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Original poster

Would you give toddler Calpol for temp of 38.1?

55 replies

winnybella · 16/12/2010 20:54

Taken rectally. DD (22 mo) has a wet cough, runny nose, not a great appetite (although fine when it's something sweet Hmm).

Couldn't bf before bed as nose blocked up, tried the sucking thingy, helped a bit, anyway, she feel asleep on the breast, woke up when put down in her cot, complained for 3 or 4 minutes and fell asleep (I think).

I took her temp just before bf and it was 38.1 rectally. I didn't give her anything as I am of the old school of thought that fever helps fight the infection- but I'm wondering whether it'll go up a lot and I'll wake up at 2 am to a very hot toddler.

It seems to me to be a standard cold, not flu, iyswim.

Would you? Or better wait and check on her in a couple of hours?

OP posts:
Original poster
winnybella · 16/12/2010 20:54

she fell asleep

OP posts:
flinginghasflung · 16/12/2010 20:57

Yes. You'd take something yourself if you felt bad. Hope she's better soon.

flinginghasflung · 16/12/2010 20:57

Maybe not rectally though! Try a syringe

SuePurblybiltbyElves · 16/12/2010 20:57

I have never taken DD's temperature so I have no clue. But I would give Calpol for those symptoms if she was distressed. If she's sleeping, leave her be and see how she is when she wakes praps?

MissAnthropy · 16/12/2010 20:58

I don't medicate for a temp at all. In fact I rarely take a temp.

I look at the child. If dd is in pain/discomfort, I treat that.

I try and keep dd cool by natural means if she's feeling hot.

Megletitsnow · 16/12/2010 20:58

yes.

stripeywoollenhat · 16/12/2010 21:00

is she miserable? if so, yes.

Original poster
winnybella · 16/12/2010 21:11

Thanks. No, she's sleeping now, so I guess I won't be waking her up and taking her temp again and putting a suppository up her bum.

I'm just nervous that the fever will spike later in the night. Oh well. I guess as long as she's asleep I leave her alone, right?

OP posts:
RhinestoneCowgirl · 16/12/2010 21:13

I wouldn't wake them up to give calpol if they were sleeping, but have given it for that temp. Had to do it this weekend, but DD was really miserable and it did seem to help a bit - so not just for temp alone.

369thegoosedrankwine · 16/12/2010 21:14

Yes I would if she wakes.

norksinmywaistband · 16/12/2010 21:16

I would have but would also not wake her

Original poster
winnybella · 16/12/2010 21:16

Hmm. She's been coughing for 2/3 days now and just today she gets the fever...isn't it normally when they come down with an infection iyswim? Hope it's not some secondary thing. Argh, I have a ds, but he's almost 9 and never gets ill, and I forgot what I did when he was little and feverish.

OP posts:
RhinestoneCowgirl · 16/12/2010 21:19

winnybella - DD seemed to have a cold/cough for a while before she suddenly got feverish at the weekend (and was sick a few times). She had raised temps for about 48 hrs, then much better (but is still coughing and a bit snotty). This bug seems to linger...

We were a bit worried at the weekend and ended up taking her to out of hours for them to listen to her chest but it was clear.

zonedout · 16/12/2010 21:22

i tend to leave them without calpol/nurofen for a fever below about 39 if it's during the day and they are not suffering. however, at night i do tend to give one or the other for most levels of fever as i find the fevers can get alarmingly high at night so a pre-emptive strike i guess. also, both of my ds's frequently run fevers of above 40 and these can be quite hard to get down and rather alarming in the middle of the night.

TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 16/12/2010 21:24

Yes I would,especially at night when you can't keep an eye on them and know how hot they are getting.

Original poster
winnybella · 16/12/2010 21:34

Crap. I wish I had given it to her, but as long as she's sleeping I think I'll leave her alone. I've only got suppositories- the plus is that they tend to work much quicker than syrup.

She's sleeping in a long sleeved cotton top and nappy, uncovered- that's fine, right?

OP posts:
flinginghasflung · 16/12/2010 21:37

As long as feet are uncovered she prob won't get any higher temp. Turn the heating down a bit and see how she goes. Give as needed if she wakes up. I'd leave a drink of water in her bed too or have one ready before you go to bed.

LauraNorder · 16/12/2010 21:39

Yes but i wouldn't give calpol first I would start with ibruprofen.

bubbleymummy · 17/12/2010 01:43

No, not unless she was uncomfortable. NICE guidelines state that you shouldn't medicate solely to reduce temp- only as pain relief. If she's sleeping fine then she can't be too uncomfortable just let her be and let the fever do its job. Hope she's feeling better by morning.

jasper · 17/12/2010 01:51

no.
rectally? Have I missed something all these years?

Original poster
winnybella · 17/12/2010 07:29

Morning everyone.

jasper- temp taken in the rectum.

So she didn't sleep very well, took her in with me, she woke up early-relatively perky, but hot. Gave her some water and she drunk the whole glass and then vomited it back all over my face and bed.

Temp at least 39 now, put the suppository in, she's on the sofa watching BabyTv, had a yoghurt and a bit of juice.

Now my nose is blocked up, I've got sore throat and am coughing.

And DP is away in London til Monday night.

DS is supposed to come over for the weekend before going away to ex's family for Christmas- shall I make him stay at ex's? I don't want him to catch it. What do you think? He never gets ill, so I guess his immune system is pretty strong, but I don't want him to be ill for Xmas. Arrgh.

OP posts:
Bunbaker · 17/12/2010 07:42

"I don't medicate for a temp at all. In fact I rarely take a temp."

Shock If I did what you do I wouldn't have a daughter any more. My daughter has had some very severe UTIs in the past that have landed her in hospital. When she gets a bad fever she gets the shakes and on one occasion had a fit and stopped breathing. Luckily she did this in front of the doctor who rang for an ambulance and we were blue lighted all the way to the hospital.

You are extremely fortunate that your children have never been that ill. One of the first things a doctor asks is what the child's temperature is.

So, in view of DD's past medical history, yes I would give Calpol.

SwearyMary · 17/12/2010 07:49

Why take the temperature and medicate rectally? I know its efficient but I wouldn't dream of poking anyone up the bum with a thermometer....
Surely the ear ones are less invasive for a sick person? I'm curious to know why to chose rectal over ears?

I medicate if the temperature doesn't go down by removing clothing etc.

MissAnneElk · 17/12/2010 08:03

Do people routinely take a toddlers temperature rectally? And use suppositories? Really? I always tucked a thermometer under their arm and gave calpol on a spoon or syringe.
I would medicate for a temperature because it normally means they are in some discomfort. I'd also do tepid sponging and make sure they are not wearing too many layers.

SwearyMary · 17/12/2010 08:04

I meant to add that it sounds like the bug is going through your household, not nice.
How old is DS? Is he old enough to decide whether he wants to risk the germs? You could ask ex's family how they feel.

I hope you all feel better soon.

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