Baby has a 38 degree fever - please help

[user11290]

Hi,

Baby girl 12 months - has a 38 degree fever. I've tried alternating between Calpol and Nurofen but it's still at that mark. She's a bit more irritable and not as playful but will play in short intervals and is responsive.

Still drinking - a bit less than usual but still drinking

Still eating - a tiny bit less than usual but not outfight refusing like she usually does when she's unwell.

What do I do? Do I just give it some time to run its course or does the fact that the temp isn't coming down mean I need to do something?

She does spit out a lot of the medication when I administer it no matter what technique I try. Her temp was closer to 39 initially so came down ever so slightly but still not down enough

Call 111. Obviously. Mumsnet is not an appropriate place to ask for medical advice.

And sponging with lukewarm water

She's one. Keep an eye her, it's 38, if it goes higher I'd be more concerned.

I think if you were to call 111 they would say keep a watch on her and keep doing what you are, along with keeping her cool, cold flannels are good as well as tepid baths. Obviously if she changes, not weeing or 💩 and not herself then get her seen, is she teething, this can cause her to have a high temperature.

@Cheesytoastie I know that but there's also a lot of parents on Mumsnet who have been in a similar situation.

I've taken her to the doctors for viruses a few times and they just fob us off with Calpol and Nurofen so I was wondering if what I'm doing is sufficient or if I should be doing more. I do tent to get anxious about my DD's health therefore I was wondering if anyone else has been in the same boat and what they'd recommend.

Obviously if she had rashes, wasn't responsive and was floppy then I'd defo take her but as she's still eating and drinking and playing a bit I'm wondering if just a temperature is a worry on it's own.

@Mindymomo thank you. She is defo teething. Yesterday she was chewing on everything, has more saliva and had red cheeks.

But today she's also got a cough and a runny nose too so it could be a combination of things perhaps?

Probably a virus. Be less concerned by the fever than by the way she behaves. If she is eating, drinking and playing I would just keep an eye. I can almost guarantee that a doctor will say rest, fluids and analgesics.

I work at a GP surgery. Our guidelines are - Temp of 40 is a&e as a guideline. Red flags are 50% reduced food/fluid intake, lethargic and reduced wet nappies need to be seen. Call 111 for advice though always best for little ones but fluids are the main thing. Hope they are better soon I understand the worry 🩷🩷

Sometimes young kids get fevers when they’ve got something as mundane as a cold, or even when teething. 38 on the nose is borderline i.e. 37.9 wouldn’t count as a fever. It’s an older baby, young toddler even, and if eating and drinking ok with no other symptoms I wouldn’t be overly concerned if it was one of my kids and would just keep a close eye.

You’re doing the right tjkngs @user11290 I get it as it’s really stressful when they’re ill! But just keep on especially as she’s drinking and eating

^^This. If its a virus there's really nothing else to be done.

She has had tonsillitis before. Should I be worried that it could be that again? She had antibiotics for it but she's only really had the temp for a day and a half so I doubt they'd give anything and would probably say give it some time

Yes, ring 111 for medical advice

But in terms of advice from other mothers, mine would be to wait it out. Her symptoms do not seem severe, she is still eating, drinking and playing. A temperature is a sign that the immune system is working to see off the infection. I'd see how she goes without any medication - obviously resume if she appears to be in pain.

A raised body temperature is part of the body's defences - but mild fevers are not just a by product of the immune response; a rise body temperature triggers cellular mechanisms that ensure the immune system takes appropriate action, and being that bit warmer makes the environment that bit more hostile to the infection.

If she can manage without medication, she might even see it off a bit faster. But if you have been given specific medical advice on medication because of a history of febrile convulsions, then of course you follow that, rather than internet advice

This is a helpful link

• https://www.what0-18.nhs.uk/parentscarers/worried-your-child-unwell/fever-high-temperature

Don’t stop the meds, this is not a good idea. It will just be a virus

Careful that the flannels aren't too cold as it could cause shock in an infant. 38 degrees isn't too bad and good that they are drinking something - keep an eye on if the nappies are wet. Does sound like teething - hope they feel better soon

I remember my eldest had a temp of 40’ when she was a baby. Called the out of hours doc out. As soon as he saw her (alert, responsive etc) he wasn’t concerned.

Agree with other posters- it’s the behaviour rather than a low level temp.

ive tried giving meds in yoghurt when refusing.

@fiftiesmum Please do NOT reccommend tepid sponging.

It is against all medical advice because if you tepid sponge when someone's temperature is in the process of going up and the skin is trying to warm up, you can make things worse.

NHS advice here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fever-in-children/

When my toddler had tonsillitis/strep throat it was pretty obvious- their breath stank, they threw up, were refusing all food and even getting fluids down them was a struggle. I mean it’s not impossible that it could be that but you’d probably want to wait for more symptoms before jumping to conclusions because it’s far more likely it’s the teething or a basic common cold. I swear both of mine had monthly fevers during winter when they were that age. A fever is the body’s natural response to fight infection and lots of bugs going around at this time of year. Only once did it turn out to be something requiring antibiotics and that was the strep throat, and it was very obvious quite quickly that it was not your run of the mill common cold.

@hagchic - was just about to post that.

@user11290 please use the NHS advice or call 111.

Whilst much advice given on mumsnet is helpful and shows the experience of many parents, some is frankly dangerous.

If you struggle to get the full dose of Nurofen because of spillage it may be worth trying the suppositories.

They work really well.

Key advice: Watch the child not the thermometer. Her behaviour is a much more important barometer of how unwell she is.

The number on the thermometer is largely irrelevant. A child can be very sick with a low grade fever and fairly well with a very high one.