Advice about fever in three year old - going up before next dose is due?

[Embelline]

DS gets a fever as soon as he so much as looks at a germ. I’ve always gone with the treat the child not the fever number.

yesterday morning he woke up with a fever and was clearly feeling rough with it, shivering and half crying and flushed so I gave him calpol. We treated each spike yesterday - around the four to six hour mark - purely because he seemed to feel rough with it. When the medicine kicked in it came right down and he was fine.

he’s had a cold for a week and aside from the fever spikes he seems like he just had a snotty nose and was feeling coldy.

today I’ve treated the fever again as same again, but I gave him calpol at midday and it’s already back up to 38.6. Reassuringly he seems okay, a bit grumpy, but has eaten pancakes, bacon sandwich, fruit and is now scoffing some cereal.

he’s alert and playing with play dough and watching tv and bossing me around.

no rash or drowsiness etc apart from when the fever spikes and he’s a bit tired.

I haven’t been overly concerned and wasn’t going to take him to the GP, as I said he gets fevers with everything and they usually last 4-5 days unfortunately (apparently this means he will have a solid immune system further on - one can only hope) but I just wondered if this would concern you that the medicine is wearing off quite quickly?

If he is uncomfortable with it before the next dose, I'd alternate with ibuprofen. That said, it sounds like he is ok most of the time, so I probably wouldn't medicate at all....

If he isn't feeling unwell in between doses I would be inclined not to worry too much, the raised temperature is the body's way of making it harder for the virus/bacteria to survive in the body.

@CatOnTheChair we have been alternating as he’s prone to fevers of 40 with a rapid spike, but again we do it when he seems unwell as opposed to just the number.

the only reason we’ve been medicating is when he seems really miserable and distressed with it, yesterday he had a good period of about nine hours where it was around 38.9 but he seemed fine just a bit hot to touch so we left him without any medicine.

I’ve just not noticed it creeping it up after a dose of medicine quite so quickly before so was unsure what to make of it

@bloodywhitecat thanks that was my instinct. He’s only seeming unwell when it gets a bit high (39+) which is when we give him something to help relieve the symptoms so he’s more comfortable

He’s now saying his throat hurts and seems to be feeling a bit poorlier, got a temp of 39+ but can’t give another dose just yet poor little bean.
he was fine half an hour ago, playing and demanding the tv!

On the third day of it now. He’s lasting longer before medicine doses are required - up to nine hours - but still spiking and getting poorly with it so might take him ti the GP tomorrow or weds if there’s no change

I didn't find calpol very good for fevers tbh. Foot to alternate with Nurofen but Nurofen for a fever is what I'd grab first.

Good not foot!

I'd probably phone the GP today tbh. He might need AB's.

Thanks I phoned but they can’t see him til tomorrow I have to call at 8 for an appointment apparently

Ask your GP to calculate the max amount of calpol and ibuprofen per does based on your DC's weight. Ours has done it when he was 1yo as the standard 5ml wasn't cutting it. Now one larger dose works better for my DS and lasts longer.

Have you had a look at his tonsils? My 3 year old had a fever that came out of nowhere, and it was tonsillitis.

Ibuprofen always better for a fever with my DD. You can alternate with paracetamol so if he is feeling unwell, give him something now.