bride:
My Dr. told us "treat the child, not the fever" so we only give Tylenol or Motrin if she has a fever and she's feeling badly.

I pretty much agree with this. Unless the fever is high, or is making him act different, I would try to let the fever run its course. Fever is the bodies way of fighting something and I have always read that it is better to let it do what it has to do.

Saying that, if ds is acting differently then I would give him some. It is definitely a fine line.

That.Just.Happened · August 2011

My pedi is really big on not giving meds for just a fever. She believes that fevers are actually good for them and we shouldn't try to medicate them away unless the child is showing actual pain or other symptoms. Honestly, with tylenol, I worry about the affect on the liver, so I try not to give it unless it is really needed.

slwprincess · August 2011

I only give tylenol/motrin if the fever is high or if the child is clearly not feeling well. If Gavin is acting fine, I usually let the fever do its job. But it almost always will catch up to him and he will get tired/cranky all of a sudden and then I know its time to push the motrin!

myrall · August 2011

A nurse at CHOA told me once, "Treat the child, not the fever."

If he's acting fine, I would hold off on the meds. A fever is a good sign that the body's doing it's job to ward off something more serious. If he were acting puny and listless, I'd have no problem giving meds.

And for us, Tylenol NEVER cut it with fevers. I actually quit buying it as soon as we were cleared to give ibuprofen.

frlcb · August 2011

I have to agree on the Tylenol vs Motrin as well, Tylenol never worked for us but Ibuprofen totally does.

hthomas02 · August 2011

I'll be honest, when I was typing this I couldn't remember the word ibuprofin, so that was why I typed "tylenol" in quotes, ha! I need a nap.

UGAbride · August 2011

hthomas02:
I'll be honest, when I was typing this I couldn't remember the word ibuprofin, so that was why I typed "tylenol" in quotes, ha! I need a nap.

Haha, I wondered why tylenol needed "air quotes." Glad you got a nap, lady!

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