Is it normal to have fever after 10days of surgery??

Question

My Baby is 8months old. She underwent craniosynostosis (trigonocephaly)surgery 10days ago. And she started getting fever on the 3rd day after surgery. she gets it almost 4 to 5 times a day.Surgeons and the pediatricians at the hospital did all possible tests to see if she is infected with all possible common infections (including the spinal tap fluid test which came out with no infection and the count of white blood cells were just perfect. And other routine tests like blood test, ear, throat, urine, etc.. everything came out negative. They sent us back home stating that the fever is because of the inflammation after surgery. and they prescribed the tylenol and motrin for fever which should be continued till the fever reduces. Is it common to have fever for so long after surgery and my concern is for how many days will the fever contiue to take its place? doctors say that if the fever persists even after 2 weeks, they will do a ct scan of the whole body to find the mass of infection.

Answer 1

Fever in and of itself is not a disease. It's the way that your body helps rid itself of infection. By raising your body temperature, bacteria and other pathogens are killed off, so that your immune system can better handle such illness.

Since it looks like your child's CBC (complete blood count) lab work is within normal parameters, I would not be overly concerned. Beyond the fever, does she exhibit any other symptoms of illness (restlessness, crying, tremor, seizures, etc.)? If the only thing apparently wrong is a fever, and the medical practitioners treating her are not alarmed enough to keep her in hospital, I would try not to become overly anxious - although you are to be praised for being such a concerned parent.

It's also normal for babies (and children in general) to run a higher temperature than adults. Their metabolisms are radically different from an adults, and they will maintain a higher temp until they grow older.

I would say the most important thing is to monitor for other symptoms besides just fever. However, if the temperature is elevated for several more days, you should inform your pediatrician and/or general practitioner with this information, regardless of other exhibited symptoms.

Answer 2

Fever 10 Days After Surgery

Answer 3

I've had plenty of surgeries. A fever is not a common thing. I would take the baby back in and demand that they do the CT scan now. Infection is nothing to mess with especially in a 8 mo old baby. You may also want to check into a 2nd opinion. Don't let them jerk you around!

Answer 4

Get the CT now don't wait because two weeks could be to late. If your baby's Dr. wont do it than find one that will.A second opinion couldn't hurt.A fever is nothing to brush off and a fever that lasts more than a few days is not normal and is a signal that the immune system is fighting infection.

Answer 5

I would get that child to the E.R. If the doctors at your home E.R. will not help, get her to one out of town. The trick there is to tell the E.R. personal that you are visiting. My son quit breathing when he was three weeks old. I took him to the E.R. in the town i lived in and they refused to look at him because his doctor was 14 miles away. That was the worst drive I ever had. Needless to say, we changed doctors to have one in town. The point is, you have to search for help. That is not right. I am mad over your situation.

Answer 6

fever after 3 days is to be treated by a doctor! please take your baby in and demand more testing! they should not have let the baby go home with a fever.