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Children's health

17mo with low temperature

5 replies

poopantsmum · 02/04/2013 21:35

Any experience of this? Otherwise healthy 17mo gets a low temperature in the night when he is a little bit unwell (e.g. has a cold), wakes up screaming but not shivering, temp is always below 35.3 when this happens (Braun ear thermometer), got to 34.7 last night (5th time this has happened in the last couple of months), then I have to sit up with him at night and put him in a jumper, + fleece, + woolly hat on, + his winter sleeping bag, + a thick blanket etc. (he looks a bit ridiculous) until he warms up - usually after around an hour, although once it took 6 hours (we were up from 11pm to 5am and he was wide awake the entire time!). His room is warm (20 deg) and his normal body temperature is normal too, around 36.7ish. Been to A&E once and the GP once, who just looked a bit bewildered = not very reassuring. Any ideas? I don't think it's a sign of a serious illness because otherwise he's fine, but I would like to stop it happening each time he gets sick, or at least stop worrying that on one occasion he is going to get colder and colder and then go into shock or something.... Any advice or similar experiences appreciated! Thank you

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anonymosity · 03/04/2013 00:12

Yes, my DS sometimes has this - from when he was a small baby and still now (he is 6 yrs old).

He normally gets it towards the end of a cold or flu when he's been on calpol to bring his temperature down. Its sort of like a mini-hypothermia. We have to be really careful to stop calpol despite him still having other (non-fever) symptoms and keep him well wrapped up. We put him in thermal type long-john pjs, a duvet and on top a fleece blanket.

I have quite recently (over Xmas) had to climb into bed with him to warm him up which helps him go back to sleep.

My mum said my dad is the same and always has been. I don't think its a major problem, just something to be mindful of and watch for.

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poopantsmum · 03/04/2013 20:11

Thanks anonymosity, that's really very helpful. Have you learnt to predict when it is likely to happen to stop medicine? I agree that stopping the medicine seems to be instinctively right but it is hard to do this when he is in obvious pain/ has a temperature - but then he can go from a high temperature to a low one in hours. Do you know if there's a 'dangerous' level of low temperature - I'm terrified that his body is just going to suddenly start shutting down if he's that cold.... As it happens, I'm a really 'cold' person too so perhaps he's got it from me....Thanks for your help.

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anonymosity · 03/04/2013 21:52

I'm glad to be of some help. The first time it happened I was quite frightened - but every time he gets flu now, I sort of half expect it as a tail-end of the illness phase.

If he still has a high fever, then I'll keep him on the correct doses of calpol, normally giving a final dose about 40 mins before bed so its taken effect. But if after a few days the temperature is only a little higher than normal (say 99 ?) I will strictly keep him off the calpol but make sure he has Vics rub and lots of warm drinks before bed (and a steamy bath) as he phases out of the flu / cold.

Its difficult sometimes, because his fevers can really spike and then drop.

I was told it was a boy thing, but clearly not if you get it too.

It sounds like you're doing all the right things (and when they're tiny they can't tell you how they're feeling, or indeed to bog off and leave them alone!)

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anonymosity · 03/04/2013 21:56

I don't know about dangerously low temps. Can you check with your GP office on that one? I am sure there is something listed somewhere, I just don't know exactly where to point you....

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princesssmartypantss · 03/04/2013 22:05

My ds has low temperature usually and in particular noticed this when we were living in colder house as took his temp because he felt cold and it was 34.something i called nhs direct and they were genuinely confused, it seems that he is just a cold boy? Not noticed he drops temp after a cold or fever but will watch for this now! Watching with interest to see if anyone has idea on what causes this?

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