how high of a temperaure is safe?

Question

My friend's 6 year old son has a temperature of 101.6 F. How high is it safe to let it get before she takes him to the ER?

Answer 1

temperatures that I have seen in the ED have been as high as 110 (heat stroke -- very serious), but kids come in with temps as high as 105...concerning, but very & easily treatable. The big concern that parents have is febrile seizures....where the child has a seizure ONLY related to the high temperature. (There are other things that can cause seizures but I am only relating to a 6 year old). A 3 month old with a fever of 101.6 and seizures would need a septic workup and admission. This would entail a spinal tap, blood cultures, urine culture, chest xray, and IV with IV antibiotics.
However, a 6 year old with a 101.6 is ok. Alternate tylenol and advil every 4 hours...give plenty of clear liquids (no milk or dairy) like popsicles, gatorade, apple/grape/cranberry....juices, TEPID showers (not cold cause they cause you to shiver and your temp goes up) that you can do every 2 hours with him in boxwers only. Cool washcloths on the forehead...comfort measures. IF, the temp stays high for 48 hours (OR THINGS CHANGE) see the doc pronto.
Ear infections are 70% viral (so NO antibiotics are necessary) so, if your doc wants to Rx them (so when the attorney asks him why the child had a problem..."well, I gave him antibiotics...doesn't that count"), please be inquisitive so that you do not administer antibiotics for a viral cause (they won't work, could subject the child to a reaction, give the child diarrhea {as antibiotics do not just wipe out the bad guys, they wipe out the good guys also} and they increase bacterial resistance to antibiotics, and waste your money or co-pay. if the child still runs a fever for another 48-72 hours (OR THINGS CHANGE) then you may want to start the antibiotics after consulting with the peditrician.
good luck

Answer 2

Children can survive higher fevers than adults without as much damage. However if there are other symptoms besides the fever (diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, acting very strange -extremely agitated or unusually quiet) it should be considered more serious.

Our regular temperature is 98*F, a high temp would be 100-102, really high 103-104, and ER time high about 105-106. After 106 I think is when brain damage and seizures start.

Try Tylenol, and if that doesn't work, a room-temperature bath will cool them off quickly (mine HATES it, but it works).
Remember not to dress them too warm, even though they complain of being cold - it will only raise their temp.


[Just to comment on the answer above mine: NEVER put them in an ice cold bath. That could throw the body into shock. Very bad. Water a room temperature is standard.]

Answer 3

That is fine for her. Give her Tylenol or Motrin but no aspirin. That is not very high at all. You shouldn't ignore it but don't stress on it. 103 and over is too high for a 6 yr old. That is when you give the Tylenol, lukewarm/cool bath and call the doctor. The ER is just going to charge you a fortune, make you wait forever and tell you the same thing. May I suggest that you get a copy of some child care book - like even an old Dr Spock. It has a lot of those kind of answers in it. Mine finally fell apart.

Answer 4

101.6 F means that the kid has a fever; please do not let it get any higher than that or experiment in your house about these things because the kid might have an infection that already presents itself.

The "normal" body temperature of a human being is about 37 C, which is approximately 97-98 F, give or take. An increase in body temperature as the one you have written indicates that something is going on inside the kid's body; usually an infection has initiated, perhaps bacterial or viral in nature. In any case, the kid may get delirious even before reaching critical body temperature. So once the temperature shoots up to that level without ANY signs of significant decrease after some time, please do take him to the hospital to get checked.

Hope this helps.

Answer 5

105 is dangerous...101.6 is fairly low grade. I would suggest some children's Tylenol or a lukewarm bath (not cold) to bring his temp instead of taking him to the ER. Unless he is dehydrated then they can't do much for him but suggest the Tylenol too to try to reduce the fever.

P.S. Make sure that he is drinking plenty of water to keep his fluid level up and make sure to check that he doesn't have diarrhea, which would not be good for a small child his age.

Answer 6

102 is usually getting pretty high. You should be able to bring
the temperature down with cold liquids and Tylenol(acetominophen). Temperatures reaching 104, l05 could
become lethal and should be brought down immediately by
placing the patient in a cold ice water bath, and getting medical attention
immediately. Elevated temperature that are sustained
could result in seizure activity and brain injury.

Answer 7

First has she treated the fever with tylenol?
If not, why wait until it gets higher and take him to the ER.
Treat it now and if it stays up, then take him to the ER. But as long as the tylenol reduces the fever and it is given as directed he can wait to go to the doctor tomorrow.

His temp needs to be around 100 or less.

Answer 8

He does not need the ER. Give him children's tylenol, plenty of fluids, and rest. Popsicles are great. ALL kids get fevers. If it goes above 103.5 after you have done all that, call the doctor.

Answer 9

id say that when it starts to get into the 103-104 degrees range take him to the er... keep on goiving him fever reducing medicine

Answer 10

101.6 Fahrenheit To Celsius