15-Month-old with Fever

Sounds like Roseola. My eldest son had it when he was 11 months old and my second son, who is 19 months old, just had it last week. High fever for several days, and once the fever has stopped then a rash breaks out and slowly spreads and intensifies starting at the belly and then travelling all over. The spots should go away within a week. They shouldn't cause him much if any discomfort. If not Roseola, it isn't uncommon for high fevers to cause rashes. It could also be a strep infection. I saw that some suggested Fifth's Disease. Technically he is too young, and you would have seen more of a slapped/red cheek to begin with (we've had that too). Good luck!

Hi L.,
Taking him to the doctor after 4 days is probably the best thing to do, just to be safe. At least you didn't run to see the doctor as soon as he got a fever. One of the things a lot of people in general don't seem to realize is that if you run to doctors every single time, they won't even treat them any more than you could at home with childrens Tylenol or Childrens Motrin. The reason for the non-treatments is because with constant antibiotics, children become immune to them, then when they really need treated for something serious it doesn't work for them.
It could be you son may have some teeth still coming in. Or my niece once when she was a little tyke was running a fever and got a rash on her feet, with no other symptoms. Turned out to just be a virus and the way the body chose to fight it was thru the rash and a fever.
I wish you luck with your docotors appointment, hopefully it's nothing major.

I'm thinking it could be teething, like molars, twelve month ones if he hasn't gotten them yet, or two year ones starting early, but it could be something else, as others have suggested, so it's a good thing to have him checked out by the doc.

Sounds like what we went through a few months ago...turned out to be roseola. The rash usually comes out after the fever goes away. There is nothing you can do but wait it out...if it is roseola, once the rash appears your son should feel much better. Good luck!

Sounds like he might be teething. Every kid reacts differently to getting teeth. Some get a fever and rash, and of course irritable. Who wouldn't be with those sharp little things cutting up your gums!

But, at this point, it's probably best to take him to the doctor, just to be sure. Keep up the Tylenol/Motrin to keep him comfortable. No matter what the diagnosis, the Tylenol/Motrin will help.

Good luck!

The doc will know. The rash together with the fever may be strep, but it takes a throat culture to be sure. I'm glad you have the app't. Try to keep his fever down with tylenol. He might also just be teething. ??

I also agree with Kristen P, you were right to wait a little bit. There was a mom's post on here very recently that belittled the mother for waiting. My doctors office does not want to see you unless the fever is 3 days. People that run to the pediatrician at the first signs are killing the waiting time for the rest of us!! They do not do anything but tell you to give motrin/tylenol anyway.

Ok, i am through venting :-) I hope your son gets better soon. I would guess that it is the nasty little virus that my kids had. It takes a few days to run its course. I wish you the best of luck!!

I agree that after 4 days of a fever, you should take him to the doctor. It's not uncommon for kids to have ear infections and not really show it or have intense pain. Plus, he could have a high pain threshold. Better to be safe. Good luck, hope Sam is better soon!

It could be strep throat, or just a virus, but a trip to the doctor is a good idea!

This happened with my daughter twice. The first time, she had a long-lasting virus. It's all they could figure. But after 5 days of fever, they sent us for various tests, and it turned out she had pneumonia (though the bloodwork showed it was viral). It was hard, and she was sick for a long time. And she reacted VERY badly to the prescription medicine they gave us (to stave off potential secondary infection). :(

The second time, she had an ear infection. Although her fever didn't really show up until after she'd spent several nights (and all day) being grouchy and screaming at me non-stop. That was a trip, too, because she also had a cold, and the first round of antibiotics not only didn't clear it up, but when we went in for her follow-up, she then had WORSE infection and in BOTH ears. (And really, my daughter is generally very healthy and has otherwise only ever had a couple of head colds and the flu once ... she's 24 months old).

I hope you get a more satisfactory answer than "It's a virus." And - that it clears up quickly and you both find some relief.

Hi L.,
The rash could be a sign of Strep. Usually there is a sore throat with it, but both of my kids have had strep without ANY sore thoat. Have the doctor do a strep test! My son is home with a fever, too, but he also has congestion. I think it is just a virus this time!
Good Luck and I hope he feels better soon!

ly.

Sounds like Rosiola, fever for a few days and then a rash. My daughter had it when she was around 21 months.

My 6 year old had a fever for 7 days with no symptoms. It was viral. After the fever finally broke, she got a runny nose for a few days and a cough for over a week. I controlled the cough with mucinex but your son is too young for that. Now my 3 year old had the fever yesterday and is just not himself today but the fever is gone. Spring is coming. By the way, I took my daughter to the dr. twice-they orig. thought strep because she's had it before with no sore throat but it came back neg. I had never seen a 7 day fever before but our pediatrician said she has a few times. This too shall pass. T

The symptoms sound like Roseola. Google it for details. Most of my children had it around that age, and it is scarey because it always started with just a high fever and no other symptoms and then led to a rash. That's it! After the first child had it, it wasn't so frightening with other children in following years! :) It's never fun to have a sick child... Best of luck!

MamaC

Sounds to me like Fifth Disease. We all had it last summer and the kids had the exact same symptoms. I had it too and got MUCH sicker than the kids. Just felt completely gross for about a month and had a rash-which still comes back once and a while. Anyhow-nothing you can do for it. I just spoke with a friend yesterday whose kids have it so it must be going around again.

Sounds like Strep to me, but since I can't see it that's just a guess. Let us know what the doctor says.