Illness right before travel (cartoons, 8 year old, sister, normal)

[Tracy5305]

My 8 year old woke up this morning with a low grade (99.6) fever and a tummy ache. He was off yesterday-tired, cranky. Tummy aches are not unusual with him, but the fever is different.

Normally, I'd wait it out, but we are headed to the beach tomorrow morning for a week. He is supposed to ride with his Uncle, sister and 2 cousins. He is very excited about that.

So...should I take him to the doctor today in hopes that they can do something? This is really bad timing for what might be a mild virus.

[JustJulia]

I'd make him stay in bed all day, reading or watching cartoons. Give him plenty of liquids and make sure he eats, but pile on the blankets so he breaks a sweat. The fever is his body cooking off the illness. Do not give him ibuprofen, let his body kill it. Resting in bed and cooking it off usually does the trick for us. Since you're not leaving till tomorrow, I'd try that.

[Tracy5305]

Thanks for the reply! I did take him and the doc said it was a virus. I really wanted to rule out strep and appendicitis. I gave him Motrin mid-day because he was miserable and we had to get to the doctor's office. He's totally fine now. I'll be interested to see if the fever comes back this evening.

The beaches we go to are very rural. I never wan't to be in need of a doctor down there.