How important is it to get a child's temperature down when they are ill?

[RachelRoyce]

DS has a virus. His temp was 38.9 at 6am so he had some calpol.
It's come down to 37.6 now (hour and a half later) - is it worth giving him to neurofen to get rid of the temperature all together?
I'm getting him to keep drinking to make sure he is hydrated.

[lougle]

37.6 is barely a temperature as up to 37.5 is normal. If a child is otherwise comfortable, a temperature of 38.9 doesn't have to be brought down. If they feel poorly with it, then painkillers can be given.

It's now thought to be a rapid rise in temperature that can cause febrile convulsion, rather than the temperature itself.

[easterlywinds]

The high temperature is the body's natural defence against infection. In most cases it is harmless. I tend to only give calpol or Nurofen if my child seems very unwell .

[Hakluyt]

Not important unless it is really high. And febrile confusions are scary but not dangerous.

Treat the child and not the temperature.

[PurpleWithRed]

Check out NICE guidelines feverish illness in children. They say don't give meds just to bring temperature down - like hakluyt says. Give them if he feels rubbish.

[hairylittlegoblin]

What easterly and hakluyt said.

Febrile convulsions are most common in the under 5s and although scary at the time haven't been shown to cause any long term health problems.

I don't give calpol for a high temperature, only for pain. Usually the 2 cross over (tonsillitis for example) but I think the body uses a high temperature to fight infection and I'm not sure forcing it back down is a great thing.

Although when I'm ill I'm a total wimp and take anything I can find Hope he's better soon.

[RachelRoyce]

Thanks all. I didn't give him anything after the calpol and he seems a bit brighter now.
I gave him the calpol because he was feeling awful with the temperature, hot and shivering then cold and shivering. He's 10yrs so I think out of the age for febrile convulsions, that wasn't my concern, more just making him feel better, poor fella!

I don't think 37.5 is a normal temp for my lot. We all run quite cold and a normal temp for me and dc is about 36 - 36.5 so for him 37.6 is a temp.

[manchestermummy]

Echo what has been said about the rate at which the temperature rises causing convulsions. My dd2 was under the weather and had a temp of 38. Within 10 minutes it had shot up to nearly 41 and she had a convulsion. Dd1 has had similarly high temperatures but never had a convulsion because she wasn't overwhelmed by it, iyswim.

[BarbarianMum]

I was told by my GP not to worry about a temperature (alone) unless it was above 40 for more than 8 hours and wasn't responding to calpol/ibruprophen. In reality neither of mine have ever had a temperature above 39.0 without feeling dreadful, so I've always treated at that point.

[Millionairerow]

I agree it depends on how grotty your child feels. I know when my kids are feverish as they claim they're cold but my goodness, the transformation when they have calpol. Best only give extra if you can't keep a temperature down or if your child is in a lot of pain. I double medicate for ear infections. My son needed both paracetamol and ibuprofen to sleep at 2 am.

[mousmous]

it isn't unless it's very high (close to 40)
fever is good it's part of the bodies defence against bugs.

you can give paracetamol or ibuprofen if dc is very miserable, but not just for a fever.

[Hakluyt]

It's also really important that people know that febrile convulsions are absolutely bloody terrifying for all concerned but not dangerous.