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Children's health

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Original poster

fuck DD 40 degrees underarm, doctor not replyinh

37 replies

winnybella · 03/02/2011 16:06

stripped her top, gave paracetmol, cold compress on forehead
ds had flu like thing since sat but better now
shoud i panic?

40 underarm would be almost 41 core temp

OP posts:
Original poster
winnybella · 03/02/2011 16:06

she's 2 btw

OP posts:
tigercametotea · 03/02/2011 16:07

I would take her to A&E if she seems poorly outwardly - like not eating, not drinking, not moving much or playing much.

Alouiseg · 03/02/2011 16:07

Can you give nurofen at 2? If you can, I would do the alternating thing.

AtYourCervix · 03/02/2011 16:08

luke warm water sponges all over. strip down to nappy/knickers.

do you have baby nurofen?

coldtits · 03/02/2011 16:08

calpol, sponge bath in tepid water, then neurofen (I heard calpol works faster and neurofen works longer)

And try NHS direct

Original poster
winnybella · 03/02/2011 16:09

fuck she woke up from nap lie that nw on the couch falling asleep again...pretty sure it's flu thing ds had

no car and ds at homre dp at work

OP posts:
Original poster
winnybella · 03/02/2011 16:11

sorry for typos

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AtYourCervix · 03/02/2011 16:13

if you're worried taxi to A&E? can anyone watch DS for you?

Original poster
winnybella · 03/02/2011 16:17

she's totally listless albeit coherent as she has remarked that she has towel on the head now

isn't it v.high temp, though? ds had flu symptoms fever one day, then none, then again next day...dd had lowish fever on tuesday, none yesterday and this today...

shit i guess anyone would be listless with 40 degree fever, but how do i know when it's time to call ambulance/go to a&e?

OP posts:
coldtits · 03/02/2011 16:19

It's time to go to A&E NOW. At this temp she may have a febrile convulsion.

Original poster
winnybella · 03/02/2011 16:51

Ok, temp came down to 38,5 50 minutes after paracetamol. That doesn't seem like a lot- usually it goes right down.

She's tired and just siyting here, leaning on me, but doesn't seem 'out of it' too much.

Sending ds to buy some ibuprofen.

Is it normal that the temp doesn't go all the way down?

OP posts:
coldtits · 03/02/2011 16:53

yeah, 38 wouldn't worry me too much but really keep an eye on it in case it spike up again.

IngridFletcher · 03/02/2011 16:57

DS2 has had temps that high a few times. I would start to worry if it does not respond to medication...it has so good sign. He had a convulsion once but that was when we were out with no medication and no thermometer and also was told it is the speed the fever comes on that makes the convulsion likely. Am now paranoid and medicate at first sign. I find nurofen the best and alternating it with calpol best of all.

Loosingmymind · 03/02/2011 17:15

Its a good sign thats its down, even a bit. I would personally only call nhs direct or go to A&E if the fever was not going down or it was going up.

I took my DS to out of hours lots when he was young with a high temp and was told to go home and keep giving calpol.

I would keep an eye on her breathing though, a nurse recently told me count DD's breaths when she was v poorly and to take her to A&E if i counted less than 10 or more than 30 per min.

Hope this helps and that she gets better soon.

Original poster
winnybella · 03/02/2011 17:17

Thank you, it's 38,3- I guess it won't go down much more if it hasn't already.

Got ibuprofen, will give that in an hour and a half.

Poor thing, she's sleeping on the couch. Have neber seen her like that.

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bubbleymummy · 03/02/2011 17:18

coldtits - High temperatures do not cause convulsions- it's the speed that the temperature rising that does. Also, antipyretics have been shown not to reduce the risk of convulsions, Ingrid so it is not encouraged to give antipyretics preventatively (NICE guidelines).

winnybella, The temp won't go down to normal because she is sick. The fever is helping her fight off the flu or whatever she has and again the NICE guidelines now recommend only treating a fever if it is causing discomfort. The fact that it DID respond to being brought down is good - if it wasn't responding you would want to get her checked out in case there was some kind of underlying infection.

The fact that she was responding to you is a good sign. Make sure she drinks plenty of fluids so she doesn't get dehydrated and keep an eye on her. If she is unresponsive to you, has a rash, stiff neck etc then take her to A&E. The temperature itself means nothing - some children just get REALLY hot with fevers- DS1 has been up to 41 before! Very scary but he was sitting watching dvds with me and answering questions etc so I knew he was ok. :)

You poor woman! You must be exhausted with this going through your whole family. Try to look after yourself as much as possible too!

belgo · 03/02/2011 17:22

Febrile convulsions usually happen when the temperature rises very quickly.

Does she have any other symptoms, sensitivity to light, hurting neck, painful legs, suspicious rashes? If so, take her to a&e.

Just realised I am repeating bubblymummy.

Original poster
winnybella · 03/02/2011 17:28

Respiratory rate is around 30-33. It seems it's at 40 that you need to start worrying.

Still asleep on the sofa.

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PixieOnaLeaf · 03/02/2011 17:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Appletrees · 03/02/2011 17:35

bubblymummy's advice is very good.

The thing is you know she probably has the flu.. high temperature is so much more worrying when you don't know why.

The fever will help her get better, don't try to get rid of it completely. I agree 41 is scary and even I would probably give a spot of something at 41, but not much. Temperatures are not dangerous unless they are at over 105-6, (41 is 106). I checked the official advice once.

Appletrees · 03/02/2011 17:36

"don't try to get rid of it completely"

It's not my business to tell you what to do.
That would be my way, I'm trying to say.

Original poster
winnybella · 03/02/2011 17:40

Now around 27 bpm.

She did have a weird thing just after waking up from the nap where I put her down on the floor and after few steps she fell down and then stood up and fell down again. Didn't complain about a pain in her legs and I don't know if it was just a weakness from fever or she slipped...hmm. DP is on his way home now, so we'll go to A&E if I see any new symptoms.

Oh, just checked the temp again and it's down to 37,5. Thank God.

She's sleeping quite peacefully iyswim- not peacefully enough to think there's something wrong and not fitfully enough to worry either.

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Appletrees · 03/02/2011 17:40

You probably know this but the other worrying thing is if they are not drinking.

Also children's fevers do tend to rise in the evening anyway.

Original poster
winnybella · 03/02/2011 17:43

Thanks Appletrees- I agree with you-she had 38 and a bit on Tuesday (this flu thing fever following a bizarre 1 day on, 1 day off pattern) and I wasn't really worried- did give her some paracetamol just before bed so we she can have a quiet night.

But here she was 40 and climbing and it freaked me out, tbh.

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Appletrees · 03/02/2011 17:44

I hope it's over soon for her Smile

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