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Krista Farrell · Nov 14, 2012, 04:39 PM

My granddaughter has been having a tem. Of 103. And above all day except when giving her meds. After nap this evening she is 104.2 just gave her meds again. Any way to get the fever down quickly. The doctor said to call once she is above 104. Her mom is at work. She has called waiting for her to get home.

smoothy · Nov 14, 2012, 04:45 PM

Cold water in a bathtub... but keep a close eye on her and keep checking the temp...

Are you close to an emergency room... if so take her there now... thats a very dangerous temp.

Krista Farrell · Nov 14, 2012, 04:48 PM

Thanks tried the bath already came down some but she is still high. The doctor said to just watch her and come in tomorrow.

smoothy · Nov 14, 2012, 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by Krista Farrell

Thanks tried the bath already came down some but she is still high. The doctor said to just watch her and come in tomorrow.

105 will result in brain damage in a fairly short time... anything above 104 is extremely serious. There is a very small difference between 104 and 105... I'm shocked the Doctor is treating this so lightly.

J_9 · Nov 14, 2012, 05:03 PM

Please take her to the ER now. This is a dangerously high temperature and you are going to need professional help with this.

smoothy · Nov 14, 2012, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by J_9

Please take her to the ER now. This is a dangerously high temperature and you are going to need professional help with this.

I Completely agree... at 105 you can (more like WILL) suffer permanent brain damage, cardiac damage and can even die... you bought yourself some time with the cold water bath... so get her there before it spikes up again...

jenniepepsi · Nov 15, 2012, 09:41 AM

I am very confused by the answers here. I have always been told that high fevers in young children isn't something ER worthy unless the fever doesn't go down with medication.
So I did some searching and found a few resources. Can someone help me understand this better? Most sources say that you don't need to worry at 104. A visit to the doctor maybe but not the ER.

Can a high fever cause brain damage? | BabyCenter

Treating a Child's Fever

Fever | Ask Dr. Sears®

smoothy · Nov 15, 2012, 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by jenniepepsi

I am very confused by the answers here. I have always been told that high fevers in young children isnt something ER worthy unless the fever doesnt go down with medication.
so i did some searching and found a few resources. can someone help me understand this better? most sources say that you dont need to worry at 104. a visit to the doctor maybe but not the ER.

Can a high fever cause brain damage? | BabyCenter

Treating a Child's Fever

Fever | Ask Dr. Sears®

When I was growing up... there were people nearby that were Jehovahs Witnesses... they didn't believe in medicine... they had two children... (I uses this term loosely)... as they were 20+ years older than I was... both were severely retarded due to very high fevers they suffered as children... neither would ever be able to take care of themselves... both had mental ages of approximately 3 years old and were in their 30's at the time...

Don't know what happened to them but I assume they ended up wards of the state when their parents passed away... They frequently wandered the streets... all the parents were always concerned when they were around though I seem to remember they appeared harmless like a really big and strong Toddler... (which in hindsight I can see the danger of a tantrum).

jenniepepsi · Nov 15, 2012, 10:56 AM

That is scary smoothy :( thanks for sharing. That is so sad when people refuse to get help for their kids. And I even though I wouldst panic, I wouldn't let a high fever like that go without treatment. I was just curious about if the ER is necessary, rather than making an appointment with the doctor? (as long as tyenol/motrin control the fever somewhat)

smoothy · Nov 15, 2012, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by jenniepepsi

that is scary smoothy :( thanks for sharing. that is so sad when people refuse to get help for their kids. and i even though i wouldst panic, i wouldnt let a high fever like that go without treatment. i was just curious about if the ER is necessary, rather than making an appointment with the doctor? (as long as tyenol/motrin control the fever somewhat)

Actually there is a diesease Reyes Syndrome children can get in conjunction with asperin and high fever...

Reye's Syndrome Symptoms, Treatment, Causes - MedicineNet.comsomething that wasn't discovered until long after I was an adult...

When I was a kid what you said was typical treatment... after this was discovered things changed...

102 or maybe 103 you have a very sick kid... 104 and 105 I would not think twice...

But honestly even at 103 I would too... having had to drag myself into one in Europe when I got Strep throat and got to 103 - 104 (nope didn't know an exact number as I had it measured with a Centigrade thermometer... and I'm a tough fellow.. but that completely took the wind out of my sail.

jenniepepsi · Nov 15, 2012, 12:48 PM

Tyenol or motrin doesn't have aspirin in it though. If I understand correctly, motrin is the medicine of choice for fevers in children over 6 months old.

youngtwin · Feb 3, 2013, 02:44 AM

I would fire that doctor

alstardis79 · Feb 3, 2013, 07:12 PM

Our ped has us alternate between using Tylenol and Advil. Also, fevers can be dangerous, but if the child is active and playful, not the biggest concern. My daughter ran a fever over 105 once, but was up and playing, so the doc wasn't to concerned. She ended up fine. If the child's behavior changes, get to the ER. Also do not do a cold bath, you want it to be luke warm. Causing the child to chill will in the end raise the temperature as chilling is the bodies way of warming up.