Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

Original poster

When to worry about fever, should i call the GP now?

21 replies

Marne · 10/12/2010 11:17

Hi, thought i would start a new thread in hope to get some answers.

I am really worried about dd2 (panicking), she has had a temp of around 40 sinse 5pm yesterday, was sick once in the night and this morning has barely opened her eyes, i have managed to ge a dose of calpol into her (an hour ago) but her temp is still around 39.5. Should i call the GP for advice, is there anything they can do?

I'm not sure if she has a tummy bug or something else as she can't tell me where she's hurting as she is almost non-verbal (ASD).

I dont want to have to take her to the GP unless i have to as it will upset her more and i'm guessing they will just say continue with the calpol?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

DGirlsandBoysWontGetAnyToys · 10/12/2010 11:21

As she has only been sick once, the vomiting may have been a symptom of the high temperature rather than the other way around. My son once had a high temp and was sick on movement (his or anyone else's ) and he later came out in a rash - it was some viral infection.

I did get the GP out and I can understand you may want to call yours, even though, looking back, I felt I panicked a bit unnecessarily (I called before the rash).

So if I were you, I would ring for advice, esp as she is non verbal so you can't really know all she is feeling. I don't know if you can get a GP out to you these days? I suspect not.

mamaloco · 10/12/2010 11:21

Get her checked. Can she have nurofen (it is usually better for high fevers)?
The advices I had was to alternate nurofen and calpol every 4h for high fever.
But if she is not responsive I would get her checked.
Can they send somebody to your house (mentioned the ASD)?

bluecardi · 10/12/2010 11:22

Call your gp & see about a home visit

CharlieBoo · 10/12/2010 11:28

Yes yes get her checked.... Alternate calpol
And nurofen to get temp down. Hope all is well...

Original poster

Marne · 10/12/2010 11:31

Thank you, i have just checked her temp again and it has gone down but she hardly flinched when i took her temp. She does often sleep alot when she is ill. I don't think i have seen her this poorly sinse she had scarlett fever a year ago, she has had tummy bugs before which make her vomit all day, she was only sick once in the night (but violently) and has not got runny poo's which makes me think 'maybe its not a tummy bug'. I dont think either of the dd's have ever had a high temp with a tummy bug.

I might try and bath her and then phone the GP as i dont want to have to take her in smelling of vomit plus a bath might make her feel a bit better.

I have tried getting the GP out before and had no luck so i doubt they will come out to see her.

OP posts:

piprabbit · 10/12/2010 11:35

I went on a first aid course recently and we were advised to seek medical help as soon a small child's temp exceeds 39 degrees.

Above that you need to start worrying about febrile convulsions and other scary stuff.

When someone questioned him about it, the speaker just said "why would you wait?"

pooka · 10/12/2010 11:35

DS2 had temp of 40.7 and diarrhoea at the weekend. I was giving him the lower dose from the range i.e. 5ml calpolinstead of 10ml. THe out of hours doc put me straight and said that should have a routine of set times for medicines so that temp could be preempted as it were. Alternated nurofen and calpol.

He was fine by monday.

Original poster

Marne · 10/12/2010 11:45

Thak, my mum is going to get some shopping for me so i will ask her to get nurofen as i only heve calpol at home. I have phoned the gp in the past when her Temp has been over 40 and just been told to keep the fluids up, have also been to A&E with her twice with a high temp and early stages of dhydration as she often refusses fluids. She usually recovers quite quickly appart from when she had scarlet fever which 3 gps failed to diagnose.

Should i be waking her to give her meds? I can only get it into her by putting it in her drink so it takes a while to get it into her. I cant give it to her by spoon or syringe without dh here to pin her down (sounds mean but its hard to get any meds into her without her gagging or spitting it in my face).

OP posts:

Original poster

Marne · 10/12/2010 15:38

Poor little thing has been asleep most of the day, managed to get her in the bath and she could hardly keep her eyes open, then she asked for a biscuit and fell asleep with it in her hand (did not eat any). I keep waiting for her to come down the stairs and be back to herself but i don't think it will happen today. I just hope she lets me get some sleep tonight. Her temp is now back to normal so hopefully she will start to feel better soon.

OP posts:

bubbleymummy · 10/12/2010 18:18

Hi Marne, sorry to hear she's been so poorly. Glad that the temperature is starting to come down.

The general thinking is to look at the child and not the thermometer. How is she in herself? Yes, children can sleep a lot when they're sick but is she responsive when you try to wake her? Does she try to talk/smile/generally interact with you when she is awake. The fact that she asked for a biscuit (even though she didn't eat it!) is a good sign :)

The height of a temperature does not mean anything - it is quite a common misconception. In fact the temperature is a good thing - it is the body's defence against the illness. The NICE guidelines now state that paracetemol/ibuprofen should not be given solely to reduce fever - only as pain relief. High temperatures do not cause febrile convulsions - it is the speed that the temperature rises that causes them and while they are scary to watch they do not usually cause any long term damage. Studies have also shown that antipyretics do not prevent febrile convulsions so again NICE guidelines state the antipyretics (paracetemol/ibubrofen) should not be given solely to try to prevent convulsions.

This website might reassure you a bit. Hope she feels better soon.

Original poster

Marne · 10/12/2010 18:38

Thanks bubble, she has startied vomiting again so i have called out of hours GP, she' still very sleepy ,will open her eyes brefly when i talk to her but is not talking , her temp is down so i'm not sure why she is vomiting. She struggled to sit when i tried to clean her up and has only drunk a small amount today, most of which is what she just brought up.

DH is still at work (until 9.30) so i can't take her anywhere as i have dd1 to look after, i'm hoping someone will come out and see her.

OP posts:

bubbleymummy · 10/12/2010 21:38

Poor wee thing :( try to get her to keep drinking. Just little sips at a time every 5-10 mins or so. Water is best but even using part juice to tempt her a bit would be better than nothing. They can get dehydrated so quickly with high temps and vomitting. Hope the doctor comes out to her. Keep us posted.

pushmepullyou · 10/12/2010 21:46

Poor little girl. Hope you have managd to get her seen. Let us know how she is when you can

ItalianLady · 10/12/2010 21:49

I think she definitely needs a GP check. Hope it isn't anything serious.

Original poster

Marne · 11/12/2010 08:27

We got her seen by the GP last night, we were told to go to the hspital to see GP at 7.30, when we got there the GP had been called out and we had to wait until 9.30 to be seen, dd2 just slept and slept. GP checked her other and said she has a soar throat so probably viral, he told me to drive home with her with barely anything on (dd2 not me), poor little thing was freezing. I put her straight to bed and she slept till 3am when she woke, had a drink and vomited again , she's still asleep now but managed to get a sip of water into her.

Still very worried about her as it seems to be going on so long.

OP posts:

ellenjames · 11/12/2010 12:22

how is she doing xx

Original poster

Marne · 11/12/2010 16:27

She's sipping dioralyte (sp) but still very sleepy , i'm going to see what she's like in the morning and if she's no better take her back to the gp, she is slightly more with it (talking to me). She's starting to look so skinny but i don't think she would keep food down.

OP posts:

moosemama · 12/12/2010 19:41

How is your dd today Marne?

Really hoping she's feeling better.

Original poster

Marne · 13/12/2010 17:45

Dd2 has made a full recovery, she spent most of the day in bed yesterday but was demanding Pizza and chips so i fed her up and today she's back to herself (still a little bit grumpy). I'm now in bed with what looks like the same as dd2 (but the other end) and dh is trying to look after the dd's, luckily he's got 2 days off work. I just hope dd1 doesn't come down with it as she is so looking forward to the shool play tomorrow and wed, i'm trying to stay out of her way but i'm missing her .

OP posts:

moosemama · 14/12/2010 10:13

Glad she is better, but sorry to hear you are now poorly yourself.

Hope you feel better soon and dd1 stays healthy.

pigindisguise · 14/12/2010 10:34

blimey marne that sounds scary. very glad she's better. hope you feel better soon

Flip