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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Children's health

Calpol not working

28 replies

Sexonlegs · 13/01/2011 20:02

Hi there.

DD2 has a high temperature; not sure what it is, but she is burning hot.

Nurofen seems to work really well - within 30 minutes - but she can only have that every 8 hours. She had some at 7.30 a.m., had Calpol at 1, and at 3.00, she was still burning hot, so I gave her more nurofen. At 6.00, she was burning hot again, so have given her Calpol, but am worried it doesn't seem to work.

Is there anything else I can do?

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thisisyesterday · 13/01/2011 20:03

do you have a thermometer? that will give you a better idea if it's bringing the temperature down or not

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Shannaratiger · 13/01/2011 20:04

How high is her temperature?

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sheeplikessleep · 13/01/2011 20:04

What is her temperature?

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McDreamy · 13/01/2011 20:04

What is she wearing? How about a coolish (not cold) bath? Have you got a fan?

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ShowOfHands · 13/01/2011 20:05

Calpol's not actually that brill at lowering a temp whereas nurofen is as you're finding.

Natural cooling methods. Stripped off, fan in room, cool drinks/ice lollies etc.

I have a furnace for a child too.

Long time no see.

Keep an eye, what's her temp? If it's bad and doesn't respond, she seems uncomfortable or distressed etc, then see somebody.

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WishIWasRimaHorton · 13/01/2011 20:09

i find the same with my 2. calpol does little (nothing) for temps. only calprofen / nurofen works. generally am happy to live with that (giving calprofen 3 x daily and calpol in between in the hope that it helps with pain if it doesn't lower temp) and not to call GP until calprofen / nurofen stops lowering temp. when the temp doesn't come down with calprofen or only comes down briefly is when i know something is awry. guess it won't be the same for everyone but it is a fail safe for my two.

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Sexonlegs · 13/01/2011 20:09

Thank you lovely ladies.

Squeeze back at ya SOH :)

I have an ear thermometer, but didn't use it - doh. I am never 100% convinced of their accuracy. I can just tell by putting my lips against her forehead, and the fact that she fell asleep on the sofa for 2 hours, that it is quite high; probably 39 +

She has gone to sleep now, but I am expecting a rough night.

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ShowOfHands · 13/01/2011 20:59

I don't take temps actually. I do the lips thing.

DD also slept for 2hrs today. She hasn't slept in the day since she was 12 months.

Tis the season for non specific viruses.

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WishIWasRimaHorton · 13/01/2011 21:17

i put the back of my hand on their necks. don't know why. but it is another failsafe...

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Sexonlegs · 13/01/2011 21:17

K hasn't slept in the day for ages either, so I know she is feeling pants.

Hope your dd is beter soon.

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Sexonlegs · 13/01/2011 21:51

She is talking in her sleep now...

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dikkertjedap · 13/01/2011 21:58

I would be prepared that it may be swine flu especially if calpol doesn't work. Keep a close eye on her, may be let her sleep with you? Hope she gets better soon.

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ShowOfHands · 13/01/2011 22:10

M is talking in her sleep too!

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Sexonlegs · 14/01/2011 09:23

Morning all.

K was in with me all night in the end; dh away which has it's benefits!

She is still burning hot this morning, so dosed up again on Nurofen.

Not sure if I should bother the Doctor.

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dikkertjedap · 14/01/2011 11:49

If she is responsive, drinks enough, doesn't seem in major discomfort you may just keep an eye on her, on the other hand with the weekend coming up you would need to rely on OOH/A&E if she worsens.

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Sexonlegs · 14/01/2011 12:48

Thanks for the advice. She is fine when the nurofen is working, but as soon as that wears off she is wiped out. She isn't drinking much - has gone off milk, and not eating anything really. She seemed very confused in the night as well; kept saying she wanted to go home.

Never sure how long you keep on before going to the GP.

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dikkertjedap · 14/01/2011 13:55

Personally, if she was confused at night and does not drink much I would see GP today.

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Sexonlegs · 14/01/2011 20:38

Oh God, I wish I taken your advice. She seemed quite a bit brighter this afternoon and has drunk ok. But after an hour of being in bed, I went up to find her stood out of bed talking rubbish. She doesn't feel hot, but sounds quite tight around her chest and croupy. I have the humidifier on in her room already.

God, I hate it when they are ill. :(

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winnybella · 14/01/2011 20:41

Hmm, can you take her to A&E? If she's behaving in a way that's not usual for her while ill iyswim maybe it would be better to get her seen.

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ScarlettWalking · 14/01/2011 20:43

Please get her seen. She is hallucinating that is a very high temp. She will most likely need medical attention and supervision. Poor you and her it sounds awful.

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BrigitBigKnickers · 14/01/2011 20:46

Do you have a fan?

DD1 regularly used to get the mother of temperatures when she was little and we used to strip her to her vest and put a gentle fan on her. Found it very effective at bringing the temp down.

A croupy cough is better with a very steamy environment- a humidifier might not be damp enough.

Perhaps it might be time to call someone (GP out of hours surgery?) or NHS direct if she is sounding croupy/ chesty. Don't leave it if you are worried- chest infections can escalate alarmingly quickly.

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Elibean · 14/01/2011 20:55

dd2 just had very similar situation - started Monday night, calpol did nothing, nurofen brought her temp down. Not so bad during the day, then burning up at night - wandering into our room talking nonsense at 3am. She didn't have a cough (till 4 days later), and stripping her off, blowing on her tummy, ice lollies etc did the trick along with nurofen/calpol...but it sounds very similar to start with.

Croupy cough and chesty, though...I would get her seen. Take her temp anyway (I'm sure you're right, but this might be a time to check with that ear thermometer) and if temp not down with nurofen, I'd go straight to A&E or at least call NHS direct. Better safe.

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Sexonlegs · 14/01/2011 20:57

The humidifier kicks out a lot of steam, so hopefully that will help. It does help usually.

Will just keep a very close eye on her. As I said, she doesn't feel hot atm, but will check regularly.

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winnybella · 14/01/2011 21:09

Tbh I would be more worried if she's hallucinating with no fever.

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dikkertjedap · 14/01/2011 21:38

the problem is she might have a chest infection, if so, a humidifier will definitely not work. Personally I would take her to A&E to have her properly checked out. If she has a chest infection it could become pneumonia and may need strong anti-biotics also she could end up with breathing difficulties needing oxygen. Clearly, she may not have a chest infection at all and she may be fine without doing anything. You just don't know until you get her properly checked out.