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Originally Posted by Bea  I just wanted to say, for the anti antipyretic crowd (tylenol etc) that a good going fever makes you feel like cr*p.
Personally, I'm not encouraged to allow my child to suffer by tales of near dehydration or semi comatose states. I'd rather treat the high fever ( tepid sponging, cool clothing, light bedclothes, medication) rather than stand by and cheerlead a state of misery.
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i dont sit by and allow my child to suffer needlessly either but my children are generally laying on the sofa watching TV at 103 and 104..they are not dehydrated and semi comatose states. my son just went through a major bacterial infection and showed no signs of what you describe. However, his fever was instrumental in his cure. no, he didnt feel GREAT but he wasnt dehydrated at all...he nursed A LOT during that period.
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Originally Posted by LBMarie9
however--someone asked me what test they did to confirm it was a viral infection and I am not sure they did anything except the xray and the RSV snot test?!! he's feeling better--does that mean it WAS viral since a bacterial would need to be treated?
dang it--I was hoping that we cold confirm each time if it was viral or bacterial because--my son had chronic ear infections as a baby (until recently going off dairy)--and we gave lots of antibiotics--he is allergic to three different types and the others were unresponsive to any of his remaining ear infections--so I would like to find a way to know if I he needs to be treated--because if it was bacterial I would choose to give him one of the less allergic ones-the lesser of two evils if he did have bac pneumonia.
just let me clarify about prolonged fevers....
a fever at ALL over a couple days is a problem? or just a HIGH fever is a problem for that long? meaning if they have a high fever and it gets lower everyday however after 6 days they still are 100.something--this is a prolonged fever to be concerned about? I have known a lot of people to treat fevers (with tylenol) for this long before nad never had a dr say something..or is the problem in letting the child HAVE the fever?
sorry if that makes no sense--I just want all the ideas in my head when the times come as a mommy to make the choices for my kids' health.
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bacterial infections don't NEED to be treated. It depends on the child and how his immune system is reacting (a good fever will kill almost any bacteria...anything that will survive in a 103/104 environment is pretty scarey stuff).
an Xray can not show whether an infection is viral or bacterial. as far as the RSV swab, if that is all they took, and that was negative, then no, you still dont know what the cause of his fever was. When i take the kids in to our dr (which is rare), i have them run a culture to determine what is causing the fever. I want to know that FIRST...before any "just in case" antibiotics. You CAN confirm each time what the infection is. But most dr. offices are not used to that being the course of action. Most offices will simply look at the sick kid and guess its bacterial and prescribe medicine. You have to be very proactive to get them to change the way they are used to behaving. Kids get better without antibiotics. They really do. I know that is blasphemy to some here...but its a simple fact.
Fevers are not really a problem..its more an indication of how your child's immune system is reaction to the underlying problem. A prolonged fever simply means its taking your child longer to win the war..he may need help. Increase vit. C and other things depending on what it is. A fever that comes and goes could also be a problem (a reason my kids recently went to the dr. office..which we don't normally do for a simply cold or flu).
there are 3 camps here, i think. one who use tylenol for anything and everything..one who will use it for a relatively low fever (or for a fever that is over 100, 101, or 103...people vary in their comfort level) and those who will not use it at all for fevers (i think for most of us, that includes a fever of 106/107 range). I fall into the later category. Ive never had a kid with 107 fever, so i dont really know what i would do. i would more than likely bring that fever down a bit...short of the 106/107 fever range, i dont give tylenol for fever reduction.
However, i dont snarl my nose at the other camp. People have a different comfort level. And thats ok. None of us need to accuse each other of not caring about our kids though. I can guarantee you that i love my kids as much as anyone on this planet. And Im sure you (general you) feel the same. You just need to figure out which camp you are in and be comfortable with that position...b/c it is definitely the minority position.
mama...it is difficult (to say the least) to see your baby in this condition. you are doing what is needed to help make baby feel better again. easier said than done, i know, but, please don't be too hard on yourself. sending healing vibes to your baby...
i, too, agree that it is misleading and unclear.
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