Please help. Child won't take calpol

[Bdayupset]

My 5 year old has been ill with covid symptoms now since 18th March. Today his temp has reached a high of 40.5. He absolutely will not take calpol. We have tried everything, believe me. He has sensory issues, and there is no way we can think of to get it in him. He can taste it in any food or drink (not that he eats or drinks much), he cannot be bribed or forced and we're at our wits end.

He was actually seen by the gp on the 2nd April, all they care about is that he is self isolating (which we are, obviously).

I am also ill with covid symptoms, and the stress is definitely making it worse.

I looked at the thread about official advice for sick children and it didn't make me feel any better about it Tbh. I don't know what to do

Have you tried different flavours?

Or calpol fastmelts

Would he eat ice lollies?
You can make small ones with fruit squash and the cold helps to disguise the taste.
Also the ice will cool him a bit.

Fastmelts or suppositories? He’s probably a bit old for them though.

Suppositories? DD wouldn't take meds either but she was much younger when I had to resort to those measures.

At 3.5 a toy shop trip and chose a barbie set worked providing she took the anti-biotics.

Does he eat petite filous yoghurts?? Thats the only thing we could hide it in.

I have this exact problem with my 2 year old, for those suggesting supporatories where can you get them?

My son wouldn't take calpol I understand how difficult it is. Had to take him to hospital once and they gave suppository. When he was pretty ill he didn't notice it going in but as he got better it was more difficult but then we didn't need it as much. Have you tried scooshing it down the side of the tongue in syringe it's hard to spit out that way.

I second petit filous.
Or strawberry ice cream

Suppositories, an awful option but at least it would be a solution.

Or, work out the dose, breakup a paracetamol tablet & crush it with jam or honey? The consistency & size (you should be able to get ut into half a teaspoon might make it easier.

Phone the GP and ask them to prescribe paracetamol suppositories the pharmacy might be willing to deliver. If not then 111 for advice as you are unable to reduce his very high fever.

To be honest I’d be phoning 111 and preparing yourself for hospital.

If he has had symptoms for over 10 days and you can’t control a fever that high, there is a risk he may deteriorate and may probably need some help to overcome the virus.

In fact, if he’s old enough to understand, would he swallow a tablet? (Piece of a tablet obv)

Would holding a Haribo or favourite sweet in his hand that he can put in his mouth as soon as he’s had it help? We did it half a spoon at a time with a sweet after each half. Desperate measures but got the job done. It’s so frustrating and scary when they need medicine and are fighting it in every way.

Using suppositories really isn’t that bad - I believe they’re used in France and other countries as first port of call.

Supermarket own brand paracetamol suspension has a slightly different flavour- tesco tastes of cherries and sainsburys one smells like strawberry laces!

Or failing this, have you tried doing some problem solving with him? (If he is well enough to engage with this?) For example, you both sit down and make a list of ways around the problem. Take turns to write ideas on the list. Write his ideas down on the list too even if they are ones like "don't take the calpol" 🙄 then go through the list crossing out ideas that won't work and hopefully finding an idea that you both agree on?

I had this problem with one of mine and did some research...
An untreated fever from a normal virus will rarely go above 40.6 and a fever is not dangerous (on its own) until 42degrees. So it isn't actually necessary to bring it down, a fever is the body's natural mechanism for fighting viruses and infections (as viruses thrive at 37degrees,its like cooking them to kill them off)

I am not a doctor and obviously you need to be vigilant for any other complications or symptoms that put his health at risk, and if it goes any higher then definitely seek medical advice

Does he eat ice lollies? Alder Hey A&E give them for fevers along with paracetamol.

Had the same with DD after tonsils out. What worked for me was the promise of sitting with a favourite YouTube video straight after (Dr Squish btw). Also singing to her settled her back to sleep but obvs not so easy if you have the symptoms too. X

Or, to support what others have said, strip him down, cool bath. Sheet over him at bed and not duvet, window open, that kind of thing.

So it isn't actually necessary to bring it down, a fever is the body's natural mechanism for fighting viruses and infections (as viruses thrive at 37degrees,its like cooking them to kill them off)

I agree with this- mine had swine flu at 18 m and wouldn’t take calpol- vomited if we got any down. So i resorted to old fashioned nursing measures- stripped her down, light blanket, lots of fluids and rest. She recovered remarkably well.

So i wouldn’t be worrying about the lack of paracetamol- However if yours has had a temp in these circs for over 10 days i’d be rechecking that he’s still OK to manage at home.

@UnderTheSleepingBaby this is exactly what 111 and a separate consultant told me when my baby had a fever we couldn’t control.
Paracetamol or Ibuprofen was only needed if they were distressed by the symptoms.
A fever on it’s own is not a bad thing.

I refused any and all liquid medication as a toddler and young child but was happy fo swallow tablets very young!

We used suppositories but last time (age 12) they were refused.

Is there any chance of chopping a meltlet up?

My son refuses everything. Now he's a little older I feel it's his decision. Only once during what I think was COVID did I threaten hospital if he refused. He took a crushed up meltlet (we have a pestle and mortar for his asthma tablets). He hates blood tests and knew he'd have to have them in hospital.

Another suggestion of suppositories.

You may even be able to get them over the counter - I certainly used to about 10 years ago.

They're really not that bad (I tried one myself to see!) and very useful if you have a vomity kid.

Once they got older, I would tell them they needed to have medicine, and give them the choice of having it in their mouth or in their bottom. So if your 5yo dislikes suppositories that much, then you might see an increased willingness to take the Calpol!

I refused any and all liquid medication as a toddler and young child but was happy fo swallow tablets very young!

I taught mine very young how to swallow tablets. Started with peas and sweetcorn, graduated to tictacs, then half a paracetamol was no issue.

It’s quite entertaining the relief on a GP’s face when you ask for antibiotics in tablet form, apparently the calculations for paed liquid doses are a nightmare!!