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.

Do not give her tepid baths, this is outdated advice.

Keep an eye on her for now and carry on with the calpol. Give it in yoghurt or a bit of juice if you need to.
If her temp rises above 39 and isn't responding to calpol, or she stops drinking and is not herself call 111

You are doing the right thing. Unfortunately you will probably have many episodes of fever over the years. Keep her drinking and monitor.

call 111 if you want advice. DS (13 months) was brewing what turned out to be an ear infection last weekend started with a fever (38-39) that wouldn't respond well to calpol or nurofen. we did call 111 because he was also very drowsy and breathing faster which was more of a concern for us. saw an out of hours doc and he told us helpful advice with fevers. the number doesn't matter at this age, it's the behaviour that matters more and there is no number it can reach that they need to be seen urgently on a fever alone and no other symptoms. some children respond better to paracetamol or ibuprofen or a mix for a fever. sometimes it can help the fever for short amount of time and then the fever goes back up again even if medicine not run out. that can all be normal. have to remember a fever is the body's natural way of dealing with a virus or infection.

I would keep her drinking and monitor her behaviour and watch for any other concerning symptoms.

If you didn't have a thermometer, would you be concerned? Personally I wouldn't be worried about this. Sensible to offer drinks and keep an eye on how she is in herself.

Why do you think the GP fobbed you off? What exactly were you expecting from them for a viral illness?
No wonder you can never get a GP appointment these days, no one can self-manage common illnesses.

At 12 months you don't need to panic unless it reaches 40. Just keep doing what you are doing and monitor

Do not sponge a child with a temperature with tepid water. Seek medical advice rather than hit up Mumsnet to be fed this potentially dangerous info.

None of these symptoms suggest she is desperately unwell.
NHS guidance www.nhs.uk/conditions/fever-in-children/

My youngest gets a fever at the drop of a hat. As long as he drinks plenty, I tend not to worry. We have been a couple of times to GP or out of Hours with him but that's if he also had a rash, or was very lethargic or croup. I wouldn't go to the doctors with just a high temp.

Just watch out for the outdated advice on this thread. Follow current NHS guidelines.

I never had a thermometer with my DD's. Seems bonkers, but you can tell a lot by feel, and how they are in themselves. Never visited the doctor.

I had a friend, bit like you, who went to the doctor every time her Dd's temp went over 38. She did their temp every day, she was at the doctors a lot! Equally crazy.

Between the two of us, there is a happy medium.

I think watch and wait for now if she's still drinking and keep giving calpol and nurofen. 38 isn't dangerously high, if it gets any higher or if she seems worse then call 111. It is probably a virus and she probably just needs rest, fluids and meds but don't feel bad about ringing if she gets more unwell. It's horrible when your little one is ill but it's generally only a 48 hour thing and then hopefully she'll be on the mend.

The doctor wasn't fobbing you off on previous visits. They gave you the appropriate advice for what your baby presented with. Calpol and Nurofen is literally all that they will give for a virus. As long as she is eating, drinking and having wet nappies along with showing an interest around her you don't really need to worry. She probably has a cold. Just keep an eye on her amd if any of the above change then maybe phone 111 but what you've described really doesn't sound worrying.

Gosh, this is why it really isn’t a good idea to ask for advice about poorly children online. I knew as soon as I read the OP there’d be people advising tepid baths, cold flannels etc. Do NOT do any of those things.
Call 111.

Keep up the fluids and calpol and snuggle up and watch tv. Her temp is responding to meds as it's come down from nearer 39.

Keep an eye on the temp, and do leave "gaps" between meds to know if it goes down without them.

Our son has just been to the GP after four days of 38 degrees temps and it's an ear infection - you couldn't really tell from his behaviour otherwise.

Height of Fever Does Not Predict Serious Bacterial Infection

AAP Grand Rounds (2015) 34 (6): 62.

Researchers at the University of Sydney, Australia, sought to determine whether the height of fever in young children is associated with serious bacterial infection (SBI). They also ascertained whether the duration of the fever, the age of the child, or the child’s appearance at presentation modified this association.

The authors conclude that in febrile children presenting to an ED, temperature is an inaccurate indicator of SBI.

But if it’s a virus the GP isn’t fobbing you off, as there’s nothing you can do other than ride it out.

Also you don’t have to treat a temperature, treat the symptoms. If they’re miserable give calpol.

Please do not do this. This is very old advice and is no longer recommended.

As the mother of a kid who gets 40/40.5 degree temps (and runs about like normal!) seconding/thirding the advice to treat the child not the temperature. I don't give calpol/nurofen unless they are in pain or acting abnormally as temperatures serve a purpose.

Keep them dressed lightly (a layer less than you would be comfortable at) and get them lots of fluids. I'm just out of the other end of a 4 day temperature so know how worrying it can be, hang in there mamma!

Having been through various illnesses and temperatures with my own kids, I'd keep an eye on her and call 111 if temperature kept climbing or she wasn't herself/not eating and/or drinking normally. Although it wouldn't hurt to call 111 if you want reassurance.

Also echoing others in that the advice to use cold flannels/sponges and tepid baths is very outdated and the NHS advise against it.