Advice re child with temperature

[schizzler]

First post here, please be gentle!

Am a single mum to a 16 month old and 4 month old. My 16 month old has been unwell for the past few days with cough and cold. Have put her to bed tonight, she woke after a few hours really upset and burning up. Have given her calpol and ibuprofen and settled her back to sleep with some milk. Also stripped her down to vest and nappy. She's asleep and still coughing. I don't have a thermometer but she still feels like she's burning up, her hair is ringing with sweat. The medicine should have had plenty of time to work now. Im home alone with her and my youngestso no one else I can send out to get a thermometer. I'm scared to go to sleep! What would you do?

[TessCackle]

Cold flannel on head, as well as keeping her stripped. Do you not have a thermometer at all? That's the best indicator I'm afraid. Has she had any water at all? When/if she next wakes before morning try and get her to drink some. Hope she's feeling better soon

[BrianTheMole]

I'd call the out of hours mate, just to be safe.

[schizzler]

She's had 1 dose of each but only an hour ago. Thanks for the reassurance. I'm exhausted but don't want to go to sleep while she's still so hot. Looks like a long night ahead

[BoysBoysBoysAndMe]

I would rub her down with a wet flannel all over, just lukewarm water, cold might be a bit of a shock for her. Wake her up for her doses of calool/nurofen and offer her some fluids at the same time.

If she's not cooling down after mess then I'd phone ooh dr and try and get a home visit

[Wolfiefan]

Any friend who could drop off a thermometer? I'd want a temp and to contact OOH. Hoping you get some sleep soon.

[schizzler]

Btw could kick myself for not having a thermometer! Am normally on the ball with stuff like that but chucked out my last one as it was giving wrong readings and hasn't got round to replacing it.

[schizzler]

Will call ooh thanks guys

[bigwellyfucker]

Dont fo the cold water thing - always cool the air not the child. Si a fan ir ooen window.

Id ring OOH '.- they may be able ti get you a dosage ibcrease if yiu kniw your childs weight

[bigwellyfucker]

Sorry. Breastfeeding!

[BrianTheMole]

Oh I haven't got one schizzler. I used to have one but it broke and i never got round to replacing it. Even though you don't know the exact numbers, you do know when the temp is way over what it should be. You need to trust your own judgement on this one tonight. You already know the temp is over the norm. Do call out of hours if you cant get temp down soon.

[cafecito]

agree don't do the cold flannel,
trust your intuition
check she's responsive, alert - no rashes, not floppy or stiff, any crying, changes in pitch etc. check temp not with palms but with back of hands or even your own forehead.
watch for seizures, check if appears dehydrated - last wet nappy? sunken skin etc?
make sure getting enough fluids
don't give more than recommended dosing of anything like calpol

if worried, always call for medical help.

[AlwaysChasingRainbows]

I'm sorry but if she is dripping with sweat then id be straight on the phone to ooh .
Can you not see if a neighbour has a thermometer you can borrow

[schizzler]

Thanks to everyone for responding. She's asleep but coughing in her sleep, and pushing me away when I touch her (normal for her!) so she is responsive, no seizures, not floppy, no rashes. Have opened window and stripped her down to nappy. No neighbours with kids to ask for a thermometer unfortunately.
Am waiting for call back from ooh doc .

[BrianTheMole]

Ok, hopefully they will call you back quickly.

[schizzler]

Just to update, she is now sat up in the cot chatting away to her teddy. Temperature seems to be getting better. Little tinker! Ooh doc has advised to keep monitoring and regular calpol / brufen.

[BrianTheMole]

Thats great, glad she's a little better.

[BeaWheesht]

IMe sweating means the body has recognised it's too hot nd is trying to cool down which is a good thing so long As she drinking to replace fluids.

[QueenofKelsingra]

hope she is ok this morning OP?

for future, with a temperature my GP advised to give a tepid bath to bring the temp down, also have a fan in the room to keep the air circulating. plus calpol/calprofen. he advised to call for further advise if the combination of the above did not reduce the temperature.

[schizzler]

She's a different girl today, temperature down and smiling and playing. Thanks for all the advice.