I take both of my kids (both with SW-CAH) in for flu shots every year, but at some point along the way, they still manage to pick up something or other that manages to put them in bed with a high fever somewhere along the line.

My question is, when do most of you draw the line and take them into the hospital.  I know that everybody handles fevers/flu differently... even with CAH.  But when my kids end up with a fever that always manages to climb up to around 102 degrees F, after all these years... I still never feel confident in knowing when to draw the line.

My general rule of thumb has been:  If they’re holding their meds down, taking in plenty of fluids (and continue urinating), have no excessive vomiting, and their temperature doesn’t climb over 102... I just treat them as best I can at home with fever reducers and stress doses of cortef.  Once any of those things change... I take them in (I guess much like I would if they didn’t have CAH).

Sometimes I’m wondering if I should skip the rule of thumb and just take them in regardless.  I know you can never be too safe, but sometimes the doctors just look CAH up in a medical textbook and throw the kids in bed for fear of things they’ve read... and still ask ME how to handle stress dosages.  That rarely instills much confidence on my end, and adds a huge stress level on an already sick child.  I’m sure you’ve all been through that drill... and I wondering when most of you draw the line between caring for them at home... and taking them into a hospital.