Child with fever

My 4 year old spent last week-end in hospital with some sort of ear infection and a temperature of about 39 degrees. They did some tests and said Monday he was ok, so he came home. Now, this afternoon he seemed like he had another fever, so my wife took him back to hospital.

He now has a fever of just over 40 degrees, and the hospital are doing blood tests, at the moment they say they don’t know what’s wrong.

Question is, am I getting all panicky for no reason? Is this just a normal sick kid thing?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks.

Kids get sick quickly and then recover quickly, it could be another virus picked up in hospital (hospitals are full of sick people). Keeping asking about test results, antibiotics, fluids, bowels motions, weeing etc. Ask the doctor to rule out another ear infection, gastro bug or enterovirus or appendicitis etc. Dehydration has been my major concern in situations like yours.

Worrying is completely normal!

Worrying is normal, but I hope you’re giving him aspirin to reduce the fever.

Yeah, high fevers come with the territory, but as long as you’re getting him to the Dr. and getting something to beat the fever back a bit, that’s pretty much all you can do. He needs the fever to kill the virus, but it is very freaky to have a kid who’s burning hot.

And a lot of the magic powder packets that Drs give kids will totally knock them out…so be aware.

Good luck. Should be ok in a day or two.

i really don’t want to worry you, but this thread may be pertinent?

forumosa.com/taiwan/viewtopic.php?t=48322

our boy was going through the same thing two weeks ago, i was getting really worried. he still has a cold, but the fever’s been gone for 4 days, so i feel a little better.

all the best to you and yours.

Erm, I’d be a bit wary of that!

Aspirin is not recommended for under 16s due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome. You can give them paracetemol (Tylenol) instead but it doesn’t have the same anti-pyretic effects.

Anyone with kids has been through this. I spent a week in January running back and forth to the hospital with mine. She was fine one minute and the next thing she has a temp of 40+ degrees.

I’ve read that minor viruses can create high temperatures. The thing to look at is your child’s behavior and not the temperature. If they are otherwise fine there is no reason to worry. If they become irritable or lethargic you should begin to worry a little.

I found suppositories, although not very convenient or comfortable, worked best to reduce fever quickly.

Take your kids to a big hospital rather than a clinic.

The hospital also told us that they couldn’t tell exactly what was wrong for another 4 weeks after tests were done. And true to their word they did call and tell us that it was some kind of virus.

[quote]The thing to look at is your child’s behavior and not the temperature. If they are otherwise fine there is no reason to worry. If they become irritable or lethargic you should begin to worry a little.

I found suppositories, although not very convenient or comfortable, worked best to reduce fever quickly. [/quote]

I agree.

Our son usually runs around even when he’s sick. It’s when he sleeps all the time that I wig out.

And the suppositories are helpful to reduce fever.

Hey guys, thanks for the replies. I was getting a tad stressed after the second weekend of fever, but yesterday his temperature returned to normal.
Still haven’t heard anything back from the hospital ref. tests, but I am assuming everything is ok.
I just thought it was pretty strange having a 40 ish temp. twice so close together.
Both times BTW, he was totally lethargic, couldn’t really move. God, I’m getting all paronoid again!
I’ll update (if) when we find out more.

Cheers.

DO NOT . . . DO NOT . . . DO NOT give a kid aspirin. Give the kid TYLENOL. There is a risk of the kid developing Reye’s Syndrome if given aspirin. I am a health care provider in the States, not a pediatrician, but any doctor or nurse knows this simple rule.

[quote]Why not use aspirin to lower my child’s fever?
In rare cases aspirin can cause Reye’s syndrome in children who have the flu or the chickenpox. Reye’s syndrome is a serious illness that can lead to death. Because it may be hard to tell if your child has one of these infections, it’s best not to use aspirin
.[/quote]

With fever Tylenol for kids is good. If that doesn’t control it you can alternate Tylenol with Ibuprofen. Tylenol is dosed every four hours and Ibuprofen every 6 hours, and these can overlap. You can also give the kid a tepid bath to bring body temperature down.

As someone suggested, make sure you’re hydrating the child with something like pedialyte or gatorade (something that has electrolytes in it - salts - sodium and potassium).

If the child stops sweating or stops peeing or doesn’t make tears when they cry - they NEED intravenous fluids at the hospital!

Usually fever is caused by infection. They just need to find the source - via blood work and examination and history.

[quote][b]Call your doctor if your child has any of these warning signs[/b]
Changes in behavior
Constant vomiting or diarrhea
Dry mouth
Earache or pulling at ears
Fever comes and goes over several days
High-pitched crying
Irritable
Not hungry
Pale
Seizures
Severe headache
Skin rash
Sore or swollen joints
Sore throat
Stiff neck
Stomach pain
Swelling of the soft spot on the head
Unresponsive or limp
Wheezing or problems breathing
Whimpering
[/quote]

Bodo

Bodo, thank you so much. My wife’s English is Ok, but not good enough to explain medication etc.
I thank you.

Cheers.
K.

Also, be very, very careful with the dosage of Tylenol - it can very easily cause liver damage if overdosed.

Call the doc and ask for the results–don’t wait for them to call you. It’s been several days, they should have them by now.

I was going to mention that you should never give your child asparin, but I see it’s been mentioned. Worry is just nature’s way of keeping the child safe. As long as you’re worried, you’re paying attention.

[quote=“jeff”][quote=“Chasm Resort!”]
Still haven’t heard anything back from the hospital ref. tests, but I am assuming everything is ok.
[/quote]

Call the doc and ask for the results–don’t wait for them to call you. It’s been several days, they should have them by now.[/quote]

Apparently with viruses it may take up to a month for them to find out exactly what it was. Your child will have been long cured and working on the next ailment.

My aunt, who is a nurse and married to a pediatric surgeon, also warned me to inquire about kidney disorders if our child continued to have unexplained fever.

One other thing to mention to is not to panic based on results given in the emergency room. We were there in January and the ER physician told us that our daughter had traces of blood in her urine. PANIC! That can’t be good. But two days later got in to see the kidney specialist who informs us that everyone has traces of blood in the urine, it’s completely normal.

[quote=“navillus”][quote=“jeff”][quote=“Chasm Resort!”]
Still haven’t heard anything back from the hospital ref. tests, but I am assuming everything is ok.
[/quote]

Call the doc and ask for the results–don’t wait for them to call you. It’s been several days, they should have them by now.[/quote]

Apparently with viruses it may take up to a month for them to find out exactly what it was. Your child will have been long cured and working on the next ailment.
[/quote]

I don’t know what kind of tests they’re running, but the routine blood and chemistry tests shouldn’t take that long. I doubt they’re actually trying to culture a virus, unless they have something specific in mind.

I don’t know either, but as I mentioned before they told us this when we first had the tests done and did call us back a month later to tell us the results. They spoke to my wife, who was unable to translate what it was. I suppose if I really wanted to know I could go to the hospital. But it is cured and knowing what it was will serve no benefit so I guess I’ll just let it go.

If in doubt; go to the hospital until you feel experienced enough with it. Ask the doc alot of questions about fevers and when it’s neccessary to bring them in.
Give the child what a DOCTOR tells you to give. Often they will give you some liquid you can keep in the fridge for lowering temperature.
I would advise not asking non doctors what to give your child.

A reply above says to go to a big hospital. I totally agree with that because the so-called “famous” small clinics often give you medicine that isn’t labelled—secret recipe stuff that knocks sicknesses right out. Probably loaded with steroids and super antibiotics most of the time (hence the “famous” label). Big hospitals usually follow the perscription rules as everything is recorded on their computer system. Over 2 years now and our child has never been given antibiotics. He once had tonsilitis and they said watch it and come back in 3 days. He got over it himself. A small clinic won’t usually let you leave without medicine.

Someone suggests giving Tylenol but doesn’t mention dosages or type of tylenol!!! :noway:
In 2 years my child has never been perscribed tylenol. Must be a reason for that.

One thing we have always done is make advance appointments online. Most big hospitals have this service once you have registered with them.
If the kid is looking like he’s getting sick we just make an appointment for a few days later and so don’t have to wait too long. If he is better, then we just cancel online.

Don’t play doctor!.

Tylenol can Kill

Tylenol (known generically as Acetominophen) is an important drug when your child has a headache, fever, toothache or muscle injury. It can help ease the pain and allow your child to get a good night’s sleep.
Unfortunately, Tylenol is also a powerful toxin. Too much Tylenol can kill your child.
pregnancy.org/article.php?sid=940

Children should not be given aspirin. Several studies link aspirin use in children with Reye’s Syndrome a severe illness that often is fatal.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/medic … 358824.stm

Tylenol has the dosage clerly labeled on the bottle by weight and age, best to go by weight.

That is if you can now buy it in Taiwan in a pharmacy …and children’s tylenol. Alot of people may just have it laying around the house in clinic packages.