What temperature warrants immediate medical attention?

[lucyellensmum]

I am a bit vague about temperatures. My DD is 2.3 and with an ear thermometer she is usually about 36/37 degrees. When she has a temperature they are always really high, the other night hers was 39.5!! We dosed her with calpol and ibruprofen and her temp has only spiked to about 38.3. She is getting much better now. To be honest, she didnt really have many other symptoms. When her temp was really high she was in bed so difficult to assess, she came into our bed and went to sleep after the meds. No other symptoms really, although she did have tummy ache on friday. But anyway, shes on the mend

But When do I panic? i have often been on the phone to out of hours when she has had a temp over 39 and have been given the bath and air dry advice (this really works), even when she has been lethargic they dont want to let you take them to see a doctor or send a doctor out .

I have seen some Mnetters say that over 39 means trouble, or is this if it cannot be brought down with meds. Of course i would assume other symptoms/factors are important but would someone like to please clarify this for me.

ta xx

[Spoo]

Have called the doctor with 40 degree and he said that it wasn't the temperature that was necessarily the problem but the rate of increase. If I was 'thinking' about whether to ring someone - I nearly always decide to. Gut instinct I think is really important. I would generally say 39 was maangeable with my kids but would be worried about the lethargy. I wouldn't rely on NHS direct either to make an assessment. Either nip down to doctors or A and E. Maybe someone with more medical experience can answer.

[Flightthebluetouchpaper]

I'm not sure either but I think if it hits 39? and won't respond to medicine, that's when you get the doctor out. When they're tiny anyway (I was told this the other night by GP, mine is 5 months almost) It might even be lower than that for tinies.
If a bit older I would only panic at 40, really. Risk is only that they mighthave a convulsion, tat's why you need to bring it down.

Someone on here must know for sure?

[essbeeavenue]

Message withdrawn

[Pollyanna]

It is different for different children I think. my dd3 has a febrile convulsion generally if her temperature gets to 39. As Spoo says this is because it shoots up to that quickly (she has also had convulsions if it goes down quickly).
With my other children, I am only concerned if I can't get it to go down with nurofen and calpol (they are older though).

[kindersurprise]

My doc told me that there is no fixed temperature. Some children are really ill and lethargic when the temp hits 38 - 39, some still seem fit when they have 40 degrees fever.

He told me to let our DCs fever a bit as long as they are coping well with it and to give calpol/nurofen when they hit 40 or if they are obviously suffering.

If the fever persists over a few days or if you are worried, then see a doc.

I think that you will get a different answer from every doc or medical person you ask. You basically have to trust your instincts a bit.

[macdoodle]

Medical opinion (opinion only!) here ...no straight answer afraid ..TBH there probably isn't much else the doc can actually do to bring it down (other than what you are doing meds sponging tepid bath air dry cool drinks etc)...the more improtant issue is how child is in themselves - if there is something nasty causing the temp or risk of febrile convulsion (which although very scary are not often dangerous).....would go on gut instinct and if are worried get doc to see (most will not mind especially a tiny)....thougb TBH a very high temp will make most kids lethargic (imagine how you feel with cold ad high temp)...it is the non rousable very toxic kids that are a worry ...sounds like you did everything right

[lucyellensmum]

Thanks This thread was more of a future reference thing, DD seems much better now, my bet is a viral thing she has shrugged off or her teeth. Why do teeth cause a high temp? Hers always have, she will get a high temp, soft poo and then next day - tooth. Of course she has most of them now.

[macdoodle]

Mine too ;) Though the medical evidence says NOT
Find I am much better/more understanding doc since having my own kids (scary things children)

[kindersurprise]

macdoodle
When I was looking for a new paediatrician I would only consider one with children of their own. I find that they are much more understanding of a panicked mum with a really silly question. Our previous paediatrician always said that he would rather see us once too often

[Flightthebluetouchpaper]

I was also told not to sponge, this time - apparently it isn't great, I can't remember why, but baths are OK?

[lucyellensmum]

FLight, the advice i received and it makes sense is - bath in a relatively WARM bath and then let air dry. This works better than sponging and cool baths because if the body is cooled quickly, it naturally tries to warm itself up, this counteracts the cooling effects because it means the body then raises the temp itself. The warm bath means that the body then starts to try too cool iteslf by the blood flowing nearer the skin etc, this means that when you take the child out of the bath it will cool down quicker. Does that make any sense? i can never explain it very well, it made sense when the nurse explained it to me, and it works really well.

[Niecie]

DS2 had a temp of 40 degrees in January. It wasn't so much that reading that was worrying but the length of time he had it. When it dropped it only dropped to about 39 degrees. In the end he had a temp. for about 10 days, with 2 visits to the doctors and tbh I don't think they really took much notice - put it down to a virus and left us to get on with it.

I said I was worred about febrile convulsions but apparently if they haven't had one in their 1st year to 18mths they are unlikely to have one, which was a bit of a relief as DS was 3.4 at the time.

[Niecie]

No definitely no sponging with cool water - it apparently makes them shiver which is both uncomfortable and does no good in lowering temperature.

[nORAYNonmybonfireplease]

Age is important, my DD used to have febrile fits, but her temperature was never really high, they started at around 16-18 months.
Also each child is different, Ds has never had a fit but always has really quite high temperatures.

[seeker]

Oh Lord - something else to remind me what a bad mother I am. Inever taken either of my childrens' temperatures - I haven't even got a thermometer!

[Flightthebluetouchpaper]

Thanks LucyEllensmum, that does help. I used to be told to sponge ds1 and it was awful he screamed till I gave up feeling like a bad mother - now I know it was bad advice I shall follow his lead next time! grr at NHS direct...

[fortunecookie]

I think it's not how high the temp is but how long it's sustained. If you can't bring it down with ibuprofen or other antipyretic, then it's time to call the doc.

Tepid baths are good but not cold ones as they tend to send the temp soaring!

[christywhisty]

With my DC's it is the shooting up of the temperature that causes the febrile convulsion. It is usually the first sign they are ill, so not much I can do to prevent them.

NOray that's interesting because my sister had a lot of FC's like my son, but I never had one but I used to have far more problems with temperatures (even to the stage of being unconsious from tonsilitus) than she ever had.

[yurt1]

depends on the child. DS1 has routinely hit 42, Ds1 is fine with 40, ds3 had a febrile convulsion at 41.

TBH I don't really take temperatures, don't know where my thermometer is. I just go by how they feel. DS3 was running one last night and this morning, I just dose them up (especially him because he's obviuously prone to febrile convulsions) and only seek medical attention if they seem really ill, or I think they might need antibs. I know ds3 has an ear infection right now, but they won't give anything for it (and tbh I don't want him having antibs for a routine ear infection) so I'll just alternate calpol and nurofen for the fever and pain until he's better.

[Flightthebluetouchpaper]

What are you meant to do if they do have a convulsion, out of curiosity?

[yurt1]

I rang an ambulance as ds3's was a bit weird- he passed out- and I wasn;t sure if he was having a convulsion or had gone unconcious. Basically you\re meant to get them cool. DS3's occurred because as he was getting over one ear infection (so he was a little hot, but not wildly- so I let him sleep) another one started and sent his temp soaring quickly.

They kept him in overnight, but said if it happened again just to shove him full of calpol and nurofen. Having said that it was scary and I wouldn't hesitate to ring 999 again in a similar situation (and I usually have to be dragged to the docs).

[VictorianSqualor]

I called MIL who called 999 the first time, because after DD had the fit she wasnt breathing, I had to give her mouth to mouth and then she was unconcious and wouldnt wake up.
Having said that, that was the only time she was as ill, she had quite a few fits after that but they were manageable (make sure she doesnt hurt herself, swallow her tongue etc, and try to cool her down SLOWLY)

[christywhisty]

Ds has had 20 FC's. We were told to call 999 if the fit goes on for longer than 5 minutes or if they have more than one. We were given rectal diazipam just in case they do go on for longer than 5 minutes.
We have only called 999 after the first one when ds hit his head when he fell from the fit, or one time he was eating when it happened, but they didn't take him to hospital that time

It is best not to touch them, until the fit is over, just make sure they are comfortable plenty of calpol and nurofen. Ds always sleeps for ages afterwards.