“How should I care for a child with a fever?”
My eight-year-old son has a fever that is going up and down. I took him to his pediatrician first, two days ago, and I've been treating him at home. But there has been no changes. What should I do now?
3 Answers
Dr. Bin S. Sung
Pediatrician
You may continue giving him the Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen depends on if he is allergic to the medicines or not. Give him plenty of fluid to drink. If his fever persists by Day 5, follow up with his pediatrician. If his fever worsen over the next couple of days or if he just does not look "right" to you, follow up with his pediatrician ASAP.
It's okay to watch a fever for a few days, as long as your child doesn't appear to be getting worse. If he seems better after his fever goes down, or when you give him some ibuprofen or acetaminophen, then he probably will be fine. If he seems like he is getting worse, or has developed new symptoms, contact his doctor.
Michael G. Martin, MD
Michael G. Martin, MD
Did the pediatrician see any abnormal signs like red throat rash? How high is the fever? Does he act ill when the fever drops? Usually, I give Tylenol to lower a fever and Motrin if above 102. If the fever persists past 1 week, further work-up needs to be done or they look worse.
