Dr. Lynn Cates
Specializing in pediatric infectious diseases and childhood immunizations.
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 Ask Dr. Cates
Very Worried about Infant's High Fever and Extreme Sleepiness | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Cates,
My seven-month-old baby has a high fever. It goes back and forth from 103 to 104 degrees; I'm scared to death. He won't stay awake and I've taken him to the doctor and emergency room. They drew blood and say it is normal. They say they don't know what is causing it, and tell me to just keep giving him Tylenol and Motrin. I do but it's not working, and he seems to be in a lot of pain. Please help.— Scarred 2 Death in Pasadena Tx. | | | ANSWER |
May 7, 2001 | | | Dear Scared 2 Death,
You sound like a very good mother. You are right to be concerned when your seven-month-old has a high fever since infants can become very sick quickly. You also are right to be worried that he won't stay awake and seems to be in a lot of pain since these can be signs of a serious problem--most likely some kind of infection. Don't be shy about bothering the doctor. You don't mention when you took him to be seen before, but even if it was earlier today, if you are scared about how your baby looks, at the very minimum, you need to talk with his doctor on the phone right now. From the symptoms you are describing, it is probably time to take him to be seen again. It usually is best to have the same doctor follow a child through an illness, but if you don't think the first doctor and emergency room took his symptoms seriously enough, call another doctor's office (be sure it's one with lots of experience taking care of children) and tell her that you are scared and that your son has a persistent high fever, extreme sleepiness, and seems to be in pain. It is always better to err on the side of having a sick child evaluated too often, than not often enough--even if that means taking him back the same day.— by Lynn Cates, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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