19 month old with 40 degrees temp

[handlemecarefully]

He has a chesty cough and cold, and a temperature of 40 degrees. He seems okay though (i.e. not listless, lethargic or miserable)..., alert, ate his breakfast and a little lunch

I've given calpol and he has a docs appointment at 18.10 tonight.

Given that his temp is 40 degrees am I under -reacting? Can he wait until 18.10?, or does this need immediate medical attention?

[colditz]

Have you got any nurofen to give him? Personally I would take him to a + e and have him seen.

[handlemecarefully]

Whys that...are you thinking possible febrile convulsions?

[zippitippitoes]

Has his temperature dropped at all with calpol?

[tiredemma]

over 40 deg can lead to fits etc, i'd either call nhs direct or go to A&E just for reassurance more than anything.

[KBear]

I would definitely call the doc for advice at this temp. Febrile convulsions are a possibility although it's usually a rapid rise in temp rather than a constant high temp that causes them (according to the doc I saw in A&E).

Strip him off and turn off your heating and get a fan on him. Calpol and Ibruprofen will help but ask your doc for advice on doses.

[handlemecarefully]

Well he's been a bit warm all morning so I think it is a gradual increase in his temp that has got him to 40 degrees.

I'll check his temp again to see if it is coming down yet.....

[seb1]

Contact NHS direct

fever

[hunkermunker]

Oh, poor DS.

Mine got temps this high (up to 40.9) when he was teething - I've posted about it on here.

We alternated doses of Disprol and Nurofen (Disprol because he loathes Calpol - lol!), made sure he wasn't wearing anything but a nappy (this was in the summer though, not sure if I'd strip him off that far in the cold).

We also had a fan that we'd have blowing over him (but not all the time - it was on swivel so he didn't just get blasted with cold air all the time).

I was worried he'd have a febrile convulsion, but he didn't - just looked scared and ill The doctor thought (and I agree) that he kept picking up viruses at the same as teething, as he was crawling and sucks his fingers.

Hope he's feeling better very soon. I also found that Disprol/Nurofen worked very well, and meant I have taken a seemingly very well child to the doctor!

[handlemecarefully]

His temp is down a little but still high.

Thanks for that link Seb1, I've gone through the decision tree thing and when I've fed in my answers it doesn't seem to be indicating great cause for concern....

Thanks hunker and everyone...he is stripped down to his nappy now....

I will keep constantly checking his temp

[Zephyrcat]

Hiya HMC - ds had a temp of 40.3 at the weekend after a week of a horrid cold and it turned out to be severe tonsillitis.

Keep checking his temp every 5 minutes to make sure that a) it starts going down (ds took quite a while though) and b) it doesn't go up suddenly.

It might be an idea to wipe him over with a warm/tepid flannel - as the water evaporates it'll cool him down - but it musn't be cold water.

Hope he's ok

[handlemecarefully]

Hope your little boy is feeling better now Zephyrcat?

Ds seems quite happy in himself atm, hot but happy....

Am checking temp frequently now....

[Zephyrcat]

Yeaterday was the first day that he was 'himself' again. He had woken up sunday and monday with a temp of 102 but the antibiotics seem to have finally kicked in!!

As long as he's happy in himself and doesn't suddenly change he sounds like he'll be fine to hang on til your appt....if you ring the docs though and tell them his temp they'll tell you whether or not to bring him straight away

[handlemecarefully]

The docs said just to call if there is any change in him.

I always find it really useful to check things out on here with other mums though....

Glad your ds is getting a bit better

[piffle]

my dd went up to 42 when she had measles, she was very tired and sleepy but not unduly "ill"
my ds would convulse at any temp over 38 as a baby.
I'd def try the calpol and nurofen as well as tepid sponging to make him comfy but if he is ok in himself then I personally would wait happily.
But this is cos I have taken dd to A+E with very hight temps and a cough and a cold and they do not even blink if the childs demeanour is reasonable.

[handlemecarefully]

Very reassuring - thanks piffle.

I was thinking along the lines of if he seems okay then he is okay

[zippitippitoes]

I think some people are more tolerant of fever than others, i think the level of activity and alertness is a good guide in conjunction with careful monitoring

[piffle]

I also know it's lot easier to tell you to not be too worried than it is for you not to be worried

[handlemecarefully]

Thanks again all. Doctor checked him over this evening and is generally happy. I'm to go back if his temperature is not responsive to medication (so far it is) / doesn't resolve completely within next 48 hours / or if there is any change (lethargy, listlessness etc). So am happy that ds is doing okay

On a more flippant note - phwoar do I fancy that doctor!!!

[zippitippitoes]

Better today i hope, always nice ot have nice doctor (well maybe not always)

[zippitippitoes]

Better today i hope, always nice ot have nice doctor (well maybe not always)

[zippitippitoes]

Better today i hope, always nice ot have nice doctor (well maybe not always)

[zippitippitoes]

Better today i hope, always nice ot have nice doctor (well maybe not always)

[zippitippitoes]

sorry meddling fingers pressing enter there

[handlemecarefully]

Thanks for asking zippi - yes he is definitely getting better today. Certainly ate a good deal more (appetite has been a bit low lately)....