My 18 month old has a fever of 100.3 what should i do?

Question

My 18 month old has a fever of 100.3 what should i do?

Answer 1

You can use cool compresses and wipe him down. Even a cool bath can bring a fever down. Maybe some childrens tylenol.  

Answer 2

take them to the doctor or hospital! quickly!

Answer 3

er now!

Answer 4

Try some infants tylenol and give her some pedialyte.  Check her temp about an hour after you give her the tylenol.  If it isn't going down, take her to the emergency room.  Good Luck!

Answer 5

At 18 months 100.3 can be serious.  I'd call your pediatrician (even if the office is closed any good doctor has a call service) and ask what you should do.  Or call the local ER for a suggestion (I've done that before).

While you're waiting, I suggest a cold compress on the head to help cool your child down.  Don't give any medication (including child Tylenol) before talking with a doctor.  At such a young age, it's hard to determine the correct dosage.

If the fever gets any higher, don't waste time on the phone and just go to the ER.

Answer 6

You need to take your child to a physician. Fevers have a tendency to escalate before the immune system kicks in at such a young age.

Temporarily, please use Tyenol created for children at that age range if you have it in your medicine cabinet and have him/her drink lots of fluid. Tomorrow take your child to a doctor.  

Answer 7

Thats not too bad of a fever for his age.  Fevers are the bodys natural way of fighting an infection.  At that temp let him stay, but if it raises another degree, give him Tylenol and/or ibuprophen and give him a bath.  Don't let the bath be cold, just a body temp bath or slightly below.  You don't want to give him the chills and send him into shock. Keep him near a fan or window and if it doesn't go down keep wet rags on him.  If it gets to 102.5 or 103 take him to the doctor or ER.  Also, if its not just the flu or cold, take him to the doctor in the morning, it could be an ear infection or other infection.

Answer 8

You are saying he has a fever of 100.3 -- not 103, is that correct? A fever of 100.3 is no big deal. That's just barely a fever. A fever of 103 is not a tremendously high fever but it is a whole different situation than 100.3. What are the other symptoms? I would give Tylenol and call the doc if it's 103. I would probably do nothing if it's 100.3, although you could still give Tylenol if you want. Dress him as lightly as possible -- just a diaper and a light blanket if there is no air conditioning. Give him a cool (but not cold) bath and then take him out and dry him immediately so he doesn't get a chill. You want him to be cool but not be chilly. Call the doc if it's 103.

Answer 9

In an 18 month old, that's barely a fever. Just offer liquids and let her lie low. Give Tylenol or Motrin at 102 degrees. Her body is learning to fight off infection and it can't do that if you give her Tylenol or Motrin--a fever is the body's natural defense.  

Answer 10

That is not to bad I would give the child a fever reducer make sure they are getting plenty of liquids. And if they still have it in the morning I would call the doc to have them checked out to be safe. But My kids have had a 104.7 and higher and that is scary but I would say over 103.0 I would have them seen sooner.

Answer 11

Unless they are acting ill and uncomfortable, you should do nothng and let their body do what it is designed to do.  If they seem irritable and cranky...Tylenol or Motrin will work to bring down the fever and make them more comfortable.  If there are other symptoms, call the doctor.  But that is barely a fever in that age.  Might just be a little bug they can get over on their own!!

If you do dose with Tylenol or Motrin...follow the dosages for weight...not age...it will work better and be more effective!

Answer 12

With 100.3 it's not a big deal, especially at 18 months.  Give them a soothing bath in luke warmish water (but not ice cold), half a dose of tylenol for infants and let them just relax with a sippy cup of something to drink to keep them from becoming dehydrated if they haven't been drinking alot all day.Check their temperature again in the morning and it should be down. Keep them cool, not cold, in loose pajamas and a light blanket.  

My son had a mild spike in temperature like this back in

the spring before his first birthday that like 100.1 or something like that. It's what I did and it worked fine.I made a note of it and what I did and mentioned it to the doctor when he went for his well check so they were aware of it and the pediatrician told me I did the right thing by keeping a cool head and not immediately rushing to the phone in a panic.  They also recommended when to call, when to treat and where:

A good rule of thumb to follow is 101 and under, keep an eye on it at home and use the dosing guide for infant tylenol OR motrin (NOT BOTH) that your doctor should have told you based on their weight (at 18 months a dropper full if they are 22 pounds or more is what my pediatrician recommends, but it's less for motrin and I'm not sure about that since I don't use it for my child).

At 102 you call the doctor.   If it is after hours you call the nurse that is usually on duty to answer questions and offer help.  Be sure you let them know all symptoms they are showing in addition to fever and if they are refusing liquids or their appetite has drastically changed during the fever.

At 103 or higher, call the doctor and go to the ER because in little ones this can be serious.  Be sure you let them know any previous things you've done (including giving fever reducer, how much and if you have been using pedialite or something similar, if the doctor had seen them before that point etc.. it will be information that they will need to know and can help with crucial steps and diagnosing the issue.)

I wouldn't panic unless a sudden spike in the temperature happens in the next 24 hours. If it goes up high past 101 then I'd call the doctor and ask for advice on the phone and either call you or have you call in aagain in 24 hours to let them know how it is working before coming in unless there are other symptoms (diarreah or vomitting and the like).  Then they usually like you to come in.

  

Answer 13

When in doubt, call the local "ask a nurse" and see what they suggest. Most physicians or hospitals have some kind of triage line.

Answer 14

100.3 is only considered an emergency in a child less than 3 months old. At 18 months old its no big deal. It could be numerous things. Did the child just have immunizations or is it teething? In most ERs they don't even give tylenol to a child that age unless the temp is 102.5 or higher unless the child is apparently uncomfortable. If the fever gets higher you can give a luke warm bath or use cool compresses under the arms, on the back of the neck, or in the groin area. I wouldn't go to the ER unless the fever is 103 or higher. OR if giving tylenol or ibuprofen doesn't break the temp and it gets higher. Hope this helps!

Answer 15

I would hate to see theses peoples doctor bills if they are running to the er with a 100.3 temp!  At 18 months this is not a big issue you just need to watch it to see if it goes higher.  you can give tylenol or motrin but you don't have to until it is about 101.  My 9 month old had a 103.6 temp a few weeks ago and i called the doc and they said just to watch him.  At 105 he said an er trip might be necessary because if it reaches 108 (yikes!) they will begin to have seizures.  Just keep the baby hydrated and it will be fine.  Surely this is not the first fever the child has had.