What if tylenol and motrin don't reduce a fever below 102?

[hortstu]

My 1yo daughter has had a fever off and on now for over a week. She's seen a doctor 3x since. We understand that she doesn't need antibiotics and that this is a virus.

Up until last night we were only giving tylenol or motrin to get high fevers down. Over the last 24 hours we've been giving them every 4-6 hours to try and keep her fever away. So she can be comfortable. Right now she has a fever of 102 and she just had a dose of motrin an hour ago.

We're putting warm wet towels on her head and we don't know what else to do.

Thanks and sorry if this is jumbled... not getting much sleep the last few nights,
Mike

[alegna]

How is she behaving? Does she seem uncomfortable? Is she able to rest? Is she staying hydrated?

The fever itself is not dangerous, but I would be concerned with it lasting so long. Stay in touch with your ped and see what advice they may have.

-Angela

[ttcintexas]

I agree with Angela that how she is acting is more important than the actual temperature. I have only given my kids Motrin a couple of times when they have been unconsolable, otherwise I let the fever do its thing. They have never has a fever for more than a couple of days. I always try to remind myself that fever is the body doing it's job to get rid of the virus (which has a hard time surviving at a high temperature). Watch how she is behaving, and as Angela said...stay in touch with the doctor as needed. Hope she feels better soon.

[Mosaic]

I also agree that the number isn't a big deal, but the fact that it's not responding to the meds as she did in the past could be a sign that a secondary infection set in. FWIW, we had the same thing happen with DD: a cold/bug we fought for a week, maybe almost 2, and literally overnight she came down with pneumonia. The only "symptom" she had was that the tylenol/motrin combo didn't bring her temp down past past 102-103.