Do you give calpol for “just” a temp - or do you leave a fever?

[Makinganewthinghappen]

My 7 year old has had a cough since last night but has otherwise been fine - about half an hour ago I touched her and she was burning hot - I took her temp and came up as 39.5 . But she’s acting totally normal just a really quite minor cough and the temp which is much higher than I’ve ever seen her get one before !

I have been trying to get her to rest but she’s running around like a crazy person refusing to go to sleep so I feel a bit lost!

Do you give calpol for just a temp?
Should I expect to see her crash soon and suddenly look ill?

Treat the child, not the fever. A fever is the body doing its job to fight the bug. If she feels ok, leave it. If she is otherwise symptomatic then give paracetamol or ibuprofen.

I have no medical knowledge at all but would be giving calpol to get temp down.

I'd let it be if she is fine in herself. Give her plenty to drink and keep an eye. If it gets much over 40 I'd try to get it down but its probably higher because shes running about.

Mrs Patrick thanks at the moment she seems fine and is demanding that we go to we milkshake shop tomorrow . I was just a little shocked when she was so hot!

I don’t take their temperatures and only give painkillers if they’re in pain.

Nope I don’t give it unless they are very miserable.

Because:

1. there was a study done a couple years ago that it does indeed slow down healing (from suppressing inflammation)
2. drug reactions can happen (have heard of one horrific one to a common over the counter drug), even if they’ve been fine with the drug before
3. it’s difficult to get them to swallow it sometimes

Lowca she doesn’t seem to have any pain literally just a cough - which isn’t even that bad and the temp. I’ll leave it a bit and see how she is overnight - if she wakes up overnight I can always give calpol then.
Thanks!

With ds we bring it down with paracetamol (on paeds advice because he has reacted badly to high temps in the past)
With the dds we give paracetamol if they are feeling crap with the temperature (or when younger showing signs of feeling crap).

For a mild fever and child feeling OK in themselves I wouldn't but ffs 39.5 is bloody high and I would absolutely be trying to bring that down.

Don’t be casual about that temperature- it’s high. Give her the Calpol.

High temperatures can result in convulsions, I wouldn't take the risk.

I personally give calpol to my boys if they spike a temperature that high.

If they have a slightly higher temp than normal, but not a fever, and are ok in themselves then I wouldn't and would just monitor them. But 39.5 is a fever and I would def give calpol to try to bring the temp down.

I only give it if he’s actually in pain etc, fevers are beneficial and unlikely to lead to febrile convulsions.

The temperature is your body trying to kill the illness. I only give it if it’s stopping them rest but usually if I give it, they feel better temporarily then don’t rest!

If I felt the temp was a worry eg with other worrying symptoms then I seek medical advice. Eg mine have had ear infections and scarlet fever.

High temperatures don’t always need to be treated. I’ve been told recently only to treat a temp if the child is also symptomatic and feeling rotten.

That’s a very high temp and I’d be trying to get it down. High fevers can cause convulsions

Also Coco, can you link to the study showing it slows down healing pls?

I was told by doctors only to give it if she is upset / distressed / in pain and never for a temperature

For "just" a temperature that high, I'd be giving Calpol. I'd also be keeping an eye.

Hopefully she'll get a decent sleep and be OK tomorrow.

There’s a recent bbc thing that had some info about wrong use of calpol, google bbc ‘are we using too much calpol’

I don't think it is "high" temperatures in themselves that cause febrile convulsions, but rapid rises in temperature.

Calpol doesn't prevent febrile convulsions. So no point giving it for that reason.

I would agree with pps that a fever above 38 does promote the inflammatory process e.g. white cell activity and phagocytosis of pathogens so theoretically you should leave it, and only treat in younger children who may be prone to febrile convulsions or who are in pain or distressed.
I must say, however, I've never left a fever that high in my kids because they have always been a bit miserable with it (although that's not a good reason I feel better if they appear completely well)!

For a mild fever I would leave them be unless in pain or distress - 39.5 is very high though and I would be trying to bring it down.
If it is accurate, and not just from running about/wearing too many layers, I'd say she is likely to crash and start feeling poorly.

Strip her down a bit and plenty of cool fluids to drink and temp will prob go down a bit.

I don't give calpol unless mine are acting unwell. I don't tend to take their temperature, just give their foreheads a quick feel and if they feel too hot and they're acting poorly, then I will. If they are ok in themselves, I let them get on with it!

I probably would question the thermometer if she is running around and feels fine but it still says 39.5. Take your own temperature to check it’s working and then take hers again. If it is correct I’d definitely give calpol for that.