Wake toddler to treat fever?

[AntiHop]

2.5 year old is fast asleep. Her temperature us 41.3. She's refused dinner and went to sleep earlier than usual.

Should I wake her to give her calpol or let her sleep?

I'd let her sleep, but keep checking on her.

I’d give calpol at 41.3. Not if it was 38 or 39 but that’s high.

That is an extremely high temperature. Is it coming down with paracetamol?

We took my 2.5 year old granddaughter to A&E at the end of October with a similar temp, very sleepy and unwell in herself. We were advised that the high temp was her body’s way of fighting a virus and to only try to bring it down if she was distressed. They told us not to worry about her not eating, as long as she was drinking and weeing ok. We were also told that lots of sleeping was ok if she could be woken up, even if only for a few minutes at a time. It was a horribly worrying few days.

I feel for you; just wanted to share what we were told in case it helps in any way. Someone more knowledgeable may be along soon with something else to advise. I hope your little one is better very soon x

Is there any chance you can slip a medicine syringe into the corner of her mouth while she is asleep- cradle her so she is upright- I'd try and get meds in - that's pretty high. Stay in the room to make sure she doesn't choke and it's all gone down- I'd have her in with me tonight if I was you.

With a temperature of 41 I'd absolutely be waking her up for calpol

With a temp that high I would, yeah.

Are you alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen (Calpol versions)?

For what it's worth I'm a paramedic, currently on standby! There is no medical benefit to artificially reducing a fever with medications like paracetamol, it's only beneficial in reducing pain/improve how you're feeling which if they're sleeping isn't a concern. Fever in infection is a protective mechanism that helps recovery, it's been shown in studies that when people are given paracetamol regularly they will be unwell for longer.

I wouldn't generally advise waking up to give paracetamol. I would only be giving it if they were distressed unable to sleep. I would however wake a poorly child up at intervals to give them a good drink of water and see how they were getting on with the infection, opportunity to hear them speak, see them swallow, watch how they move about, a bit of a check in on how they're managing with the infection.

Plenty of fluids can be really important when a child has a high fever and can really make a difference to how they feel/recover.

Thank you. I was pretty sure I'd read to let the fever runs it's course but I was second guessing myself.

Thank you for that. Really good to have advice from a professional. I hope your shift went OK.

Thanks very much everyone.

I let her sleep without calpol. She woke up this morning her usual crazy toddler self, with a slightly raised temperature.

That's weird, the reply button does not seem to be working. Above were to @Nooshoos123 and @SleepyRich

Thanks everyone.