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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

... to give my little ones Calpol?

32 replies

Annabel7 · 01/03/2011 20:42

Just been sent this link by my brother - www.theecologist.org/green_green_living/behind_the_label/346400/behind_the_label_calpol.html - talking of a link between Calpol and asthma, eczema and other allergies.

Think I caught the back end of a similar article on BBC Breakfast today. Has anyone else heard of this? What are your thoughts. My 2 yr old DD has, of course, just woken up in a feverous sweat...

OP posts:

2cats2many · 01/03/2011 20:45

Give her the Calpol, the poor little mite.

allsquareknickersnofurcoat · 01/03/2011 20:45

I used to sneak the calpol off the top of the fridge when my mum wasnt looking and drink it (once I was too old for it)
I'm okay :)

Flisspaps · 01/03/2011 20:46

I have heard of the link on here before.

I still give DD paracetamol when she wakes up screaming with teething pain though.

WorzselMummage · 01/03/2011 20:46

Give the calpol !

YANBU.

Curlybrunette · 01/03/2011 20:46

Give her Calpol x

houseworkwhore · 01/03/2011 20:46

hmm calpol makes my LO hyper for some reason (not read the link)

Original poster

Annabel7 · 01/03/2011 20:48

thanks for the speedy responses! Will give her calpol but was more wondering what to make of the article and see if anyone else had heard of it...

OP posts:

Piggyleroux · 01/03/2011 20:48

Isn't neurofen better? Less additives?

MsScarlett · 01/03/2011 20:50

If your lo has a fever the short term risks of not giving it to her are far greater that the tiny potential long term risks. Give it to her!

Meglet · 01/03/2011 20:51

yanbu. If she's poorly and has a fever give her some medicine.

I've heard of the risks but 4yo DS was still packed off to bed with calpol as he's got a temp and is feeling grotty. I would do the same with 2yo DD.

Original poster

Annabel7 · 01/03/2011 20:52

That doesn't get a glowing review either but doesn't appear to have the asthma etc.. links. Thing is you don't just give it for fever, do you? It's a pain relief. I usually do the calpol/nurofen thing when she's really suffering.

OP posts:

GastonTheLadybird · 01/03/2011 20:54

I think it's an old bit of research, recall a couple of discussions on it so might be worth you searching the archive.

Personally I think giving Calpol or Nurofen is fine, it's fairly infrequent, low doses, and far less dangerous than high fevers in small children.

MmeLindt · 01/03/2011 20:54

There was something on a thread yesterday about that. Will look and repost it.

Generally I don't think that there can be a link. How many children get to 15 mths without having had calpol at some time? Surely there would be more asthma sufferers if there were a link?

schmee · 01/03/2011 20:57

I always wondered about that article. One of my DTSs had much more Calpol than the other and has suffered breathing difficulties (he has a couple of different types of inhaler). He also has hayfever. BUT - he was the child that was always ill with ear/nose/throat/chest infections, so was always the one needing the Calpol. And he'd get such high temps I'd have to give him calprofen as well (on doctors orders) to avoid febrile convulsions.

SO - my first thought when I saw the research was - of course those kids are the ones who had more Calpol, because they are the ones that needed it.

Original poster

Annabel7 · 01/03/2011 21:10

yes, schmee - see what you mean. Kind of leaves you stuck between a rock and a hard place. I'll keep scouting around for more evidence before getting too concerned. In the meantime, guess I'll be a little less free and easy with the calpol (I have, in the past, used it as a cure-all when not sure what's wrong...).

OP posts:

meditrina · 01/03/2011 21:19

Yesterday's thread.

There's nothing really new in the underpinning research (recently published in the US).

nightowl1 · 01/03/2011 21:20

My MIL told me about the same article and asked if I gave DD Calpol. Still not sure if she was trying to be helpful or was questioning my childcare skills.... Either way, I still give the occasional spoonful of calpol/nurofen as pain relief for teething/colds/etc. as I think the research that it does harm is not robust enough compared to the symptom relief it gives

Gleekfreak · 01/03/2011 21:22

Have to give my DD calpol constantly or she fits :( So weighing up pros and cons-calpol it is!

WorzselMummage · 01/03/2011 21:51

If we are doing anecdotes..

Both of my Dc have had a ton of calpol due to being prem, having procedures due to that, being a bit weak in the immune dept and having a neurotic mother and neither of them has ever had so much as a wheeze.

(despite having strong asthma and hayfever in the family..)

allsquareknickersnofurcoat · 01/03/2011 21:57

I remember reading somewhere that it was the sweetness of calpol in the first instance that calmed them, rather than the painkiller...

BeerTricksPotter · 01/03/2011 22:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

meditrina · 01/03/2011 22:20

The research found in US there was a high level of inappropriate use of these medicines. It doesn't comment on UK usage.

It does usefully reiterate that mild fever is a normal part of the immune response, and that you shouldn't reach straight for medication solely for that. It doesn't say it shouldn't be given for pain relief.

Lerato · 01/03/2011 22:42

I think there will be a u-turn in the future about the use of calpol etc for fever. Fever is a protective defence measure that the body uses to fight off infection. Studies have shown that people who have paracetamol with flu and chicken pox are iller for longer. I am a GP BTW. I try not to give calpol to my children unless they are ill / in pain. Don't treat a simple fever at all if they are otherwise ok. The advice for febrile fits has changed too. It is thought now that the child fits and then the fever shoots up. Once they have a fever, they are not going to fit. Tis all in the NICE guidance on fever in children. Can't link and off to bed. Sorry.
I have a sneaky idea that in decades to come, people will regard treating a fever as we do now the same as we currently regard blood letting in the past. i.e. what were they thinking? Would love to have a peak in the future to see.

MmeLindt · 02/03/2011 08:21

Here is link to Nice guidelines

rightpissedoff · 02/03/2011 08:29

It's an old story. I don't give paracetamol except for pain. Mine would have to have a very high temperature indeed for me to consider it.

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