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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not give DS any medicine

51 replies

batmanstinks · 11/02/2013 15:06

He's off a school today with a cough. He's in bed.

He's not in pain or upset but feeling a bit sorry for himself. He has a slightly raised temperature but not much.

I haven't given him any medicine today.

I know if I do he'll feel immediately better and be leaping off the furniture. At least this way he is resting and can recover.

But I feel a bit mean.

OP posts:
Original poster
batmanstinks · 11/02/2013 16:01

Obviously it's not 'just a cough' as he's feeling rubbish.

He asked to go to bed and has had a few hours sleep.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 11/02/2013 16:03

Well if he is feeling rubbish then yes I would give him some medicine to stop him feeling rubbish why wouldn't you?

Would you just put up with feeling rubbish or would you do something to stop it?

Original poster
batmanstinks · 11/02/2013 16:10

But that's my dilemma surzy.

No medicine = sleep, rest and much quicker recovery.

Medicine = no nap, no rest and body takes longer to get better.

OP posts:
OxfordBags · 11/02/2013 16:10

If it's the sweeteners in it that make him hyper, which can be a common reaction, you can get Calpol or other child liquid analgesics sweetened with plain old sugar. Although, as others say, don't give paracetamol for a fever.

Depending on his age, you could actually give him paracetsmol or ibruprofen in tablet form. The capsules are particularly easy to swallow (I'm one of those people who struggle to swallow tablets). Back in my day (MN goes sepia), we were given tablets from a really early age. By our flat-cap wearing whippet in clogs, etc.

seeker · 11/02/2013 16:12

Oh, for heaven's sake - it's a cold, not bubonic plague! Give him some calpol and let him get on with it!

MakesCakesWhenStressed · 11/02/2013 16:12

I try not to take pain killers unless I have to. Same goes for my kid. Bodies build up a tolerance. Unless they're in obvious discomfort or running a dangerous temp then I wouldn't

Mytimewillcomebutwhen · 11/02/2013 16:24

If the child isn't in pain then don't give them medicine. A slight temp is the bodies natural response to a virus or bacteria and allowing the body to respond naturally is

Mytimewillcomebutwhen · 11/02/2013 16:25

Sorry. iPhone fat fingers there...

Natural response is a slight temp. That's ok. It when the temp is high then they need the medicine...

GobblersKnob · 11/02/2013 16:34

Yanbu, some people are far too keen to dish out drugs to small children.

BartletForTeamGB · 11/02/2013 16:48

I wouldn't.

A fever is a GOOD thing. It helps us to fight infection better.

If he was feeling rotten, then I would, but I wouldn't do it routinely.

seeker · 11/02/2013 17:26

But the OP said he was feeling rotten.

I don't understand the fear of a raised temperature so prevalent on here- what's it all about?

usualsuspect · 11/02/2013 17:28

If my child was feeling ill, and calpol made them feel better I would give it.

SocialClimber · 11/02/2013 17:33

I don't leap to medicines when mine have a slightly raised temperature. There is a reason for a temperature, and the body knows what it's doing.

If it was very high then of course I would, but in this case I'm with you OP.

BartletForTeamGB · 11/02/2013 17:34

"He's not in pain or upset but feeling a bit sorry for himself. He has a slightly raised temperature but not much."

Doesn't sound like he's feeling rotten to me.

Sirzy · 11/02/2013 17:35

Yet he is ill enough to be off school!

NoWayNoHow · 11/02/2013 17:35

It is counterproductive to give medication for a low fever (only for a high one).

yes, it might make him feel better in the short term, but it will take longer to get better as he will not rest and allow his body to heal naturally. It's about what is best for your DS, and you are doing the right thing.

YANBU

NoWayNoHow · 11/02/2013 17:38

And you also made the right decision keeping him home - if he has a temperature, whether high or low, it means his body is fighting a viral or bacterial infection. You don't know if it's contagious, so you have sensibly kept him away from other children.

The other parents will be thanking you for not felling a class with whatever he has got - don't forget that all children will react differently to the same illness, and there a some NASTY colds going around at the moment.

DoctorAnge · 11/02/2013 17:41

I also Think you are being v sensible. Unlike DD classmates parents who dose them up with a fever and send them in. By lunch they are sent home and the class get it.

treas · 11/02/2013 17:49

Calpol is not just for high temperatures though it is also for muscular and joint pain

Piecesofmyheart · 11/02/2013 18:02

I don't understand your logic at all. Your child is ill enough to want to go to bed and you are refusing to give him a spoonful of medicine to help him feel better and enable him.to eat and drink normally
How ironic that this thread exists on a forum alongside ones where nurses are being roundly condemed for leaving people to suffer. Double standards much ?
Poor kid. Give him the calpol.

Original poster
batmanstinks · 11/02/2013 18:15

Well he went to bed and slept for 2 hours so I'm hoping that has done him some good.

He has been eating and drinking fine.

OP posts:
BartletForTeamGB · 11/02/2013 18:34

Just posted this on the other ongoing Calpol thread about why giving it routinely is not necessarily a good idea.

While pharmacologically safe, it is NOT necessarily "perfectly safe". The reason for the NICE guidance is that it potentially lengthens the illness and may expose the child to overdoses.

www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/pdf/CG47NICEGuideline.pdf

www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8351085/Parents-warned-against-giving-paracetamol-and-ibuprofen-for-mild-fever.html explains it quite nicely.

LangenFlugelHappleHoff · 11/02/2013 18:38

Medicine is given willy nilly these days - when just feeling rotten and grotty I think it's best to rest up and stay warm. No need for calpol. Lemon and honey and a tot of brandy and tlc

MrsKeithRichards · 11/02/2013 18:44

I'm with you batman, I don't get this obsession with painkillers. I barely take paracetamol myself, can't remember the last time ds1 (7) had any. Ds2 is 8m and has had some recently for teething.

aufaniae · 11/02/2013 18:46

Sheesh people, read the thread! Or look at Bartlet's links.

The OP is asking what's best in her DS's interests.

It turns out what's best is most likely not to give paracetamol. (If you don't understand why this is, try reading the thread!)

The OP is not withholding medicine to be mean, she's doing it so that her son will get better quicker.