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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Is this a high temperature?

20 replies

saltnpepa · 20/04/2015 19:14

My ds aged 7 has a bit of a cold and the thermometer says 37.0 in one ear but 37.8 in the other, does this mean you average it or what? Is that a temperature? We usually use those forehead things but are away tonight.

OP posts:

DrankSangriaInThePark · 20/04/2015 19:15

Normal temp is 36.5-37 but it can vary during the day.

chickenfuckingpox · 20/04/2015 19:16

bit over but not too bad the difference between he ears could indicate an ear infection

306235388 · 20/04/2015 19:16

Possibly very slightly warm but nothing to worry about IMO

Purplepixiedust · 20/04/2015 19:19

Nothing to worry about. I would take again in an hour and if over37.5 give calpol.

Purplepixiedust · 20/04/2015 19:20

Or if she is asleep, do nothing.

LittleprincessinGOLDrocks · 20/04/2015 19:22

With the in ear thermometer anything above 37.6c is high.
I would recheck the temperature again, at 37.8c I would strip them off a little and encourage them to drink and see if it goes down after an hour. If no better I would then go for calpol.
The fact that it was different in each ear can be down to them recently having been laid on that side, hence rechecking the temperature.

Hakluyt · 20/04/2015 19:25

Is she in pain, uncomfortable or feeling unwell? If so, give calpol. If not, don't.

306235388 · 20/04/2015 19:26

Don't give calpol unless suffering in some way. Personally I give it if it's getting up to 39 but otherwise if the kid is feeling not too bad I try to let the fever do it's job.

ShouldIworryornothelp · 20/04/2015 19:50

I give medicine at 38 degrees, if it gets to 39 and medication hasn't worked I'm generally thinking of seeking medical attention. The one occasion we hit 41 in this house it was an a&e paediatric emergency. Keep an eye on it and be sensible about how you manage it.

Hope they feel better soon

Hakluyt · 20/04/2015 20:13

Surely it wasn't the temperature that was the emergency- it was whatever was causing it?

DeeWe · 20/04/2015 20:15

Do you mean above normal by high, or high enough to cause concern?

It's above normal, I would say, but nothing close enough to cause concern on it's own. I'd probably give ibroprofin just before bed at that point as mine have a tendency to shoot up about 1am, which is not good.

I don't worry about a temperature on it's own till over 39 though, owing to dd2 who hit 41 on many occasions and would stay there for around 3 days whatever you did.

arethereanyleftatall · 20/04/2015 20:18

As other ops have said, it's higher than normal but not worryingly so.
Give nothing if they're not uncomfortable. Calpol if they're feeling poorly.

Jennifersrabbit · 20/04/2015 20:19

38 is the clinical definition of a fever, normal temp is around 37.

In mine, 37.8 would suggest a bit of something for DC1. DC2 seems to be a naturally hotter bod and often has a temp of 37.5 when perfectly well.

Either way, your diagnosis of 'a bit of a cold' sounds spot on for now. Id give him some calpol if he's miserable, not if not, tuck him up in bed and keep an eye.

ShouldIworryornothelp · 20/04/2015 20:23

The temperature caused dc to pass out and they were delirious. The underlying infection was a basic ear infection.

Schnullerbacke · 20/04/2015 20:43

There are other things that can bring down a fever! Like wrapping legs in a cool (wet) dish cloth. I'll never understand the need to reach straight for calpol straight away... A little fever is not a bad thing, it is used by the body to fight off all sorts.

Original poster

saltnpepa · 20/04/2015 20:54

I struggle to just leave a fever to do it's job even though I think that is probably the best way if it's not too high because like you say it's fighting the bacteria.

OP posts:

lougle · 20/04/2015 21:01

The temperature in its own isn't a paediatric emergency. It's the temperature, how fast it rose combined with symptoms that would make it a paediatric concern.

One of my girls can hit 40-40.5c with a fairly mundane cold. Another one is really quite ill at 38.5c.

ShouldIworryornothelp · 20/04/2015 21:01

Its knowing your child though isn't it. I know with my dc they only get high fevers if they have an ear infection or tonsillitis so they'll be in discomfort as well as febrile.

FreeButtonBee · 20/04/2015 21:07

My twins are the same lougle Dts loves nothing more than a good old 39+ temp. He gets plenty of water and calpol and nurofen alternately (and obviously closely watched for any deterioration). Dtd can be really bad at under 39 and I've taken her to the doctor/ had a gp phone back in that state because it was something more than a virus and medicine as not making her appreciably more comfortable.

crazykat · 22/04/2015 21:18

It depends on the child. Ds1 is like me and is naturally hot, his normal temp is 37.5 so he can have a temp of 38 and be feeling fine. Ds2's normal temp is 36 and he's very poorly if his temp reaches 38.

Most thermometers I've had have said to take a few baseline temps when you're/they're feeling fine so that you can assess when medicine or doctors appointment is needed.

I'd monitor a temp of 37.8 and try to keep fluid intake up. If it went to 38 or dc is in pain then I'd give calpol.

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