sleeping baby with cough and is burning hot

[bzp]

Hi my 17 month old baby was fine this morning then i put her down for an afternoon nap and had to wake her up 5 hours later and since then shes been real sleepy and keeps coughing and is burning hot especially round her neck and forehead area and has really bad breath all of a sudden so if anyone could give me any ideas on what to do then that would be great, Thanks

[Tula]

could be strep infection. it can cause bad breath and fever..
I wouldn't hesitate go to the dr.

[JoAnnaRF]

I also just wanted to add that the bad breath could be a sign of tooth decay or an abcess in the gums.. This could also cause the baby to run a fever and feel yucky.
--J

[twinsmommy]

My kids always seem to have bad breath when they run a fever. In the last two months, my son had a sudden fever a couple of times (102F), once for 3 days, last week just a day, and he was teething. But if you don't know for sure what's the problem, I would call the dr.!

[lmroswell]

A 5 hour nap is an awlfully long time to nap.  What was the babie's temp?  If it is over 100 and its breath smells bad and is sleeping a long time, it's time to go to the pediatrician.

[farm_marm]

Always call your doctor first if you are not sure what to do!

[JoAnnaRF]

Have you taken the temperature? If so what is it? Gieven the symptoms you have mentioned, I am gussing that it is pretty high. A fever should always be reported to the Pediatrician. The breath odor and the need to sleep all the time are RED flags. The fever is what causes the need to sleep. The body is so busy fighting off the infection that it is exhausted. A warm bath and an OTC fever reducer such as Motrin can help to bring down the fever and I totaly agree with the hydration and giving the electolytes. They also make Pedia Pops (frozen) and kids tend to enjoy the treat without realizing they are helping their little bodies. It could be an ear infection, strep throat, sinus infection( perhaps a cheerio found it's way up there). Honestly, only a doctor will be able to know for sure. And then he/she can prescribe the proper antibiotics to help fight off whatever is causing this. My daughter spiked a fever of 104 when she was just a year old. It came out of nowhere and the reason was never determined. However, this raging fever that lasted only 12 hours caused a discoloring of one of her baby teeth. This is according to her Dentist. So as you can see, fevers are nasty buggers that can cause all kinds of side affects. Please get your little one to the Pediatrician. If you do not have a Ped. then go to the E.R.
Good Luck to you!!
--J

[mrsfraser]

it maybe just teething.best is always check with doctor.ear infection can also make high temp.fevers are nothing to play around with.

[mystery]

Hi can I just say my little children both have run very high temps and caughs with drowsyness or sleeping a lot more than usual so I always have got them straight up the doc's! I know you are looking for advice but we cannot see the child or speak to you enough and quickly enough or even if we could, we are never as good enough as going to the doc's when its concerning a tiny little life like your child! I'm sorry to seem so nasty...I am not! It's just advice on here is needed when its not urgant or for ourselves or someone we know of, NOT putting our kids life in fear of becoming worse expecting to get good advice. My little baby boy suffers with tonsaliitus and has done for 2 years on and off, although I know the signs and symptoms now...being well aware what he's got when he's very ill, I will still make sure I get him up the docs to be sure and to get seen before it could turn really nasty on him! Hope your little baby gets baby soon but remember doc's are better when kids are ill, dont turn to mum's who's been there as we're not always the same! xxxxbest of luck mate!

[MandaJo111]

I agree that running a fever is quite common, but the sudden breath change is what has me worried.  I did a search and found that other common causes of sudden bad breath are strep throat and sinus infections.  I would make sure that you child is seen by a doctor.  IT is better to be safe than sorry.

[LilLadyee]

If she has a fever give her the recommended dose of tylenol cold+cough for infants or ibprophen(Spelling).. Then try putting  a cool washrag on her face you can pat it around her face, neck and body to cool her down. Also to make sure she doesn't get dehidrated give her pedialyte or the generic brand works the same also gatorade.. These are all things I have done with both my kids as infants. And it has worked. Everytime I have taken my children to the doctor all they do is tell me to do this. I hope this helps you.

[MandaJo111]

Usually doctors say a fever of 103 degrees warrants a visit to the doctor.  I would call your pediatrician.  They will have a nurse on call that will let you know what you should do.  

I know that sometimes bad breath comes from an infant having stuck something in there nose.  The parent does not even know it, and it starts an infection.  My mom has always told of when my cousin was little.  He smelled aweful and then started running a fever.  When they took him to the doctor they found out he had gotten a hold of one of the papers that they used to use to do perms with, and had stuck it up his nose.  It had been there for several days, and an infection had set in.  

A friend of the family also had a daughter that did the same sort of thing, although I cannot remember for the life of me what she had stuck in her nose.  Around that age it happens frequently, and it could be out of sight -- something only a dr. could see.  

A fever means some type of infection usually.  The body is fighting somethign off -- that is what it is designed to do.  However, as I said earlier, a high fever can be dangerous, and given the change of smell, I would call the doctors office and find out what you should do.  

Take care,

Amanda