My Daughter Has Fever (5Th Day) and I Am Freaking Out

You know on little ones who can't handle some anti botics doctors will give antibotic shots. I remember when daughter was a baby she had a fever that antibotics wouldnt help and they put shots in her legs of antibotics. Worked like a charm. Get back to the doctor asap.

Is she able to eat and/or drink without pain? My guys (3 1/2 twin boys) spiked these high fevers and would still maintain a fever of 101 AFTER Motrin. It turned out they had Hand/Foot/Mouth disease which can consist of blisters lining the throat and mouth, in the web of the toes and fingers and around the anal area. When my one son had it really bad (his fever lasted 9 days, along with the extreme pain of all the blisters in his mouth...poor pooh!) he could not eat and would only drink Dannon yogurt drink (the small individual bottles). He went from 31 to 26 lbs in 9 days :( I also gave him cool baths and placed cool wash cloths on his head as a fever of 101 (again, after spiking to 103.7 ~ his highest, and after meds) is still hot! Unfortunately there is no cure/medication for H/F/M, only Tylenol or Motrin.
Hope she feels better soon!
*HUGS* to you both!!

not all of the fevers were super high, but just the fact that she has had a fever for 5 days and meds arent bringing it down is very worrisome to me!! a fever means that she has an infection somewhere in her body, whether it is strep, ear, or could be internally or somewhere they wont find at the reg doc. I say go to the ER, preferably a childrens hospital if you have one close, and explain her history, you seem to be doing an awesome job keeping track. she really needs something to help her!

Try Tylenol to reduce the fever, did you say chocolate syrup? That may make her throw-up being to sweet, and really not a healthy item to feed a sick child/adult. I would place it with applesauce if your able to. Try luke warm baths when fever spikes and lots of water! Water is a must!!! and as active and good as your child may feel time to time, make sure to keep her down to rest as much as possible. When they are to active it can cause the temps to spike. If she is congested stay away from dairy, that can make them feel worse as well. Good luck mama:) You may also need to take her to the Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) Dr.

She's throwing up and it's mucusey maybe she has some type of respiratory illness and it's nothing bacterial. You say she had a rash you called dr they changed he antibiotic did she go into the dr? Some illnesses can cause rashes that rash may have nothing to do with the antibiotics.
If it is bacterial she hasn't even been on antibiotics that long I'd give it at minimum a full 48 hrs for it to start working longer if she isn't keeping down the full dose. Her fever is coming down and from the temps you gave it's been pretty much normal all day a fever is 100.4 + so it's seems like she is improving. How is her energy level? A fever (especially low one 100.5-103) is not really concerning if her energy level is fine. The time to be concerned is if she stops urinating, is lethargic, confused, stumbling.

Edited: if her temp is lower than 102/103 you don't really need to give her anything a fever is a good thing as long as it's not too high. Only give fever reducers when necessary.

Are you giving her ibuprofen and tylenol to help with the fever or just antibiotics??? I would start there. The fever isn't as much a worry than the undiagnosed reason for the fever. Keep asking until you get answers. I wish you the best and hope she feels better soon.

M

You didn't say how old your daughter is but I assume she's not an infant since you mentioned camp. Her fevers are not high and as long as she is up and active, don't worry. Fever is the body's way of cooking out an infection or invader. If she's not complaining of pain, leave off the medication and see what her body says (including the tylenol/advil). I have three kids and we don't use medication for fevers unless they are uncomfortable or the fever is high (103 and over).

Keep her hydrated.
Fever, is dehydrating.

Antibiotics will not help, if it is virus.
Virus colds/illness can run 7-10 days.
Keep an eye on her fever.
Tylenol/Motrin, only reduces fever/discomfort... it does NOT 'cure' the illness. So fever will return, if the child is still sick or has an infection.

The 'rash".... is most probably a "viral rash." It appears, when a child has a Fever. It is basically the toxins/virus, leaving the body. Both my kids have had that as a young child, whenever they got sick and had a fever. This is her our Pediatrician. It self-resolves... and goes away. It is not itchy or anything. It is small red dots sort of a rash.

KEEP her hydrated.... liquid in small amounts, throughout the day. If given large amounts of liquid at a time, she will throw it up.
Orange juice, creates more mucus when sick.
So avoid that.
Give her water... or Pedialyte etc.

Doc can also check for a sinus infection.

For giving syrup... what worked for my son is, giving him the syrup, THEN giving him Cheetos. Yes. This cuts the bad taste of the syrup medicine. Our Pediatrician, suggested this. My son is picky, and with this method, was able to take the cough syrup when he was sick and on antibiotic syrup. For its full course. Of 10 days. He had had Amoxicyllin.

My son had a similar illness when he was in Preschool. About a month ago. High fever, throwing up etc. His ears were fine. No strep for him.
A virus thing.
It self-resolved.

BUT like anything, keep your Doctor informed of any changes or worsening symptoms or high fever...

Or take her to the ER.

Most important part first
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All hospitals have a 24/7 nurse advice line. Give them a ring, they'll have YOU do some additional tests, ask you a bunch of questions/ get all her symptoms (including things you might not think to look for) and then tell you whether to

a) Continue treating at home (and with what meds at what dose per her weight and timing)

b) Make a doctor's appt in the morning

c) Come into the ER.

Don't trust US. Call up a medical professional on shift who can talk to you for a good 10-20 mintues and give you sound medical advice specific to your case
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Editorializing:

In GENERAL, you can take tylenol and ibuprofen daily for YEARS. You just need to get your liver checked every 6-12 months.

The fever isn't scaring me, right now, since it seems pretty responsive. It's spiking up to 103 & 104, but you bring it right back down to 99-100 with only ONE medicine (alternating, she only ever has 1 med in her system at a time). Tylenol and ibuprofen you can give at the SAME time for high or stubborn fevers. EX) 103.7 + tyelnol = 103.1 15 minutes later + ibuprofen = 102.

When it gets scary is when you give tylenol + ibuprofen and the fever DOESN'T come down.

((BUT I'M NOT THERE. I'm just reading your charting, have no idea of her medical history, or other symptoms. FEVER ALONE, I'm not "OMG", but -again- I'm not there, and I'm not triaging. Just commenting on general fevers. Yours is spiking up there, but seems really responsive to meds.))

5 days isn't that long, but it warrants a call to the doctor.

WHENEVER you need on the spot medical advice, or want to double check that you're "doing what I should be doing" call that 24/7 nurse line. I'm medically trained. I call ALL the time.

First off, low grade fevers are from 99-102. The alarming ones are higher then that, and last a long time with no relief . They seem to go down once you give the medicine. She could have caught a virus, and now has a fever. Sounds like she has a cold now. Sometimes they start with an ear infection, and then get a cold right after ( or vice versa). I wouldn't mix the antibiotic with anything, and make sure she is able to eat something with the antibiotic so it does not upset her stomach ( saltine crackers work great) .

Has the headache subsided? Does she complain of ear, or neck pain? Is she unable to eat or drink? If any of these are yes, then she will need to be seen again. These could be symptoms of a more serious illness then just the common cold. Does she act/look sick. Show signs of lethargy, dehydration?

If not, then I would continue to give her the antibiotic, Tylenol. I would make sure she is able to eat and drink, plenty of fluids. Gatorade, apple/grape juices( diluted) are good. If you see no sign of improvement in three days, I would go back to the doctor.

I also would recommend that you give yourself a break and rest. You sounds exhausted. I know it is hard when our little ones are sick. I am the same way, and I won't rest until my son looks and acts better( and symptoms have stopped). I also make a big fuss with my son, and that doesn't help either. They need rest, and so do you. You are doing everything you can do right now. You are doing nothing wrong.

The ear thermometers were wonderful inventions, but our pediatricians office was telling me how much the actual temp could vary unless u spent bookoo bucks on an accurate medical one so I usually just use the same digital one to be sure I get an accurate temp and I wouldn't take her temp so frequently. Also, if you take it after she ate or drank something you need to wait at least a 1/2 an hour or so from what i've been told. I know this is really scary, my girls both had mrsa and that was a horrible week of high fevers and panic but the best thing is to keep ur wits about yourself. You are doing well, check her temp first thing in the morning, give her something to eat & drink - give her fever reducer then check it again in 1 1/2 hrs & go from there. Best of luck to you, we're keeping our fingers crossed for u!

If its a virus all the antibiotics in the world wont help. With that said I am a worrier. We would be headed to emergency. If she's throwing up and doc thinks she needs the antibiotics they can give her a shot. My advice, go to the er for your own sanity! Good luck mama