Treating High Fevers & The Symptoms Menigitis

I guess this is probably the best place to put this. I came down with something last night, and almost all day today, my fever has been around 105.4 degrees. Can anyone think of any ways to bring down a fever ( aside from going to the hospital for an ever charming ice bath ) so high? My doctor's office didn't have office hours today, and when I called, they advised me against going straight to the hospital and suggested Motrin and a warm bath to try to lower it, and that's a temporary fix.

The other question is can anybody tell me the symptons of menigitis? In the most comforting move ever, the doctor's office suggested that perhaps I have it ( or maybe this is the flu. ).

Thanks anybody..

meningitis symptoms include a stiff neck, vomiting/nausea, headache, dizziness..the rest is just like the flu. i repeatedly kept thinking i had it a few years back, but i got vaccinated after starting school, so i'm less paranoid now. it's not very common, as i think you have to come in direct contact with someone else who has it (like kissing or sharing a drink), so i wouldn't worry about it too much.

Oh shit dude, you're fucked.

Dude. get off the internet, and go to the emergency room. and do it now!

Hospital, now. That's a dangerously high fever, and I'm surprised you can function. I had a 104 once, and I was hallucinating.
Get thee gone!

Agreed. Are you sure it's 104? Because if it is, you're jeopardizing your health for every minute that you don't seek medical attention. Get down to the ER *now*.

Sorry, but bocuma doesn't know what he's talking about. You don't get meningitis only from someone else who has it, and you can't get vaccinated for it. Meningitis is when certain diseases (like flu) migrate into your spine and brain. It's not quite as serious if it's caused by flu versus a bacterial infection, but either case should be seen by a doctor.

In any case, I've heard that 105+, go to hospital. 102-104 for two days in a row, go to hospital.

Get well!

i guess i was thinking of bacterial meningitis.

But what I'm saying is that meningitis is not a germ so you cannot be vaccinated for it. Just like you can have a flu vaccine but not a fever vaccine. There may have been something going around that you got vaccinated for or perhaps it was just a flu vaccination. I would guess that most cases of meningitis are caused by flu.

well that sounds right. to be honest, i got all of my knowledge on the subject from local news; there's always a few cases in the area every year.

i was told alternating advil and tylonel every 4 hours helps bring down a fever. i would advise that and drinking lots of water.
my brother's girlfriend told me a good way to get rid of fever and feeling like shit was to warm up a very hoppy beer and drink it. then wrap up in a blanket and stay wrapped up no matter how hot you get. and drink a ton of water cause your gonna be sweating a lot!
i tried that.... oddly the next day i fainted at my friend's wedding..... i really don't know if they are related.... but i don't think i'll be trying it again.
i hope you feel better soon. being sick sucks balls!

edited to add. check out www.webmd.com for symptoms. that site has everything you ever needed to know about sickness.

[Edited on Dec 06, 2003 by pinkisux]

Could be Mono?...I had a 104 temp with that.

[Edited on Dec 06, 2003 by psychoholicagogo]

I cannot believe your doctor didn't tell you to go to ER.

Go NOW. Right now. That's a serious fever.

D'oh! I stand corrected. So there are some germs that particularly attack the meninges, and there are some (like flu) that can migrate there. Since the reason to vaccinate against meningococcal bacteria is to prevent its particular type of meningitis, it's called a meningitis vaccine.

A friend of mine had bacterial meningitis a few years ago. He went into the hospital because he had a 103 fever for a few days straight. He was in intensive care for a while. I'm not sure how it relates, but they had to shave his crotch and send an angioscope up there to check out his heart. He had to stay in the hospital for about two weeks then wear a special rig that dispensed strong antibiotics into him on a regular basis. Not fun!

I'm pretty sure viruses can be vaccinated against (think polio, smallpox, measles, etc.) Maybe it's a fast mutating virus, like influenza, so a vaccine is only of limited usefulness?