Does anyone else not treat fever in DCs?

[BradfordGirl]

This is based on advice from my paediatric sister who says once they are over two months old, fever is not something to worry about.

When DS was in hospital with cellulitis the Dr said to let a fever run if possible as its the bodies way of attacking the illness/infection

This.

i avoid medication. DC if they’re feeling poorly I’ll dose them up before bed as I think if they can get a decent sleep that helps. But I find most illnesses are best left to run their course.

I always treat a fever. But then again, my DD doesn't do well with fever. She only seems to get one when she's quite unwell, she's never had one and been okay otherwise.

No I don’t treat fever - a higher temp is the body’s way of killing the viruses.

I don't own a thermometer, but can tell if someone (or myself) has a temperature. I don't treat unless they're uncomfortable or in pain. Same with myself.

I treat it because it’s just plain uncomfortable. I had a fever myself a couple of weeks ago and the racing heart/sweating and shakes made me feel rubbish. I took ibuprofen and paracetamol and whilst I still felt crap I felt considerably less crap.

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

Clear information here.

It is important to know there is no correlation between the height a fever reaches and how sick a child is.

A very sick child can have a mild or no fever (or low fever) and a child with UTI or tonsillitis will often have a very high fever (over 41C)

They do look (and feel) rubbish with a high fever, and often vomit. This is just the bodies way of getting them to lie down and go to sleep so that it can totally focus on fighting the infection.

Problem with saying ‘it’s a body’s way of fighting something’ isn’t entirely true though is it.. what if it’s not viral but bacterial and you need antibiotics to fight it?
My 2.5 year old son ran a temp in September of 42. Even with calpol it didn’t dip beneath 39. After a day of this he then developed a very feint rash. We called 111 who said they’d call back and they never did so we took him straight to A&E. My family all said the same.. ‘it’s just a temp’, ‘sponge him off’ ‘strip him down’ ‘it’s his body’s way of fighting it’ ‘put him in a cold bath’ ‘it’ll just be a heat rash’ ‘you’re overreacting’ it wasn’t though was it?.. it was Scarlett fever/ Strep A.

None of them were hurrying to tell me 2 months later when children were regularly in the news dying from it that I had overreacted.

People should do what they think best at the time and mot have a blanket ‘just a temp don’t bother treating it’ guidance. Every child reacts differently to different viruses and infections.

I only treat in children or adults if very high and uncomfortable.

The immune system is flawed. What kills a pathogenic microorganism will often kill the human if left unchecked.

Never known a child to have a fever and not feel bad. They don't just wander around with high fevers feeling otherwise dandy! So yes - treat fever with calpol

Genuine query, how do you know your child has a fever if they are otherwise well? Wny would you be taking their temp if they were fine?

I only take a temp when DC is feeling ill

I treat a fever if I have one so I’ve always treated them in my kids too. I did 26 years as a nurse and I’m married to a hospital consultant. If I didn’t let any of the dc have paracetamol when they were running a fever Dh would think I’d lost the plot!

And all these parents saying their kids are running around playing and perfectly happy with high temperatures in the 38s and 39s errmmm.. why did you take their temperature if there was nothing wrong with them? Do you just automatically take their temperature every day?

No... have seen far too many febrile convulsions to be comfortable with a little ones temp sitting above normal for a prolonged period of time. - nurse.

Same. When my children have fevers they are really unwell with ear infections, tonsillitis etc and in pain. I wouldn't dream of not treating. DS has only had a fever of 39 once, when he had infections in both ears and bacterial tonsillitis. He was so unwell. I really can't imagine them having a fever but being otherwise OK.

Of course I treat a fever because fevers make you feel horrible and unwell. Why would I make DC feel that?

Well that's not just treating a fever then is it?

Quoting @FTMFML ”No... have seen far too many febrile convulsions to be comfortable with a little ones temp sitting above normal for a prolonged period of time. - nurse.”

I thought convulsions were caused by rapid changes in temperature as opposed to prolonged?

Yes always, because it makes you feel better and there’s zero scientific evidence that allowing a fever to run reduces length of illnesses.

also to the poster above NEVER put a child with a fever in a cold bath or similar as this increases the body temperature

One of mine was sent home from nursery with a high fever over 39 after they thought she felt hot. Nursery sounded a bit panicked but they do run hot and high temps aren't that unusual for her. It reached 40 at home and she was still saying she didn't feel ill!

Like many on here, I use Calpol if they are in pain or acting ill but don't worry about a fever in isolation.

We asked the question to my A&E consultant friend who simply said "why wouldn't you treat it? Don't make the children suffer.. ffs!"

🤨 lovely to see people keeping up to date with current research.

Having a fever makes you feel very unwell and can make you vomit. We would take paracetamol so why would t we give it to our kids that's not nice

Like the previous 2 posters, I only take my DC's temperatures if they tell me they feel unwell, or if they are on the mend. I've always given them something when they've had a fever but then they've always felt rubbish. How would you know your DC had a fever if they were perfectly happy with it?

A mild fever and a happy child of course I wouldn't treat, but a lethargic child or in pain, of course treat.

Having a high fever makes me feel dreadful so why would I let my child suffer?

If you are a nurse, you need to read more about febrile convulsions. A high temperature over a prolonged time does not cause febrile convulsions.