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Original poster

Temperature of 39, won't have calpol

49 replies

CalpolTim · 29/11/2022 23:40

DD is 4 and I think has the flu. We spent most of the day in bed, topped up with calpol, had a few naps, nothing too bad.

She is now completely refusing to take calpol but without it her temperature shoots up to 39. She did feel sick through the day and barely ate so I think she can't face anymore medicine inside her.

She just woke up in a rage, shouting, telling us to go away, crying, I can tell her body hurts. Her cheeks are burning hot to touch.

I've tried everything, she won't have calpol even though it would make her feel so much better. What can I do? Isn't a constant temperature of 39 so bad for her?

She also keeps covering herself with the duvet and blankets making herself hotter.

At her age if she has decided she doesn't want it she just won't swallow it no matter what I do. I'm desperately worried about her.

OP posts:
Twinklenoseblows · 29/11/2022 23:43

A temperature in itself isn't actually an issue. It's part of her body fighting off the infection. We've been advised by doctors in the past there is no need to give Calpol just because of a temperature (in the absence of a history of febrile seizures etc) but rather to relive symptoms if needed. So whilst she might feel better if she took Calpol, the temperature in itself is unlikely to be a problem.

clipclop5 · 29/11/2022 23:44

With a temperature of 39 even though she’s roasting she’ll be feeling freezing cold, hence the wanting to be under blankets etc. Realistically it shouldn’t do her much harm, but if it goes up to 40 you need to ring out of hours or head to A&E. You can buy paracetamol that dissolves in drinks if she’d take that but I doubt at this time of night that’s very useful advice!

minipie · 29/11/2022 23:44

ah poor girl, she must feel dreadful.

There are chewable Calpol tablets for age 6+, perhaps if you ask a pharmacist they could tell you if it’s ok to give her half a tablet? I can’t see why not but not my field! No good for tonight though.

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Discoh · 29/11/2022 23:45

Honestly at 4 I think you'd be better off letting her sleep than waking her up for calpol she doesn't want. 39 isn't horrific and arguably the raised temperature will help her fight off the illness quicker.

If she's drinking fluids, is responsive etc then I wouldn't force her to have it.

Original poster
CalpolTim · 29/11/2022 23:55

That's reassuring then, I'll let her be. I don't think it will get to 40, it's gone up to exactly 39.1 every single time today before the next calpol dose.

I wouldn't have woken her up for it, she just seems to be waking up every 20 mins or so from just feeling generally rubbish.

Thank you all for the reassurance, she never really gets ill with anything so it's strange seeing her like this!

OP posts:
Original poster
CalpolTim · 29/11/2022 23:58

Oh and I didnt know you could get chewable and dissolvable tablets, that's really good to know and good advice for tomorrow.

OP posts:
herbygarden · 30/11/2022 00:00

I know you said she doesn't fancy eating but I used to mix it into a petis filous, if that might be an option?!

spiderontheceiling · 30/11/2022 00:01

What has she had to eat & drink today? Mine got to have lots of ice lollies when they had anything like this as it got liquid and sugar into them which generally made them feel a bit better and also numbed their mouth a bit for having calpol.

Climbie · 30/11/2022 00:01

the melts are good but do taste the same as Calpol.

Try a pharmacist or big supermarket for other flavour paracetamol syrup. mine liked the cherry flavour and tolerated orange.

Somuchgoo · 30/11/2022 00:11

There's no rule about out of hours or A&E if it hits 40. I'd be guided about how she is rather than just the numbers. If she has the strength to thrash about, that would make me less concerned tbh. If you really need to get the medicine in, you'll have to force her :-( unpleasant but less so than her ending up in hospital and them doing it there. It may be that she can manage without calpol though.

Sending solidarity though - my 3.5yo is in with me tonight with similar. Her temperature when the medicine wears off is around 39.6, and she's pretty lethargic, but fortunately she is happy to take the medicine. I'm not planning on making any calls unless get symptoms become worse.

I hope you all manage to get some sleep and feel better in the morning.

StressedToTheMaxxx · 30/11/2022 00:14

Will she take a drink of juice? You could perhaps pop the calpol into that...

MarmiteCoriander · 30/11/2022 00:16

Paracetamol comes in suppositories too! DD might not like that route either, but its certainly an option to consider, especially in future if she is vomiting and can't tolerate things orally. Absorbed quickly too- generally quicker than oral meds! Speak to your pharmacist as I think they are available over the counter.

earsup · 30/11/2022 00:17

can you not add paracetemol to some food or drink...calpol is just over priced paracetemol in a sugary base.

RosesAndHellebores · 30/11/2022 00:19

A child with flu won't want to eat or drink.

We have Continental roots.so I'd say keepnsome suppositories in the medicine cabinet.

WhirlyTwirly · 30/11/2022 00:40

When dd was a toddler she went through a calpol refusing stage and we started mixing it with a small amount of milk which went down a treat.

That said, if she’s been having regular doses of calpol all day, I’d probably start alternating with ibuprofen.

surreygirl1987 · 30/11/2022 01:34

My 4 year old has been like this fir thr past few days, although his temperature has been hovering around the 40 mark. I don't think there's a 40 then a&e rule like a previous poster suggested, but if tenp remains high for more than 5 days it's time to call a doctor. This is day 5 for my son so we did take him to the doctors today. He has a bad cold and an ear infection. Doctor didn't mention flu (a lot of people say flu when really it's just a really bad cold). He will accept calpol though, and like your child just wants to sleep. It's horrible seeing them like this but they'll work through it.

Bergmum · 30/11/2022 01:41

Recently had my medicine refuser 3 year old unwell and managed to get calpol into her disguised in some apple juice with ice cubes. Told her it was a special drink to make her feel better and gave it to her with a fun straw.

Ihatethenewlook · 30/11/2022 01:44

I used to hide mine in milk shake or hot chocolate. I found even with the flu they used to get this down

pinheadlarry · 30/11/2022 01:56

Calprofen is more effective and works more quickly.
And you can alternate it with the paracetamol

id give her a thinner sheet to sleep with, not a duvet
And turn the radiator off in the room, crack the window for ventilation

I use the old fashioned way, rinse a flannel or cloth in cold water and stroke/dab her forehead and back with it, it will help her feel more comfortable if she allows you too

Original poster
CalpolTim · 30/11/2022 03:52

I'm at the end of my tether, she still won't have calpol but just keeps waking every 20 minutes, calling me then shouting at me to go away. I know it's not her fault but I'm exhausted after 3 sleepless nights already and she keeps waking her sister too.

I can't get through to her at all. I suggested she sleeps with me at the beginning of the night which I thought she'd love but she said she wanted to stay in her room. I have gotten up a few hundred times already. I'm poorly myself and think I might cry!

Thanks for all the advice, she really has no issie with calpol usually but at least I have a few options to try tomorrow.

OP posts:
Original poster
CalpolTim · 30/11/2022 03:56

She also won't let me turn her light off, but then keeps complaining that she can't sleep with the light on, then screams and cries if I switch it off etc etc.

Well at least as a PP said, I know she has plenty of energy so probably don't need to worry about her too much! Better than if she was really lethargic.

OP posts:
Dontsparethehorses · 30/11/2022 04:07

Can you go downstairs and snooze together on the sofa? Lights down low/even tv on if need be. Tonight is on of those get through it nights… keep offering sips of water or medicine to get through it. Try and take it little bit at a time and see if dh would swap at 5 to give you a break?

mummabubs · 30/11/2022 23:34

Just another solidarity wave here. My 5 year old has flu (definitely this as it's been confirmed by PCR and me and DH have it too). 🤦🏻‍♀️ He's always hated taking meds, earlier today we managed to get some ibuprofen into him mixed in orange juice. Now his temperature is hovering between 39-40 and he's outright refusing to take anything. It's frustrating but I don't really see what we can do other than have another sleepless night worrying about him and hope it comes down.

Original poster
CalpolTim · 01/12/2022 01:27

@mummabubs hope your little one feels better soon and you get some rest. We made it through last night and DD has been absolutely fine and lovely all day.

However since going to bed her temperature has gone back up to 38.5 and it has been horrendous. She's had some night terrors which she gets sometimes, but she is now wide awake and still acting the same. Shouting, kicking, throwing her toys around. She calls for me and when I get there she screams at me to go away.

I'm at my wits end. Has anyone experienced this?

It's only 1.26am and she's woken us up over 20 times already and is acting so violent, I can't handle it :(

OP posts:
HollyJollyNovember · 01/12/2022 01:49

I used to get horrible dreams as a kid when I had a temperature. Tomorrow I would get some suppositories and just use them instead of fighting calpol.

She needs the paracetamol to ease the fever and stop the hallucinations as that's what they are. She doesn't know what's real or not. In my dreams / hallucinations it was like everything was made of jelly and the whole room would move, I would sleep and the flintstones were taking and wobbling and then I'd wake and my bedroom was wobbling! I was so scared!