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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to not want to force feed my daughter calpol

100 replies

chickenmama · 11/01/2009 15:10

Her temperature is 39 degrees and has been high for several days now. I'm having to force feed her antibiotics too and the whole thing is extremely stressful for both of us. She's incredibly fussy and won't take her medicine any better than she eats new food. I literally have to squirt it to the back of her throat and hold her mouth shut
I've been giving her calpol each time her temp is up but she keeps telling me she's better now to try to convince me not to give it (she's 2 and a half). She actually seems ok right now, playing and dancing along to the TV, just hotter than she should be. She's got to the point when she screams just when I take her temp as she knows what might follow. I feel so awful and she just doesn't understand it's for her own good. I could cope with one or the other, but with both meds she's having 8 doses or more a day. And the thought of another 4 days of this til her antibiotics are gone...
So aibu to leave her with a raised temp for a bit and see how she does? Or is it vital she gets her calpol now?

OP posts:

sausagenmash · 11/01/2009 15:15

Have you tried ibuprofen instead / as well?

Spockster · 11/01/2009 15:19

Have you considered paracetamol suppositories? tablets youm pop into the bottom for her; they are as good as calpol (the same drug but may wiork sklighklty quicker) and at her age she probably won't object as much as to the medicine.
A mildly raised temperatrure probably won't do her any hyarm, unless she is prone to fits when she has a rapidly rasied temp., but she will feel a whole lot better.

merryandmad · 11/01/2009 15:20

Second what sausagenmash has suggested, nurofen/ibuprofen is every six hours ( & max four doses within 24 hours)- this could work out easier.
Also my eldest doesn't like the taste of calpol- but will happiliy take nurofen ("her orange medicine").
Worth a try

Original poster

chickenmama · 11/01/2009 15:22

Yes have been giving that too, nothing really does much for the temp and she hates them all as much. The only good thing about the ibuprofen is she gets a smaller dose than the calpol!

OP posts:

SlightlyMadScientist · 11/01/2009 15:25

The most effective way of reducing a temperature is to change her environment. Strip her down to a T-shirt or vest - don't have the room too warm....

The next most effective is ibuprofen (nurofen) - much much more effective than calpol....and less doses needed in 24hrs (buy the nurofen brand)

As others have suggested - you can buy paracetamol suppositories. They are quite expensive - so you might want to try and blag a prescription for them next time you are in teh position.

Finally - a temperature of 39 is quite high - so I would say that she should be treated....try and keep it below 38.5 is what I have always been told.

Original poster

chickenmama · 11/01/2009 15:26

spockster - someone did mention paracetamol suppositories but i wasn't really sure... can I get them from boots or wherever? I think that might be the answer as it'll half the amount she'll have to 'eat'. I think she'll be ok with the other end (tho not sure I will! lol)

OP posts:

VinegarTits · 11/01/2009 15:27

Try giving her a warmish bath, let her sit and play in it until it gets luke warm (or too cold for her to stand) that should bring her temp down for a while

Can you put the calpol in some orange juice for her to drink

Or put it into a syringe and let her squirt it into her mouth herself, this works for my ds (2.5) as he likes to be in control

Original poster

chickenmama · 11/01/2009 15:28

SMS - thank u, that's the kind of advice I think I needed

(prescription idea is great too - I'll def mention to the doc next time we go)

OP posts:

MadameCastafiore · 11/01/2009 15:32

Yes it is necessarythat you gove her something to get her temp down - you are better fighting with her and her not having a temp fit.

DS was like this and if your LO is clever enough to try and blag that she is better now she is clever enough for you to explain to her what a thermometer is and if she takes meds and the numbers are a 3 and an 8 she doesn;t have to have anymore but the on;y way this will happen is if she takes the medicine for a while.

I stupidly gave up fighting with DS and he had a fit and I have to say it wa one of the worse things I have had to witness ever.

sausagenmash · 11/01/2009 15:33

Am sure Boots will stock them. If not, defo get them from your GP. They're dead easy to put in - once the end is in, - pow - the sphincter muscle does its trick and its gone! Keep treating though - agree with slightlymadscientist - 39 is pretty high. Good luck xx

Spockster · 11/01/2009 15:33

If she's well enpough in herself, tuck her up in a coat and send her outside to play for a bit, or take her for a short walk. Without getting cold, this should cool her down a bit. It is amazing how many kids with high temperatures are feeling much better by the time they have been bundled to the health centre and cooled down a bit in the winter air. Do consider turning the heating down a bit, too, if (like me) you like it toasty inside.

vjg13 · 11/01/2009 15:35

Most pharmacies have the suppositories and I've found them useful in the past as my daughter was non compliant with oral medication. It is a bit scarey the first time you use one though.

Original poster

chickenmama · 11/01/2009 15:45

Thanks everyone, so much kind advice - I was a bit worried posting that question on here but I feel much better now. You've all helped a lot

OP posts:

lindenlass · 11/01/2009 15:47

You don't need to reduce her temp unless she's really, really ill with it or in pain. Our GPs advise not to give calpol or ibuprofen unless you really have to. 39 is not a desperately high temp.

KristinaM · 11/01/2009 15:48

the rectal paracetemol is about &10 for a container of 10

VinegarTits · 11/01/2009 15:51

I would say 39 is quite high, considering normal body temp is 36.8, 37.5 is considered a low grade fever, 38-39 is high temp and 40 and above is considered to be in need of urgent medical assistance if it persists for more than an hour

SlightlyMadScientist · 11/01/2009 15:54

Lindenlass - I disagree - Once you get over 39.5 - you are into the zone of febrile convulstions - even for children that are not prone to them. Whenever I have taken mine to teh walkin centre with temps over 39C I have not been allowed home until it gets below 38.5.

moosemama · 11/01/2009 15:56

Have to disagree about 39 not being a high temp. When my DS2 was in hospital with pneumonia in December they were not happy at all until his temp remained under 38. But then he does tend to get febrile convulsions if it creeps over 39. Its a good sign that she seems ok in herself, but I would still be trying to get her temperature down so that it has a lower starting point to spike from iyswim.

You could try some other things to keep her temp down such as ice cubes in a drink of juice and one that always goes down well is ice pops or ice lollies. That's what we were told to do, in addition to keeping the room temp cool but not cold (fan on, but not directly on child) and keeping her in minimum clothing.

DS2 would not have anything even related to medical stuff done to him (including taking any form of medicine) since being in hospital as the whole thing totally traumatised him. We found the only way to get meds in was to negotiate a 1 mouthful to 1 favourite sweet (jelly tot/smartie) ratio. I don't usually let him have many sweets, but when it came to getting vital meds into him I had to think of something quickly.

sausagenmash · 11/01/2009 15:57

Was just about to disagree with Lindenlass as well, I'm afraid. I work in paediatrics, and we would definitely treat a child with a fever of 39. It is high. However, do try all the other suggestions - stripping her down, cool the house down, etc - thought the walk outside is a good idea - although its getting a bit dark now... bloomin' January! xx

VinegarTits · 11/01/2009 16:01

'You don't need to reduce her temp unless she's really, really ill with it or in pain' i also disagree with this, some infections do not make you feel ill but can be very dangerous and can only be detected by high temp

frasersmummy · 11/01/2009 16:14

I would just like to add that unchecked fever of 39 will cause your child to dehydrate and this will make her very poorly indeed

Original poster

chickenmama · 11/01/2009 16:22

For 4 days now her temp hasn't gone lower than 38 and has been over 40 several times. So 39 isn't quite as bad as it has been, but I'm still concerned even tho she seems ok as I know something mustn't be right. The antibiotics don't seem to have made any difference yet...

Am now trying to get the suppositories on prescription as I was quoted £19 for a pack from Tesco... off to hospital now for out of hours appointment, hoping we get seen before shops shut at 5!

OP posts:

waspriceyp · 11/01/2009 16:28

39 is high LIndenlass and as soon as she goes to bed and has her covers for example it could start to rocket.

Good luck with the out of hours docs. A drive in teh car with window open a bit might help too!

waspriceyp · 11/01/2009 16:30

Sorry LL didn't realise others had said that already, didn't mean to kick the arse out it.

To OP I think that sainsbury's paracetamol has an orange taste rather than the yukky pink stuff.

moosemama · 11/01/2009 16:31

Good luck at hospital.

If you haven't gone yet, I would push for her to be seen by paediatrics. The minute the last doctor realised DS2's temp was over 40 he was whisked in to be assessed.

He saw 2 out of hours gps and one of our regular gps and they all missed the pneumonia!

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