Question on my daughter, had j-pouch 3 years ago, age 12, for FAP. We are on day 5 of a fever. Temperature is 102, then I give her Motrin and it will hold at around 100. When the next dose is due, she's back around 102. How long do I wait and should I be taking her in?

There really are no other symptoms. When I ask how she feels, she says she just feels lightheaded, like she's walking around after receiving laughing gas. There's really no major increase in stools, she's not sitting on the toilet all day, although of course they are looser now.

What am I to look for as far as her getting too dehydrated? Are there some obvious symptoms I will see if it's getting too bad? She's not a drinker of water by any stretch of the imagination, so I am concerned with dehydration. Is there a simple test they do to see how dehydrated someone is?

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

I would check (or ask her to check) if her urine is dark yellow and concetrated looking--whether is she urinating regularly--if you pinch her skin does it stay pinched--are her lips dry or her eyes sunken in. These are the signs I have been told to watch out for. Will she drink anything? It doesn't have to be water. My kids are always good with popsicles which also help and salty sncks which help and also promote thirst and lead to more drinking. I'm the one with a j-pouch not my children but I know our pediatrician will do blood test when a fever lasts for more than 6 days, otherwise they believe it can be viral (if it is not strep or other obvious source), However considering she has a j-pouch I might bring her in to the Dr. at this point. I think light headedness can be sign of dehydration but also a side effect of fever. I hope she feels better soon.

If she is running a temperature that high I think you should take her in to your family doctor today. She might have some little bug going around and need antibiotics. You just don't want to mess around and wait for her to be dehydrated or for something else to attack her while she's down.
She has a fever for a reason, you just have to find out what that is.

A fever that high for that long should be checked. It could be any number of things. This week my sister went in on day 4 of a fever, thinking it was the flu. It turned out to be a kidney infection! No idea why or how.

Take her to the doctor.

My wife and daughter both had a virus that lasted for 7 days. Fever of up to 102 - sounds very similar. No other real symptoms for my daughter. My wife had a sinus infection on top of it. After 7 days, it cleared up. The doc checked for flu too. Could be a bug.

A fever of 102 for that many days, needs evaluation. Take her to the doc today, or at least call the advice nurse. They may want you to wait and see a bit longer, as long as she is otherwise well. You may not even need to treat the fever if it is not over 102 and she is not uncomfortable. Some think that the fever is necessary to fight off the virus. It is not considered high until it is around 104. Brain damage does not occur until around 106.

Jan

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jan Dollar,