How long do you let a fever go for?

[suse]

Poor Jazz! Euan had the same thing a couple of weeks ago - temp around 38.8, responsive to paracetamol/ibuprofen but would rise again once the dose wore off, no symptoms of illness, was alert and generally happy, weeing/pooing as normal, heart-rate / breathing normal, was taking in fluids, was off most food but would still eat fruit by the barrel-load.

I rang the health nurse, because it was a weekend and I didn't want to subject DS to sitting in the ER for hours on end if it wasn't warranted, which I didn't feel that it was except that the lack of other symptoms beyond a fever concerned me.

She advised that as he was not showing any other signs of concern (eg: dehydration, rapid or shallow breathing, unresponsive to stimulus), if the fever goes beyond 48 hours, or goes to / above 40 degrees, or is not responsive to paracetamol, then to see a doctor. She also said that the current advice is to not give paracetamol unless the temperature goes above 38.3 or is sustained, but to monitor closely and to ensure good hydration.

DS's temperature lasted about 36 hours and then he was back to normal, and he showed no other symptoms, so who knows what it was.

HTH - and I hope that Jazz is feeling much better soon.