What do you do with a fever?

[PeacefulChaos]

I'm wondering what others do.  

Pink currently ... ok, maybe not currently... but as of 8:00 she was running around 103, maybe a little over.  I gave her some ibuprofen and she's in bed now - she still felt really warm when I laid her down at 9, so we didn't do her usual number of quilt+blankets.  :)  

I'm not worried about the fever - kids get high fevers and it's not a big deal.  Astro used to regularly run up to 104.5.

I'm just finding myself torn now between the two schools of thought:

a) waking her up and alternating tylenol and ibuprofen every 3ish hours (tylenol at 11, ibuprofen at 2, etc)

Or

b ) just letting it run its course.  

 

I've heard that giving them medicine for fevers too much can actually make the illness last longer.  Does how high the fever is matter at all in that?  

Anyway, just pondering.  DH is of the opinion we should wake her up and give it to her.  I can't decide.  

So what do you do?

[Dandelion]

I'm generally in favor of letting a fever run its course. But 103 is outside of my comfort zone, so I might have given her some medication before bed too.

 

Not sure if I'd be waking her up every 3 hours though. I would go check on her a few times during the night, and maybe try some alternatives to medication (cool washcloth on her forehead, wrap her calves in cool wet towels, etc.).  That way you're still bringing the fever down a bit, but not completely counteracting it. 

 

And yes, giving fever-reducing medications can suppress the production of antibodies, which can make infections last longer than they would otherwise.

 

Hope your DD feels better soon!

[happypamama]

At her age, I would probably feel comfortable waiting it out, only treating it if she was so miserable that she couldn't sleep, or if she was really lethargic. I generally follow Dr. Sears's fever advice here: http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/parenting/childhood-illnesses/fever

[Ravin]

I wouldn't wake a child for more meds unless the fever starts creeping up, or they're also achy and consequently waking up anyway. Ibuprofen will do the job for 6-8 hours. The hazard is spikes in the fever.

[Ameena]

At 103, I would go by how she is acting / feeling. If she's miserable, I give a small dose of fever reducer to take the edge off and let her rest. If she's acting fine - I let it run it's course but check frequently.

 

Above 103, I start to worry. My dd regularly gets high fevers when she is sick - I only worry if they have lasted longer than a day or so, or don't respond to attempts to bring then down either with a cool shower/bath or medication.

[xixstar]

I let fevers go as long as possible untreated and as long as were not crossing 104. If my child is really miserable then I will treat with ibuprofen and if super miserable we will alternate ibuprofen and acetaminophen on 2 hour intervals. I would not wake my child to take medicine unless I knew she would wake up from being miserable and I was already awake - as in, if I was headed to bed and it was time for another dose and it has been a difficult evening or a fretful night before, I would gently wake her to take the next dose before I head to be. I would not wake in the night to give her.

 

And I also have herbal teas we use for fevers and just up the general herbal response like broths and soups and such while sick. I like to let fevers do their thing though.

[lmrich]

I would keep her comfortable. If she is sleeping, let her sleep. I believe I the cool washcloth and lots of fluids too.

[Occasionally]

I don't generally wake a kid to give them medicine. If, during the night, the kiddo wakens and feels miserable, and it's past time for a dose, then I'll give one. I'll also administer a kiss and a cool drink.  :001_smile:

[Whereneverever]

I follow Dr. Sears' advice unless it's my kid who has seizures. In general a 103f fever wouldn't overly concern me in a kid that age.

[Tammi K]

I don't do anything for 'fever'. I will treat any other symptoms IF they are really bothering the sick one otherwise we let it run its course. So, for instance, a fever with a sore throat or lots of aches/pains will warrant ibuprofen. But, never just for fever.

 

Fever is a good thing.

[zoobie]

I only wake when it's something like the flu where missing a dose makes the kid more miserable.

[Pegasus]

No, I wouldn't wake her.  Sleeping is probably the best thing for her and I wouldn't want to disturb that.  I don't usually treat to reduce fevers, I treat to make the patient comfortable.

[regentrude]

I would not wake a sick child.  Sleep is the best cure.

When she is awake, I would try calf wraps (not cold, just lukewarm), very effective for reducing fever without meds.

[Word Nerd]

I treat fevers that are 103 or higher--or lower if the child is feeling terrible. I wouldn't alternate with Tylenol or wake a DD up if she's sleeping comfortably, though.

[Catwoman]

I'm with your dh. I'd keep monitoring her temperature throughout the night and wake her for medicine.

 

I may be in the minority here, but I don't mess around with high fevers.

[Elfknitter.#]

Let her sleep. Fevers are a natural way to rid the body of infection.

 

If it were me, I would feel worse being woken even 3-ish hours.