5 month old with fever?

Question

Ok, my daughter is 5 months old. Sat she started running a fever of 102. I called my doctors on call nurse and she said that I should treat it with tylenol and call back if it was still there in a couple of days. Monday she went to daycare and they called me to tell me she still had the fever of 102, was given tylenol and an hour later was 101. They also said she had only had about 4 1/2 ounces of formula. So I called the doctor to see what he thought. He told me that he wanted to see her. I brought her in her temperature had returned to normal, probably from the tylenol, and she had a bottle while in the waiting room and took that just fine. He checked her over and said he did not see anything wrong, although he said she sounded a tiny bit congested. Lastnight she was warm and I took her temp and agian a low grade fever. Gave her tylenol and it went down only to come back about and hour and half later. Anyone else experience this? Its just weird to me that her fever spikes, goes down.

only to go back up agian? Other then the fever and little bit of congestion she has no other symptoms? I was told to call the doctor if its still there tomorrow. Just wondering in the meantime if anyone has experienced this or could shed some light on what you all might think is going on?

Answer 1

Good morning. The same thing happened to my son his temp got up to 103. I just gave him tylenol and gave him as many fluids as he would take with out over feeding him. She's probably just fighting off a virus. If it gets any higher I would give the dr. another call.

Answer 2

She could be cutting teeth. My oldest would have teething side effects, such as temperature or fussiness weeks before the teeth ever cut. Tylenol will bring it down. If the fever is low grade do not panic. Her body is learning to fight it and she is still developing her immune system. Keeping in contact with her doctor is what I would do. Sometimes, a problem may not arise for a few days. Remember, she will be somewhat warm when asleep, sometimes that can effect her body temperature. She can have a temperature with a cold, but that doesn't mean antibotics are needed. Our cue for my 5 month old is if he is up every hour during the night, then there is definetly something wrong. He has never had a fever and has been on antibotics three times. 102 isn't dangerous, so just keep watching it. Keep the fluids going even water is fine. If it gets above 104 then be concerned. Also, I did not know if your knew this, but when a rectal temperature is taken, subtract a degree and I have been told by my pediatriction that rectal is the most accurate so that is the only temp I take. Congestion can also occur with teething. Check out her lower front gums and see if they look swollen.

Answer 3

It's normal for a fever to spike at night, nobody really knows why. As long as her fever comes down a degree or two with the Tylenol, that's okay. (Don't count on it coming all the way back to normal, that doesn't always happen.) If she's not uncomfortable, you don't even need to give Tylenol if the fever is under 103. (Fever is our friend - it's the body's first line of defense against illness, and often the ONLY thing the body needs to do to fight out a little bug.) That said, if the fever goes longer than five full days with NO other symptoms going on - no pain, or anything like that - she should see the doctor to rule out anything major. Make sure she drinks and pees - if she stops urinating, take her back to the doctor ASAP.

Answer 4

She probably has a virus. The fever is a way of fighting off illness. Keep an eye on her; just because she was symptom free at the doctors, doesn't mean that it won't turn into an ear infection or some other type that needs antibiotics. The fever will go down when you give her tylenol and then it goes back up after the medicine wears off. Watch the congestion too. You don't want it to settle in her chest and become bronchitis or someother respiratory infection.

Answer 5

Don't worry I've experienced a lot of that sometimes I am in the hospital for 4 hours daily, most of the time it's a viral infection the fever will last for 4 days or five if the baby is active and fine (when the fever is down) then its OK. all children when they have fever they are off food and not well.

my daughter when she was 3 and a half she had fever for 6 days with no symptoms ,and after it went down, she had fine rashes all over her body the doctor told me it's a viral infection as well.

sometimes the fever will stay for 4 days without going down , had to give her a bath and Tylenol bath and Tylenol...some babies are like that . don't worry it will pass.

Answer 6

My son was like that when he was teething. Getting a running nose a high grade fever. Gave tylenol worked for a little while and then right back up. Check to see if her gums are puffy and white. Or she could just be fighting of a virus. Keep giving fluids, and watching her. doctors now try not to precribe to many antibotics and see if they can fight of stuff on there own. A fever while mantained is a sign that the body is actually fighting off and infection. If her fever goes back up I would call the doctors again. Good luck to you

Answer 7

If she is eating and doesn't go any higher she might just have a virus. The only other problem could be an ear infection or sinus infection which could be just starting so he couldn't see anything.
Go back tomorrow and continue with the tylenol. Also if you have a friend or neighbor with older children they can help you find out what viruses are in the schools etc. and what the symptoms are.

Answer 8

Sounds like a virus. I would try some Children's Motrin (ibuprofin). It's stronger than Tylenol and, in my experience, works better. You can also rotate Tylenol and Motrin to help control the fever. Keep her home from daycare so she doesn't get anyone else sick. Keep giving her medicine.

Answer 9

maybe a slight ear infection. getting a fever again is normal, but not over and over. i would go to the er if it happens agian because it can be dangerous and you know your child better than anyone. is she eating now? i hope so good luck
ps u dont want to over due her on the tylenol

Answer 10

It's probably the tylenol that is bringing her fever down. I'd keep her home for a few days and keep an eye on her.