4 yr old with 104 degree temp?

Question

My 4 yr old has been sick and her temp has been going between 101.4 and 103.8. I've been told that 104 degree temps can cause brain damage is this true? She has seen the doc, so i'm not concerned just curious if this is true

Answer 1

Oh man. Listen to the people above who _have_ kids. All these people saying "take her to the ER NOW" don't know what they're talking about.

Her fever is close enough to 105 to take corrective measures. Motrin/Ibuprofin, as others have said (NOT Tylenol) and a lukewarm bath (water temp 85-88 degress, like a fairly warm pool) are good ideas. Also, loose clothes, a cold rag on her neck and/or forehead, etc.)

If she hits 105 it does not mean brain damage. If it stayed there for a long time, yes. But high fevers, sometimes even accompanied by a siezure, are not that unusual for young kids.

Besides, if the goal is to get her temp down, how can you do that faster? By giving her medicine now and getting her in a tepid bath now, or driving to the hospital and sitting in the ER, doing paperwork etc? And she doesn't need to be exposed to the other sick people at the hospital. And what are they going to do at the hospital? Give her Motrin, and cover her with cold rags.

She can most effectively be cared for by you. (I'm not anti-hospital. I just go for what makes sense.)

Answer 2

Young children often get higher temps than adults do. It's good that you took her to the pediatrician. I wouldn't worry about brain damage from that. Like someone already said, I think it's around 105-106 that you start to worry about that. Even then the temp has to be that high for some time. The big thing with kids and temps is febrile seizures which are caused by a rapid rise in temp. I am sure your daughter will be fine. If her temp doesn't normalize in a few days or if her symptoms worsen, then take her to the doctor again. No need for the ER at this point. I am sure her doctor already told you to alternate with motrin and tylenol. Cold rags will help, as will a rubbing alcohol sponge bath (though, I would only do that if other methods are not working).

Answer 3

TAKE HER TO THE ER NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you want to wait give her an Rubbing Alcohol bath then take her to the ER!!!!

I TAKE MY nephews to the ER when their temps reach 103! My nephew was 3 (2 yrs ago) & he had a fever of 104 & he had 2 seizures in 1/2 because his temp was to high!! I took him by ambulance since I was babysitting & my mom had the car. He had a seizure in my arms before I called 911 & in the ambulance on the way. They gave him an Rubbing Alcohol Bath & motrin. He had the seizures because his fever was too high! The ER doctor called CPS on me because I let the fever go from 102.3 to 104 in 2 hours. He had seen the his doctor 2 days before & only had an ear infection!! Well when he was admitted he had a double ear infection, urinary tract infection, bladder infection & his kidneys were shutting down! He was hospitalized for 3 weeks & CPS dropped the charges of child endangerment because we had no idea that he had gotten worse. His doctor had said that his fever might go up a little but would then lower it didn't just got higher!! CPS said that I had done the right thing AFTER I knew something was wrong. My sister changed doctors (the same doctor that treated her older son) & to this day we have to be careful in the heat because he is prone to heat stroke & exhaustion in the summer plus he now has seizures!! I feel responsible because if I had known that 104 degree was dangerous I would have gotten him to the hospital sooner. With him Rubbing Alcohol baths didn't work. My sister doesn't blame me nor my family but I blame myself because if I followed the advice of generations in my family I would NEVER have let the fever get that high no matter what his doctor said!!

When I was younger I had a 103.4 degree fever with in 1/2 hr of waking up I was at the ER!!!! Anything over 102 goes to the hospital (that's been the rule in my face for generations)! Just to let you know my dad was an EMT & paramedic for 20 yrs & he's the one to say about the alcohol bath & ER!! It's dangerous for she brain when she has high fevers!!

PLEASE TAKE HER TO THE ER! I'm glad she has gone to the dr's but 104 or even 103.8 is nothing to play with. No dr would say it's ok even if he gave her something for the fever! Call your pharmacy & ask if that high a temp is ok I bet they tell you to go to the ER!!!!

Answer 4

I believe the cut off for high temp is 106 because the body normally doesn't allow the temp to naturally get much higher. If you know what is causing the temp, and she's being appropriately treated, her temp is pretty much a matter of comfort for her. Some susceptible kids will have "fever seizures" at temps around 104, so it's best to try and keep it below that. If she's drinking fluids, taking tylenol or whatever the doc suggested, and you can sponge her off just a bit when it hits the 103.8, she should be ok. :)

Answer 5

Temperatures usually need to be higher than 105-106 for some time to cause brain damage. 104 is not out of the ordinary for a child, but I'm glad she's seen her doctor. If you are concerned that there has been a change, call your doctor. I would not rush off to the ER for a 104 temperature unless she has not been already evaluated by a physician.

Answer 6

You HAD BETTER get concerned ! ! ! ! !
A child with a temp this high can go into seizures and yes if it can cause brain damage.
Sometimes in children it is hard to get a handle on a temp like this and it is IMPERATIVE that you get it down! ! ! !
Give your Dr's recommended pain/fever reliever and force fluids.(Clear liquids and LOTS of them. Kool Aid,
popsicles,Jello,7-Up or ice chips)
If this doesn't do it,you need to give a room temp. bath.
If this doesn't do it,you need to give Rubbing Alcohol Sponge Bath.
If this hasn't helped to get the fever down within a few hours,get your daughter to the ER ASAP! ! !

Answer 7

Get her to the ER! But for next time I keep Kool Patchs in the house at all times in case of fevers. My aunt an RN says so.
You can also try a cool bath. Good luck.

Answer 8

Your child's temperature is too high.A tepid bath will help bring the fever down.But I would seriously suggest a different doctor or a trip to the emergency room if the fever doesn't come down.

Answer 9

Take them to the emergency room or get it down with Children's Motrin and rotate with Children's Advil. My 5 year daughter has been in the ER lots of times with a fever that high. Also, make a luke-warm bath water to keep it down. If it keeps continuing, take him/her back to the doctor.

Answer 10

Well i wouldnt say brain damage, however if your body temp rises too high, your organs begin to overheat therefore they cannot fonction well, high temperature can also result in convulsions so be sure to keep your eye on it, give your child Tylenol or other medication to reduce fever every 4 hrs, if her condition becomes worse or doesnt improve return to your doctor......a fever can be a serious issue especially for young children........take care I wish you well