Help - second day of fever 38 +

[Amaunet]

DS has a fever thismorning of 38.5 it was 38.1 yesterday arvo (measured with digital underarm thermometer) Gave neurofen and tepid bath and he seemed cooler overnight but he was awake every hour or two. Fever back up this mornng and he is still grizzly ( he just wasn't his usual happy self yesterday and was very clingy)

What should I do? He has a funny whiny/cranky cry this morning and has had a few little coughs. Should I go to the doctor? I have given more neurofen and lots of bf, I'm so worried

[sloane]

i'd go to the dr's just in case. it may just be teething or something, but it always better to be sure do you know what his normal temp is?

[Amaunet]

Thanks Sloane - I just rang the nurse at HealthDirect (she was lovely). He has a "moderate grade fever" and I can keep him home (and avoid the 4+ hour wait at the doctors) but just keep him cool and give neurofen if needed. If he still has a fever tomorrow - then I have to take him to the docs. I think he might have a little cold

[ss_storm]

hope he is feeling better soon hun, and you can get some sleep!

[Nicole S]

Hope Blake gets better soon

[Mother Goose]

you're doing a great job. Try panadol instead of neurfen for the fever though. Neurofen isn't actually designed for fevers (even though the pack says to use for fever). Usually when neurofen reduces fever it's because it is reducing discomfort - when we're in pain or discomfort, our temp rises. Panadol is also more gentle on the tummy. And keep in mind that fever alone is not a bad thing. It just means his body is fighting something. Is he teething?

HTH

MG

[Lisa]

I use nurofen on my kids for reducing the fever initially, but then I use panadol to keep the temps down.
I hope your little man is feeling better real soon

[Emma1979]

although it is sometimes alarming, a mild fever isn't actually a bad thing, it shows the body is working as it should and is fighting off some sort of infection... lots of fluids, panadol and rest is usually all that is needed, unless the baby becomes listless (ie lying around not doing much at all) or if the fever goes sky high to 40..... if you are worried take to the doctor but honestly it sounds like his body is doing everything as normal... good luck.

[Amaunet]

Thanks for the reassurance - the neurofen dropped his temp but he's still quite grizzly - he has this whiny cry that I haven't heard before I will give panadol next dose. I don't think he's teething - I can't feel anything - maybe just a cold? He has this little cough - but he likes the sound and so when he coughs he does more and giggles IYKWIM.

We have both had some sleep (thank goodness for DH) but my little man just isn't his usual self, hopefully he'll feel better soon

Thanks again for all the advice and get well wishes

[Nicole S]

Hope your little man is a bit better today