I know you've had several nurses already reply. I guess I'd like to reinterate...as an ER nurse I see frantic parents everyday putting their children through unnecessary bloodwork and paying for unecessary ER bills etc. due to a lack of knowledge, so I guess this should be more like a public service announcement.
Fever is the body's way of fighting infection-viral or bacterial.
Most doctors don't even suggest medicating fevers under 101.5.
Feed a cold, starve a fever still holds true. Food is not that important if the child doesn't feel like eating for a day or two. Fluids ARE important. Clear fluids only if vomiting...ie jello, sprite, gatorade, tea, pedialyte, popscicles...in small amounts frequently. BUT if the child persistently vomits, watch how much they pee. A healthy infant should have atleast 6-8 wet diapers a day. A child should pee atleast 4 times a day. Less urine output is a sign of dehydration. So is a lack of tears, sunken eyes or dry lips/tongue.
Most fevers are not an emergency, unless accompanied by seizures, or those that exceed 103 despite REGULAR doses of tylenol and/or motrin.
The most effective way to treat stubborn fevers is this: Motrin and tylenol can be alternated every 3 hours...ie tylenol at 12, motrin at 3, tylenol at 6, motrin at 9....etc, so the tylenol doses are 6 hours apart, as are the motrin doses, but one or the other are being given BEFORE the first one wears off.
A child will be tired, grumpy, cry, have body aches, chill, and be generally miserable. Think of how you feel when you have a fever. Let them rest, offer them plenty of fluids and medicate their fever.
DO NOT "sweat the fever out". This is a wives tale I hear everyday, when parents bring their child in to the ER with a temp of 103 wrapped in a blanket, hat, mittens etc. All you are doing is cooking your child. (think baked potato wrapped in foil).
And lastly, your family doctor-or his associates- are always on call. Your local hospital (the one in which they have privledges) can page the doctor for you day or night. Page them if you are concered. If they too are concerned by what you have told them, they will instruct you to go to the ER.
I hope this info is helpful to you in the future.
Lisa
