What causes recurrent vomiting and fever despite taking Motrin?
Patient: My 5 year old daughter hasn t been feeling well since Monday. She threw up Monday morning, 4 times, had no other symptoms. An hour after throwing up, she had a fever of 103. I took her to the doctor and she was tested for strep. She tested negative for strep and was told it was a virus. She had a fever from Monday thru Wed. She was given Motrin every 6 hours to help with the fever. She went to school today, Thursday. Teacher told me she was very tired all day. She came home from school and complained she didn t feel well and threw up 4 times. The throw up is clear in color with little red specs. She doesn t have a fever after throwing up. What should my next step be? Doctor: Hi.... I understand your concern. By what you say I feel that your child is going through a viral illness too. Your doctor is probably right.I will explain you how the viral illness behaves so that you can be more confident.Fever of few days without any localizing signs could as well a viral illness. Usually rather than fever, what is more important is the activity of the child, in between 2 fever episodes on the same day. If the kid is active and playing around when there is no fever, it is probably viral illness and it doesn't require antibiotics at all. Once viral fever comes it will there for 4-7 days. So do not worry about duration if the kid is active.Regards - Dr. Sumanth