Think my husband has flu - is this temperature ok?

[Grassytune]

His temperature was 39 degrees, he had a lemsip and an hour later I took his temperature - 38.4 degrees. He is tucked up in bed so possibly a bit warmer than usual anyway. It was taken on an under arm thermometer. Is this ok or should I be worried?

Well it’s a fever but not worryingly so. What are his other symptoms?

For the time being, untuck him and give him paracetamol. Check his temperature again after 2 or 3 hours. Plenty of fluids.

NHS website is your friend!

He has a slight fever but nothing to worry about, it is the body's way of killing the bug so you can expect it to be high for a while yet.

I wish someone tucked me in and fussed around me when I'm ill!

I seem to have become a bit worried whenever somebody is ill and fret that it might be something more serious but I haven’t noticed. Something similar happened to a relative and she almost died. That particular scenario is very unlikely to happen again but I do feel quite worried now.

He’s had lemsip (paracetamol) and his temperature came down to 38.4. Is that low enough an hour after having it? I had expected it to be a bit lower than that from 39. I have looked at the nhs website but they just say to keep it low and I’m not sure whether that’s enough after taking paracetamol. His symptoms are just usual flu ones - he is in quite a bit of pain all over his body, just aches and pains but much worse than a cold, lying in bed sleeping and shivering with a temperature, a dry cough every now and again. I am a bit surprised as he’s had a cold and been feeling ill for about a week which seems to have developed into this, but I suppose he could have a had cold and now seperately caught flu. I have checked his hands and feet and they’re a bit cold but nothing extreme and he says his neck isn’t stiff or anything like that. So I think it is just flu.

Mumsnet really isn't the place for medical advice. You can always read the NHS site.

If yore worried about his symptoms you can ring 111 who will assess him over the phone and either give you the appropriate reassurance and self care advice or arrange for him to be seen if necessary.

you're

It’s a slight fever.

Lemsips not really the best thing to give him. Paracetamol, ibuprofen and water is better.

His temperature isn’t really a worry at that level and an hour after taking any medication isn’t very long at all so I wouldn’t have expected it to come down much. If he’s in pain, you can give him paracetamol as per the packet instructions and if that isn’t helping after a few doses, then alternate with ibuprofen.

But yes, if you’re worried call 111 or get him to see a GP tomorrow.

Lemsip has paracetamol. Don't advise doubling up on it!

Unless you use lemsip max strength, he isn't getting a full dose of paracetamol. Some are as low as 300 mg (adult dose being 1000mg).

Use the max strength ones or just paracetamol plain (not both obviously).

Ok, an hour seemed a long time to me so I feel better knowing that it won’t have fully worked yet. Why is paracetamol better than lemsip? I thought it would be just the same as it is mostly paracetamol. His throat is sore so it was easier to take this way.

Yes, it was the 1000mg one

Please don’t turn to mumsnet for advice. Call 111 if worried and they can further assess him and whether he needs to be seen.

39 is high for adults but it also depends on everything else (pulse, breathing, oxygen levels) to know whether he’s really ill or not.

Please call 111 so they can ask further questions of his symptoms.

He's a grown man with a slight fever. You could get a fever like that from any virus or infection not just flu. And even if it is flu unless he is otherwise ill he will get over it after a few days. I only hope he treats you as well when you catch it off him.

Because most Lemsips don’t have the full dose of paracetamol. You didn’t even put which Lemsip he was taking in your OP.

He needs to be seen by an HCP if you’re worried about him. There’s loads of health professionals on here but we know nothing about your husband.

Obviously I agree that MN is not the place for diagnosing.
NHS website / NHS direct are your friends when someone is ill.

However OP, you tugged at my heart when you said that you become worried and fret when someone is ill as I am exactly the same.

The only thing I would be concerned about is Sepsis. Has your husband had any injuries lately or any infections? Is his heart rate normal? Breathing rate? Please check symptoms of sepsis on the NHS website.

Let’s assume that he’s got flu. Keep giving him paracetamol ( and you can give him ibuprofen at the same time too) and kee0 an eye on his temperature. If it’s above top end of 37, going into 38 then don’t have him well tucked in. Just pajama bottoms and a nice clean sheet over him . Keep his fluids up - eating is good but not important. Fluids are. So I usually have a jug of iced water by the bed and a selection of cans of pop or some cordial to dilute. Make regular cups of tea - all kinds, regular Yorkshire tea ( there is no other brand IMHO) , green tea, peppermint tea etc . Whatever you have in. It may sound OTT but I find if there’s plenty of choice you get more fluid into an ill person.

I am a nice nursey when my lot are ill!!
I also keep a pad by the bed and write down temperatures / time taken/ what drugs I have given at what time/ fluids taken/ toilet visits etc. It may sound mad but it’s really easy to forget and get confused when you are looking after a sick relative - even if it’s ‘only’ a cold/flu.
The chances are yo7 will never need this information but it’s simply a habit I got 8nto when my daughter was little - and the only time in her life she was quite ill and admitted into hospital the nurses and doctors were amazed with it because it gave then a full pattern of how she had deteriorated. So it’s certainly worth doing.

I’m sure he will be fine - remember to look after your self too. Nursey has to stay fit!

I already do the pad with timings and dosage of medication but hadn’t thought to add temperature reading to it. I don’t want to get mixed up and accidentally overdose someone.

I am honestly not usually this silly but the relative situation terrified me. I was the one who found her and she kept insisting she was fine - she had been seen by a doctor and a nurse at home who just told her she needed to rest and that it was a vitamin deficiency! She did ultimately die and the whole thing made me realise how easy it is to overlook something serious. Having said that, I am not concerned that it is anything more than flu and have taken on board what everybody has said about calling 111, which I definitely will do if I become worried. And no infections, just a cold, breathing seemed a bit fast earlier but he said it was just because he was trying to drink the lemsip and had a blocked nose and then dragged himself to the toilet. I listened when he was asleep and it was ok. I am going to stop thinking about it now because I do know that it is just a normal illness and I don’t want to dwell.

He should be fine- temperature is the body's way of killing the pathogen causing the illness.
Look out for any new confusion/forgetfulness/slurring or being overly drowsy or unresponsive. Also be aware of laboured breathing or vastly reduced urine output. If any of those symptoms arise get him seen ASAP

I just want to add that a temperature isnt a good indicator on how ill you actually are. You can have a mild fever and be seriously ill and a high temp with a common cold. Some peoplejust dont regulate their temperatures very well. My daughter is one of them. She can spike a temp of 41 with a cold, and then inturn convulses and hallucinates. But again it's only from a cold. Plenty of fluids. Oral rehydration sachets, alternate ibrupofen and paracetamol or cocodamol. Knock the lempsips on the head. Lots of loose layers so he can strip off when too hot. And call 111 if worried.