Fever Not Breaking With Tylenol?

I normally don't post on here anymore, but need some advice. There's a HUGE flu outbreak in MA right now. So bad, MA has declared a State of Emergency for it. 18 people just in MA have died from the flu. Normally, it doesn't scare me. IDK why, but I never got scared about the Swine Flu, even though I knew people directly with it, etc. But this has me freaked out, maybe because my 4 (almost 5) year old is really sick. He got sent home from school today with a fever, and I immediately brought him to the doctor. He has a severe inner ear infection, but the doctor wants me and his father to watch him closely for the next few days to make sure it doesn't develop into the flu. He has a 102 fever that I can't break with Tylenol or ibuprofen, and he's miserable. He's on Zithromax (just gave him his first dose).

What else can I do? I know lukewarm bath, cold wash cloth, etc. but he can't even sit up on his own right now.

Reason I mentioned the State of Emergency, is that they don't want sick people in the ERs unless you're POSITIVE it's the Flu or a life threatening illness, because there are so many people with it, they don't want sick people not having the flu to catch it. So, I REALLY want to stay out of the ER if possible.

Alternate tylenol and motrin.

Walgreens has these cooling gel pad things that you can put on their forehead. It definitely helps with their comfort level. My daughter recently had an ear infection and was not able to sleep because her fever had her in so much pain but after I had the gel pad on her she was fine and slept like normal.

Other than that it sounds like you're doing everything right.

Quoting BryarWoods:" Alternate tylenol and motrin. "

"He has a 102 fever that I can't break with Tylenol or ibuprofen"

I've been doing that since he got out of school.

Quoting You're not my demographic:" Walgreens has these cooling gel pad things that you can put on their forehead. It definitely helps with ... [snip!] ... Other than that it sounds like you're doing everything right. As the other posted said, alternate between the two meds."

I'll definitely run out and get those. Thank you. I didn't even know they existed.

These are the ones we have, work great!

Quoting Vanessa ♥:" I normally don't post on here anymore, but need some advice. There's a HUGE flu outbreak in MA right ... [snip!] ... with it, they don't want sick people not having the flu to catch it. So, I REALLY want to stay out of the ER if possible."

I had a similar situation when my LO was almost 3. The ER told me to alternate tylenol and ubuprofen every 2-3 hours. Also, go online and make sure his dose is done by his weight as I learned that I was giving too little to my daughter.

Quoting Vanessa ♥:" I'll definitely run out and get those. Thank you. I didn't even know they existed."

Hope he feels better and his antibiotics kick in soon!

Tepid baths usually bring DD's fever down very quickly.
Maybe try that.

Those gel things are nice, but I didn't think they lasted long when K had a bad fever (we got some minnie mouse ones though, so that may be why!)

Lots of liquids would be my main priority (on top of monitoring the fever and doign what you already are.) We let our daughter have those little icee popsicles, sprite, whatever she was willing (which really wasn't anything at all...) and we kept plain cheerios next to her at all times. She maybe had a handful over the span of 2.5 days.

Quoting sassy chef:" Those gel things are nice, but I didn't think they lasted long when K had a bad fever (we got some minnie ... [snip!] ... anything at all...) and we kept plain cheerios next to her at all times. She maybe had a handful over the span of 2.5 days. "

The ones we have last about 8 hours give or take but you can always change it with a new one earlier.  

Quoting You're not my demographic:" The ones we have last about 8 hours give or take but you can always change it with a new one earlier.  "

Ohhh, that is MUCH better than what ours did.


 

Quoting sassy chef:" Ohhh, that is MUCH better than what ours did.  "

Haha, look at that face! Awww.  

My daughter's wouldn't break with alternating so I was told to give both at the same time. She's 5.

Quoting M'aiq:" My daughter's wouldn't break with alternating so I was told to give both at the same time. She's 5."

*openly squeals* YAY!