How to get toddler temp down?

[Ragoo]

*posting for traffic

DS(20 months) got sent home from nursery with a temp of 39.

His cheeks are flushed and he's got a really bad chesty cough but he's unable to bring the phlegm up. The cough sounds incredibly chesty.

I've stripped him to his nappy, he's had plenty of fluids and some watermelon and an ice lolly. His appetite is great he's demolished all his tea and a yoghurt!

I've given calpol and ibuprofen but it's still at 38.2

All windows and back door are open to let as much air in as poss.

He's happily playing, very affectionate and seems otherwise fine but he is really hot to touch. No rashes or anything like that, plenty of wet nappies.

I'm waiting for a call back from 111.

I'm a First time mum so this is all relatively new to me, is there anything else I should be doing? We don't have a fan

Oh you are doing everything brilliantly. Perfect!

Just bear in mind that a high temperature is the bodies normal and natural response to infection, bugs don’t survive heat…hence the body heating up to kill them there bugs.
Let his body do it’s job.
Keep up with the calpol & brufen as a high temperature is uncomfortable, so it will smooth that.
He’s happy, eating, drinking, peeing & pooing so doing ok.
Keep doing what you are doing.

No need to try to cool him down

www.nhs.uk/conditions/fever-in-children/

Someone interviewed on the BBC News said today said

"Treat the child, not the symptom"

So if your child is fine and seems ok, don't worry about the symptom. The temperature is the body's natural way to make us better. So is a cough. So both are actually good signs that your child is doing well treating the bug himself.

As long as the child is ok, no need to seek further help.

Have you done a covid test?

As above, if fine in himself, I wouldn't worry too much. Hope he's better soon.

@Thehenbunringsock I have a PCR booked for 9:30 tomorrow morning (soonest I could get that was local and drive in) I did a LFT out of curiosity as I know they're not best suited for symptoms but was negative. Will confirm with PCR.

I'm guessing it's a chest infection, or the makings of one. He's fast asleep now, he's been running around having the time of his life, just felt very hot to touch. Before bed his temp was 37.7 so still abit high but out of the 38s

Thanks so much for the replies everyone xxx

@FATEdestiny

Someone interviewed on the BBC News said today said

"Treat the child, not the symptom"

So if your child is fine and seems ok, don't worry about the symptom. The temperature is the body's natural way to make us better. So is a cough. So both are actually good signs that your child is doing well treating the bug himself.

As long as the child is ok, no need to seek further help.

Can't emphasis this enough, if child has slight temp but is drowsy/irritable etc that is much more worrying than a happy baby with a temp. You've done everything right. Only thing I recommend is writing down what meds you have given him. Mainly to help yourself as it is easy to lose track but also if he needs to see someone it's it's question they always ask.

[quote BoreOfWhabylon]No need to try to cool him down

www.nhs.uk/conditions/fever-in-children/[/quote]
I find the NHS advice strange as every time we've had intervention with Ds and his temperature (ambulance staff, drs and hospital staff) we've been advised to strip him down to his nappy. Last time we were in hospital he was stripped off by the nurses, windows opened and a fan aimed at him at high speed. We always strip him off now when his temperature rises.