When do you worry about a fever?

My DS has had a fever since Saturday. It was up to 103.5 yesterday 2x's and would not go down with Tylenol. It did go down after a cool bath and Motrin. He awoke at 5:30 feeling warm and I gave him Motrin and he seemed a lot better. Well about an hour ago he started looking glassy eyed, became fussy and felt warm. His fever is 102.9. He wasn't eating well since Wednesday and I had him at the pedi Friday (before the fever) and they couldn't find anything wrong and said it was probably teething. Today he actually ate pretty well. He has very very mild congestion, barely noticeable. No other symptoms. Do I wait it out or does this require a pedi visit?

 

Our nurse told us to worry if it is 103 or higher, and hasn't gone down with tylenol and motrin.

 

I think you should call your pediatrician. I think that over 103 is a point where you want to call, especially if it's not responding to fever reducing medicines.

 

I agree with PP and would take him in. I worry if it is over 102 and consistenly jumps back up as soon as the medicine wears off. Make sure he is getting lots of fluids - i think that is more important than food when they are this way.
I am surprised they said teething. While most moms (me included!) can attest to the fact that their children get fevers and are irritable during teething, it is usually the 100-101 type of fever and only for a couple of days. When my daughter was like you son for a few days, I passed it off as teething. when I finally went in to the dr, they gave me a good talking too (she acaully had a double ear infection ) saying that teething does not cause fevers...infections cause fevers.

Hope he feels better soon.

 

Ditto on the too high temp for teething

If tylenol and motrin get it below 102, my ped says it just needs to run its course. As long as there are no other serious symptoms, i.e. coughing, chest congestion, lethargy etc. Josh had a low grade fever on Thanksgiving Day, 101ish with a chest congested cold. The fever got better for a day or so (just gave motrin no tylenol). Then 24 hours later SPIKED to 104+! Off to ER and he dx with pneu. WIthin 48 hours of the antibiotics he was doing much better! HTH

I hope he gets better soon!

 

I just wanted to clarify...he didn't have a fever when I took him to the pedi. It developed the next day. I took him to the pedi because he wasn't acting himself and I thought he might have an ear infection.