Depends on how the child is acting. Usually if it is over 103 for 24 hours and does not come down and child does not pep up with motrin I will give a call.

Well, Reid's temp has been steadily climbing all day. We are now at 103.3 and we've had a fever of 102+ for 30 hours. Her affect is pretty normal. She obviously doesn't feel well, but she's asking for food and playing with us.

I feel like I stalk my ped. office when my kids are sick. "Should we come in now!" "How 'bout now?"

I've stayed really calm all yesterday and today. I don't know what they would really do for her. We've let her go without meds for the day to allow the fever to do what it's supposed to do, but we are about to give her some Tylenol for bed time.

How high is high enough?

I'd call for your own piece of mind. And my pedi recommended alternating tylenol and ibprofen...if it won't come down.

Hope that little bug feesl better soon. She was in the randon photos today! Cuteness!

I wouldn't worry unless the ibuprofen and/or Tylenol doesn't have any effect tonight - but call in the morning if its still up then. If the ibuprofen doesn't have any observable impact in an hour I would also call.

Kids can run hotter than regular folks without it having a long term impact as long as she is staying hydrated. After 2 days with no change I would definitely call even if I waited until day three for a visit - sometimes there is something "going around" that the doc is recommending antibiotics for...

We have a really good 24 hour kids clinic within two miles of our house - it was definitely a selling point since the hospital isn't particularly close.

Echoing all the other advice; high fever if other symptoms are normal isn't usually a serious problem, and keeping her comfortable with Motrin will probably help her sleep. Fevers usually get higher at night too. I'd probably call by Wednesday morning though, since Thursday is a holiday. Holidays and Sundays are usually the days my kids' minor problems turn into something serious and I'm always kicking myself that I didn't call before the office closed for the long weekend.

Hope she feels better soon.

Oh man, you guys. I don't have any advice beyond what people have already said. But definitely let us know if you can't handle visitors this week. Or, alternately, if you want us to bring the turkey, cranberries, mashed potatoes... xoxo

Here is some good fever info
http://www.texaschildrenspediatrics.org/healthlibrary/pa_fever_hhg.aspx

Our pediatrician is an associate of the local Children's Hospital and this website is so awesome. It has lots of health information and it tells you when to call the doctor guidelines.

And remember that you can do Ibuprofen and Tylenol at the same time. Tylenol every 4 hours and Ibuprofen every 8. It was the only thing that got himself's fever down a few weeks ago.

If she is still eating and alert, I'd wait until morning and then give them a call to see what they recommend. I too hate stalking the doctor. Hopefully, she will get some good sleep.

Thanks for the link Kiwi. I read the whole thing and realized I was wrong about quite a few things relating to children and fevers.

Kiwi - awesome site! Direct and to the point.

I'm so happy with the service our state government implemented a few years ago. A 24 hour call service staffed by nurses backed with an expert system. You give them the run down of symptoms and circumstances, and they tell you at what point you need to see a doctor, etc. Best part is, it's entirely free (1800 number).

PS: I would not ever recommend mixing medications without consulting a doctor.

No advice that hasn't already been given, but hope the little one gets better soon!

I say there's nothing wrong with calling. Even if you feel stupid afterward. It's worth it. This coming from someone who called the doctor in the middle of the night for a 102.6 fever in Baby Grey. Even though it was 27 degrees outside, the nurse reminded me not to have Baby Grey under too many blankets. Not that I had forgotten, it was just good to be reminded of what you already know. Sometimes we just need a professional to give us a pep talk or concur with what we're already thinking.

Hope everyone feels better soon!

If she's acting peppy, you can probably wait til morning. If she gets sluggish or her eyes lose their sparkle, call.

One time O's fever crossed 103, and it turned out I'd bundled her too much. I removed a layer of clothing and it dropped and stayed at 101. Could this be the case?

Call.

My pediatrian recommended this regimen for fever reduction: Alternate tylenol and ibuprofin every four hours. That has a great fever-reducing effect without the lapse you sometimes experience when using just one or the other. Works great.

For me it always matters most what the whole story is surrounding the fever. Has she had a cold and been doing well then suddenly spiked this fever? Was the fever the first symptom? Does she seem to not want liquids?

If it is anything other than a sudden start of a new illness with a fever of 102 - 103, I usually error on the side of taking them in. If it is a new illness and this was the first symptom, I would medicate and wait it out for a while. At that range it could be a viral thing, and I know once my son had the flu (when he was 2) causing him to have a fever for 8 days straight! I took him in and the doctor could do nothing and was actually mad at me for bringing him in and exposing others to the flu when I was treating him just fine at home on my own (bastard - I'm glad we left Kaiser)!

Anyway, I second the tyelenol ibuprofin thing and bring her in if she's had cold symptoms for a while before the fever (she may have a secondary bacterial infection that doesn't always cause a change in eating habits). And if she has any trouble drinking (hydration is way more important than food with fevers) then you have to get her in ASAP.

well, last time Beenie had a high temperature for a day and a half, when i got to the doctor's i asked him, how hot can she get before i should bring her in, or take her to emergency... and he said it's not about HOW hot she gets, more about how LONG it's been happening for. Like, a day or two of high fever apparently isn't so bad, but after 3 days, call a doctor. I asked about extended fever leading to brain damage etc., and he said that was an old wives' tale. His advice was give Panadol (is motrin similar?) - as it releieves the symptoms, allow the kid to sleep etc. And keep her fluids up. Other than that, let nature run its course. (And, like, make her comfortable - if she needs cooler clothes, cool bath, iced flannel, whatever...) That's what our advice was, anyway.

Bol--Panadol and Tylenol (acetaminophen) are the same thing. I think they are even made by the same company. Motrin is ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin are common brand names in the States).

Sadie--your doctor sucked. If one does have the flu and a doctor diagnoses it within the first 48 hours or so, an antiviral injection can be given which does not "cure" the flu, but can shorten the length of the illness and make the symptoms much less severe. However, it's possible that these antivirals aren't approved for use in children. Still. That doctor sucked.

Ylime, how's everyone today?

Reid is still at home with a fever. 103-ish. Talked to the Dr. today and basically was told to wait a little longer. If it is a virus, some other symptom might show up today or tomorrow. (Mentioned Roseola.) If she still has a fever but no other symptoms that denote a virus tomorrow or Friday, then they want to see her. They say maybe urinary tract infection...but she doesn't have super concentrated smelly pee and no complaints from her.

We are playing the waiting game...But seems like virus is their best guess.