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Original poster

5th dose Calpol in 24hrs?

39 replies

lochmaree · 05/11/2024 22:10

Sorry posting for traffic. 2yo suspected chicken pox but also keeps holding his ears, had Calpol today 4am, 8am, 12/1pm and 6pm. He's just been up screaming for half an hour (very unlike him). 111 put me on a list for a call within 6 hrs. Can't give ibuprofen because suspect CP. Does anyone know if a 5th dose of calpol is ok? He's gone back into a restless sleep for now so I would hold off as long as poss.

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Jeds55 · 08/11/2024 11:46

I'm glad he got seen again and seems a bit better. It's such a worry not even knowing what they are even poorly with!

Original poster
lochmaree · 08/11/2024 11:22

Saw a different nurse today and she also said bacterial infection. Maybe it started out as HFAM and got infected. Either way he seems a bit better today

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Original poster
lochmaree · 07/11/2024 21:16

Jeds55 · 07/11/2024 19:11

Because of the blisters in the mouth I'd maybe say hand, foot and mouth. My eldest had it a few years ago now but I recall her having mouth blisters and some on the feet, like your little one seems to have the start of.

Hope he feels better soon. Its so hard when they're ill.

My dd got over the hfam within a few days, I, on the other hand, caught it and felt awful for ages. I had a rash a few days after the worst of mine - a raised bumpy one. Is your son's rash bumpy? If it fails the glass test I'd be taking it a lot more seriously obviously.

Hope he (and you) get some rest tonight, although it's pretty impossible with the worry.

Thank you, it does seem very like HFAM. Maybe he also has some bacterial infection in addition. As the open sore type bits don't seem like HFAM, more like impetigo/staph infection? But the blisters look exactly like HFAM. the bit on his foot doesn't look like a spot or blister, it is like a red patch and got me worried about cellulitis or something. If no significant improvement by the morning I think i will take him back for a f2f check.

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Jeds55 · 07/11/2024 19:11

Because of the blisters in the mouth I'd maybe say hand, foot and mouth. My eldest had it a few years ago now but I recall her having mouth blisters and some on the feet, like your little one seems to have the start of.

Hope he feels better soon. Its so hard when they're ill.

My dd got over the hfam within a few days, I, on the other hand, caught it and felt awful for ages. I had a rash a few days after the worst of mine - a raised bumpy one. Is your son's rash bumpy? If it fails the glass test I'd be taking it a lot more seriously obviously.

Hope he (and you) get some rest tonight, although it's pretty impossible with the worry.

Original poster
lochmaree · 07/11/2024 18:55

He has amoxicillin now, which he's just had a first dose of. Already tried flucloxacillin clithermycin (sp) and I can't get them down him in anywhere near the required quantity.

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Original poster
lochmaree · 07/11/2024 18:53

Still not actually sure what he's got, nurse we saw yesterday said staph infection. Receptionist I showed pics to tonight when picking up 3rd antibiotic to try (!) said looks like Scarlett fever or hand, foot & mouth. (Showed receptionist as was asking if there was anyone clinical still in who I could show them to)

He has a kind of pinprick rash over his arms and legs. Blisters in his mouth and on lips. Spots which have turned into sores on the back of one hand and on his legs (in among the pinprick rash). A few smaller spots on his back and belly. He now has red marks appearing on his feet which just appear to be a red patch rather than a rash or spots.

5th dose Calpol in 24hrs?
5th dose Calpol in 24hrs?
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ShowOfHands · 07/11/2024 18:23

MsCactus · 06/11/2024 22:28

Is it not based on the need though? My brothers used to run such high temperatures they'd fit and need ambulances called out. That's why Dr allowed higher dose.

They give higher doses to children in hospital as well, so clearly it is something they do when the risk of not giving it is higher

Show quote history

Paracetamol also shouldn't be used to try and prevent fits. It doesn't work in this way.

5th dose Calpol in 24hrs?
PickAChew · 07/11/2024 07:22

Holymotherforkingshirtballs · 07/11/2024 06:35

I've been a paediatric nurse for 20 years and have never known this done. We follow BNF doses and do not exceed the limit.

Show quote history

That's actually reassuring after seeing some of the posts above.

Holymotherforkingshirtballs · 07/11/2024 06:35

PickAChew · 06/11/2024 23:43

In hospital they can monitor and run frequent LFTs and probably support a higher dosage regime with methionine.

I've been a paediatric nurse for 20 years and have never known this done. We follow BNF doses and do not exceed the limit.

PickAChew · 06/11/2024 23:43

In hospital they can monitor and run frequent LFTs and probably support a higher dosage regime with methionine.

Holymotherforkingshirtballs · 06/11/2024 22:34

MsCactus · 06/11/2024 22:28

Is it not based on the need though? My brothers used to run such high temperatures they'd fit and need ambulances called out. That's why Dr allowed higher dose.

They give higher doses to children in hospital as well, so clearly it is something they do when the risk of not giving it is higher

Show quote history

The mg/kg dose calculated in hospital is usually higher than what is on the bottle but still shouldn't be given more than 4 times in 24 hours. It can damage the liver. Incredibly dangerous advice to be given.

MsCactus · 06/11/2024 22:28

Floraflower3 · 06/11/2024 07:36

See my previous post about why you shouldnt exceed the frequency. I’m glad your brothers suffered no ill effects but I would never listen to a Dr recommending this (I’m a pharmacist). By that dosing you could be using it up to 8x per day, double the dose! bnfc.nice.org.uk/drugs/paracetamol/#indications-and-dose

Show quote history

Is it not based on the need though? My brothers used to run such high temperatures they'd fit and need ambulances called out. That's why Dr allowed higher dose.

They give higher doses to children in hospital as well, so clearly it is something they do when the risk of not giving it is higher

DieStrassensindimmernass · 06/11/2024 16:35

lochmaree · 06/11/2024 15:02

Thanks everyone for replies last night. I held out till 4am and then we got a decent sleep for 3hrs until we had to get up for school run! Went to see the nurse earlier and she said it's a staph infection so I can also use ibuprofen now.

Hope he's feeling better soon.

Original poster
lochmaree · 06/11/2024 15:02

Thanks everyone for replies last night. I held out till 4am and then we got a decent sleep for 3hrs until we had to get up for school run! Went to see the nurse earlier and she said it's a staph infection so I can also use ibuprofen now.

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Floraflower3 · 06/11/2024 07:36

MsCactus · 05/11/2024 22:51

Phone a doctor - my brothers used to get raging temperatures and fit as children, really poorly, and our GP agreed for them to have Calpol every three hours, not every four, and no limit on the number of times in 24 hours.

So basically doctors can give you permission to up doses of paracetamol/ibuprofen if you really need it

See my previous post about why you shouldnt exceed the frequency. I’m glad your brothers suffered no ill effects but I would never listen to a Dr recommending this (I’m a pharmacist). By that dosing you could be using it up to 8x per day, double the dose! bnfc.nice.org.uk/drugs/paracetamol/#indications-and-dose

TheDefiant · 05/11/2024 23:05

Is there anything else that your LO will tolerate that will soothe them another way?

A bath?
A massage?
Something sensory like lights on the ceiling and soothing noises?

It's horrible not to be able to help them.

PickAChew · 05/11/2024 23:01

Glad you're not doing it. Even a small overdose of paracetamol can cause irreversible liver damage.

listsandbudgets · 05/11/2024 23:01

I always give every 6 hours to avoid that awful gap atthe end when they can't have any for 8 hours. Neither choice is nice when they're in pain though

Original poster
lochmaree · 05/11/2024 22:55

I just tried a warm compress on his ear and it upset him so much, he looked at me with a 'how could you' very hurt expression. 😓

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MsCactus · 05/11/2024 22:54

MsCactus · 05/11/2024 22:51

Phone a doctor - my brothers used to get raging temperatures and fit as children, really poorly, and our GP agreed for them to have Calpol every three hours, not every four, and no limit on the number of times in 24 hours.

So basically doctors can give you permission to up doses of paracetamol/ibuprofen if you really need it

Also I've known GPs to also allow every four hours in 24 hours, no limit. But this time it went even further every three hours they allowed.

I'm not saying to do this! Just that you can safely have slightly higher amounts, it just needs to be Ok'ed by a doctor

Original poster
lochmaree · 05/11/2024 22:54

MsCactus · 05/11/2024 22:51

Phone a doctor - my brothers used to get raging temperatures and fit as children, really poorly, and our GP agreed for them to have Calpol every three hours, not every four, and no limit on the number of times in 24 hours.

So basically doctors can give you permission to up doses of paracetamol/ibuprofen if you really need it

I'm waiting to hear back from out of hours doctor but could be 6 hrs.

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Original poster
lochmaree · 05/11/2024 22:53

lolacherricoke · 05/11/2024 22:48

What about some piriton? Helped mined with chicken pox xx

He's been having chlorphenamine 2.5ml 2x daily already.

OP posts:
MsCactus · 05/11/2024 22:51

Phone a doctor - my brothers used to get raging temperatures and fit as children, really poorly, and our GP agreed for them to have Calpol every three hours, not every four, and no limit on the number of times in 24 hours.

So basically doctors can give you permission to up doses of paracetamol/ibuprofen if you really need it

JoanCollected · 05/11/2024 22:51

Weigh your child then go online to check the correct dose by weight. My kids aren’t huge or anything but typically when going by weight they can have quite a bit more than the bottles (who have to cater conservatively based on age) indicate. If they were being undersized by weight, I’d give them another dose (ideally the right amount for their weight).

lolacherricoke · 05/11/2024 22:48

What about some piriton? Helped mined with chicken pox xx