Hi. I took my son for his one year old check up yesterday and found out he had a fever. There are no other symptoms, no respiratory stuff, no diarrhea, etc. He is even playing okay and eating okay. Just the fever (rectally 101.4). I asked the doc what I should do and she said just to give him Motrin. He was fussy all nihgt and the fever kept coming back after the Mortin wore off. This morning, it was 101.8, and after Motrin, it was back to about 99.8. I called the doctor again and asked what it could be but she has no idea. I had suggested that maybe it could be UTI, but she just said take him to the ER of the fever gets worse. I feel like she is a little bit complacent and it's not helping calm my worries. I know the urine collection process would be painful which is why I haven't jumped in my car and taken him yet. I don't want him to suffer any more than he has to, but if it is UTI, which is extremely uncomfortable, I want him on antibiotics right away. What do you all think?
Maybe I'm being paranoid, but the reason I am thinking UTI is that about 3 days ago, his poo was a little runny and the daycare lady told me it was all over his diaper area --- including his penis, and that she had to really clean him up. I'm just worried because I've had UTIs before and they are not fun ... He seems happier today but there are sudden outbursts of crying with no apparent reason, and he stops crying just as suddenly. When I check his diaper, it is wet, but there is no way of really knowing if he cried because it hurt to pee. I've been good about keeping him hydrated so there is even no way of knowing if the frequency of urination is just due to drinking more fluids that he is used to.
Update:
I did end up running him to the ER because his fever went up to 102.7. Good thing because when we got there, it was 103.7 and they had to give him both Motrin and Tylenol. Tests were done for RSV, Flu, and UTI, and all came back negative. They said it was some other unidentified virus and to just keep him hydrated (etc) -- the usua;. It makes me feel better to rule out those other things though. He seems better too. Hopefully it will go on the upswing ...
Update:
You all are awesome and have done better with easing my worries than my pediatrician. My son seems fine now, still a low grade fever (as far as I can tell), and the last time I gave him Motrin was about 8 hours ago. The last few days, it wore off after a good 5-6 hours. He did have some few episodes of diarrhea and one episode of vomiting yesterday early morning, but things look like they are headed back to the right direction. But thanks all for the opinions. I really appreciate it. I guess, I just really needed people to tell me that this is all going to be okay, and to tell me what to do for the moment. It's really important, because if my head is screwed on straight that way, I can better take care of my son and get him all better. The lesson to take home from all this is to switch peds as soon as I find a good one (I am sure there are a lot out there) - haha. But seriously, thanks.
Sounds to me like Roseola (or 6th disease). Its a virus that presents a high fever with no other sign of illness for a couple days that suddenly disappears. Then a red blotchy rash appears for abt 48 hrs. It doesn't it it just looks horrible. Its extremely common and just about all infants and toddlers get it. The good news is that once the rash appears the child is no longer contageous and they only get it once, then they are immune.
i think your doctor is being a total putz to blow you off with
go to the ER if it gets worse......obviously you would do that, but why would anyone hang that out there a viable option for a sick baby!? that being said, i do agree that doing nothing in the absence of worse symptoms is best. fevers are the body's way of fighting infection, and unless they get dangerously high are best left to do what they're designed to do. i'm just annoyed that your doc was so offhand with you.
khairete
S.
My daughter had this last weekend... I took her to the ER and they did blood work and checked to see if she had a UTI. All she had was a fever... They said that it was a virius. She is now feeling better. I mean you could still take him down and have him checked for a UTI if you think that might be wrong with him... better be safe then sorry... But her symptoms were the fever and red eyes... and of course being fussy because of the fever... I hope this helps
Could be a sinus infection, teething, ear infection starting, so many things.....
Does he have any teeth coming in? That could cause a slight fever. Is he acting generally happy overall? You don't want to jump the gun on antibiotics, since he will everntually build up a tolerance to them and they will be useless when he gets older... I'm not a big fan of giving unnecessary meds. As long as the fever is being managed by motrin, just keep him comfortable. If it continues tmrw, take him back to the pediatrician and see a different doc for a second opinion... the doc that said take him to the ER sounds kind of lazy. Pediatricians specialize in KIDS... ERs do not. They will treat him as if he were an adult, and I think you'll be more frustrated by that than anything else. I hope he feels better!
I see that others have mentioned that it may be Roseola. My daughter caught it at around 19 months of age. She was absolutely fine and then all of a sudden had a high fever in the upper 101s. The Motrin would bring it down and she would be her usual happy self until it wore off and the fever would spike again. Our ped. checked her out and since she had no other symptoms of anything he figured it was most likely Roseola and told us to expect a rash on her trunk within 4 days. He was right on the money. We handled the fever until it broke and then a day or two later she was covered with these tiny red bumps which did not seem to bother her at all. I think it is a pretty common illness in children this age (I had it when I was around the same age as my daughter) and I don't think they do any tests for it - just rule out pretty much everything else and then tell you to keep the fever under control and watch for the rash. Hope he feels better soon!
At a year it could be anything - even teething. My kids always ran a fever when they got teeth... sometime it would last for a few days & then just go away. I'd just give it a few days... if he is showing no other signs it will pass. Just keep an eye on him, give them the Motrin, and take it from there. If the signs change or the fever gets worse take him to the ER or if you are still concerned next week take him back to the doctors & ask for a urine test for the UTI. But it will most likely pass before then.
Might be a mild ear infection. I read somewhere once that 90 % of them go away within 5-7 if left untreated... pretty much the same rate, regardless of whether or not they are given antibiotics, and also thought to be one of the leading causes of over prescribing antibiotics. Ear infections also can make them VERY uncomfortable and fussy during the night (or any time they are lying down).
Motrin will help reduce inflammation and pain from them. And unless the fever goes over 102 there is usually no cause to worry. Elevate the end of his bed where he lays his head and continue with the Motrin.
If the fever gets worse, then would be when to become more concerned.
There is a childhood virus called Roseola- it is literally a fever lasting approximately 5 days followed by a rash on your baby's trunk that does not appear until the fever is gone. My first son had it when he was 1 and I figured his fever was from teething until the rash appeared later. He had no other symptoms than fussiness at night and the fever. Hope this helps and you figure out what's going on!
My son just got over the same thing. He had a fever of 102 for about 4 days with no sign of infection. The first 2 days I kept thinking "should I take him to the doctor?" But then I didn't want them to send me home with nothing but a $60 bill. So I asked my pharmacist (when in doubt, ask your pharmacist...very smart people). She said there is no need to take him in unless he can't keep liquids down. You're lucky...my son wouldn't eat anything. I then stopped giving him motrin and let his body naturally sweat it out. That's the best thing for them. Your child will get over it faster. Don't put your kid on antibiotics unless the doctor says he/she absolutely needs them. They are not good to take if you don't really need them. And pooping is a good sign. It means he/she is getting rid of what's in the system that's causing the fever. The pharmacist also said that kids with fevers but with no other symptoms in the spring time is a very common thing. It's just because of the weather change. Hope this helps.
Your doctor should be working with you to calm your fears and resolve your issue. It could easily be a virus so it may need a couple of days to run it's course. My kids have gotten "fever viruses" before, but you are right to be on your guard with a child so young and a fever. I would give it 2 or 3 days to run it's course and if it's still there, take him back in and tell her you want answers from her or a referral elsewhere. It may be time to find a new doctor. You are going to go through alot with your pediatrician over the next several years and it's best if you are comfortable and trust them completely. Good luck! I hope your little boy is doing well in no time!
There are so many viruses out there that can cause this - I don't think your doctor is being complacent. Without any other symptoms and since it's not a "high" fever it would be irresponsible to really recommend anything else at this time - a lot of kids get viruses like roseola - which have a mysterious moderate fever (usually no other symptoms) then after a few days the fever stops and they get a rash all over - there is no treatment and the doctor can't tell if that's what it is until the rash shows up - at which time the virus has run it's course. Don't worry too much, just keep him comfortable and hydrated and give it some time. A fever is his natural way of fighting off an illness - if it responds (comes down a few degrees) to medication like Motrin then it's not something the doctor is going to worry about. If he becomes very "sick" (vomitting, diarrhea, severe respiratory symptoms, lethargic (not just sleepy but like a bump on a log), or crying inconsolably (like he's in pain) then I'd worry, but otherwise enjoy a popsicle and some cuddle time. I hope this helps (I have 3 kids, worked with infants and toddlers for several years, and watched kids from home)
believe it or not sometimes they just get fevers. it may be nothing or something. my son had a fever for a couple of days before and he was fine. he may a have a little bug that his body is trying to fight before it gets to show itself. the body is an amazing thing. but also always follow instinct if you feel he may have a UTI take him to the ER. it always better to be safe then sorry! I wish you the best of luck.
