DS temp 40 quick question please r.e meds

[mummyplonk]

Ds 7 woke up 4am v bad cough and head and neck pain, temp rose so we had an emergency docs appt this morning. Doc was very thorough and checked his whole body, oxygen sats, joints etc. Advised he is certain not a meningitis strain and to control temp with paracetamol/ibroprofen. His neck hurts more now he says and temp has topped 40, he has had 3 doses of the Calpol age 6 plus but the maximum dosage is 4 on 24 hours. Mum is bringing some ibroprofen round in a minute. The Calpol is bringing his temp down about 15 mins after he takes it, will the ibroprofen do the same do you know? I am worried without the Calpol tonight what it could soar to. Also is there any point asking my Mum to get some cough medicine for him? Do they do it for kids and with the max dose paracetamol could he take it anyway. Thanks for reading.

[WowOoo]

Can you call a pharmacist?
I always call Boots or my local chemist, they are great for meds advice. They'll call you back also if busy.

Could you hold out on medicine until closer to bedtime?
I'd also watch cough medicine - in case it has paracetamol in it. It doesn't actually do much in my experience.

Ds said that Vicks Vapour rub stuff helped him sleep. Even though it was a cough, it seemed to do something to help him breathe easier.

Hope he gets well soon.

[larrygrylls]

Yes, neurofen is an antipyretic, it will bring the fever down. For some reason, in our children, it works a lot better than paracetamol. The recommendation is to alternate them both every two hours (so at 2pm paracetamol, 4pm neurofen, 6pm paracetamol etc). If he has already go to the 24 hour max and his temp is that high, I would call the doc's surgery and ask if he can exceed it. I think those 24 hour doses are set conservatively low.

If he gets in any way worse with the neck pain, breathing etc, don't be frightened to take him back or to A&E.

[peachypips]

My 2.5 yr old had a temp of 41.6 at the weekend (taken by the paramedic) and it necessitated a trip to hosp as he was maxed out on ibuprofen and calpol. They told me the same as above- ibuprofen, 2 hours, calpol, two hours and so on.
I have had the same thing and have had stiffness - including neck. So keep an eye out obv but it's prob the nature of the evil virus!

[Sirzy]

If your giving full doses then isn't there supposed to be 6 hours between doses of brufen?

[mummyplonk]

Thanks everyone, left message doc will call back to see if dose can be exceeded of if wants to see him again. Seems to be a nasty virus, DH just called saying he has a splitting headache too.

[larrygrylls]

Sounds like flu. Not to be underestimated in its unpleasantness.

[MmeLindor]

Don't mean to worry you but how could doc rule out meningitis?

[mummyplonk]

He didn't show extreme sensitivity to light, checked his body and sats and said he would be extremely unwell and lethargic if it was that. I hope he was right, am worried now, his neck hurts more now than this morning and he has stomached cramps which he didn't before,

[dikkertjedap]

I find that nurofen is much more effective in bringing temperature down.

I would make a schedule alternating nurofen and calpol for a 24 hour period until the worst is over. If temperature is below 39 degrees I wouldn't give anything TBH unless your ds is in obvious pain.

Your GP may be willing to tell you what the maximum doses are based on your DS age and weight.

Hope he gets better soon but if things don't feel right do seek medical advice.

[MmeLindor]

I'd be inclined to seek a second opinion.

It is probably just flu, but I wouldn't risk it with those symptoms.

[dikkertjedap]

When we suspected meningitis, one of the tests the doctors did was as follow:

lay child flat (no pillows, absolutely flat) on bed on its back
ask to keep legs straight and you lift each leg in turn quite high up, this should not hurt
lay flat again, the ask child one by one to lift leg and bring it towards its body through bending the knees (so feet end up close to its bottom), this should not hurt.

If child cannot do this or it causes severe pain then it is an emergency.
If child can do it without problems, we were told it would rule out meningitis unless there are non-bleaching spots, strong aversion to light, or other immediate symptoms. Doctors did this when our child suddenly developed very stiff neck (could not bring chin to chest), very high sudden fever, severe drowsiness.

[Skyebluesapphire]

Several people have told me that for a bad cough - rub Vicks on the soles of the feet and then put socks on. Works really well apparantly!

[mummyplonk]

thanks dikkertjedap. I just tried that test and whilst he moaned his tummy hurt no pain in legs at all so thats comforting. Dr said no more paracetamol so will hold back until as late as poss. Skyblue, I do that with the Vicks too, am sure it helps but could be in my mind

[MmeLindor]

How's he doing this morning? Did he sleep ok?

[mummyplonk]

Hi thanks for asking MMe, I slept in his room as he kept coughing, crying and shouting out random things (must of been the fever), He was sick in the middle of the night which he said has made his stomach a bit better. The cough has really notched up a gear, but the temp has gone down today. There are lots of teachers/kids who have had Novo virus in his school, I dont know much about that but that does include sickness dosnt it?

[MmeLindor]

oh, yes. Novo is a stomach bug, and quite a nasty one. If he does have this then be very careful about washing hands, buckets and loo - I keep a bottle of spray disinfectant for days like this.

Hope he is feeling better now.

[dikkertjedap]

Hope he feels a bit better now. Noro virus usually only lasts 24-48 hours. Didn't know you would get a cough with the Noro virus, so I wonder whether he got something else or Noro virus plus another virus on top.

I would not be surprised if it turns out to be flu after all, also considering the high fever, hallucinations, coughing, stomach ache, muscle ache. Be on your guard for secondary infections though. It may all start out as a virus, but once the body is weakened it is more likely to develop a bacterial infection.

So if fever goes away and then in a few days comes back with a vengeance then there may be a risk of a bacterial (secondary) infection and you may want to see a GP in case he needs antibiotics.