Help I am in a bit of a state

[craziedaisy]

DS has been running a high fever since yesterday- spiking at about 39.5. I have been giving him paracetamol and nurofen to try and keep it down. Took him to out of hours GP who said I am not looking after him properly. I should not be treating a fever even if it gets to 40 or beyond. I had him stripped because he was so hot in the waiting room and he said that I didn't need to. He decided that it was a viral infection and to just take him home and look after him with plenty of fluids.

I am in a bit of a state as he said I shouldn't give so much painkillers. I am always very careful to ensure that he has the maximum of 4 doses of paracetamol and 3 doses of nurofen but I did give him nurofen today only and hour and half after the calpol as he was still very hot with a temp over 39. Will I have damaged him by doing this. Please advise as I am in a state

I only asked as I hadnt heard of 7.5ml of nurofen - I was of the impression that under 6s had 5ml. But then again, I am a cheapskate and get the free stuff from the pharamacist, so can only go with their label!

At 4 my DS will sleep in shorts and a vest top, with his baby duvet on him when he has a temperature. He has a bottle of water next to him (sports lid one) and tends to drink from it when ever he feels hot. To be honest I tend to chuck him in with me in the bed when he's ill - but thats because he is one who has had a febrile convulsion in the past so I panic slightly.

I think what you are doing is fine - if you had a temperature and felt out of sorts you would take a couple of tablets, so theres nothing wrong with using the medicine. I dont tend to give any unless our thermometer glows red (over 38.1 from memory) we have a Vicks underarm thing which glows green, orange or red - great for checking in the night!

Oh gosh you have me panicking on the dosage. Is this right for nurofen anyone please?

daisy, dont panic - sorry didnt mean to do that. what does the back of the bottle say?

dosage

I havent used it since DS1 turned 4, hence why I got confused! But now I know he can have 7.5ml, thank you

Nurofen for children aged 1-5 (on their website here says 7-9ml for a 3-5 year old.

Thanks everyone. I think I should stop panicking now and get some sleep
x

Hi, no he actually said to strip him was child abuse. His words. Taken him back to out of hours this morning and saw different doctor as had a really bad night. Told he has throat infection and given antibiotics. My concern is that this will be the third day of temp so can I carry on giving both nurofen and calpol to him until antibiotics start to work?

Worry about giving so much pain killers. Any nurses or docs opinions please.

The antibiotics should kick in within 24 hours or so. Give alternate paracetemol and nurofen every 4 hours until then. It will be fine, hope he is on the mend soon

www.nhs.uk/news/2011/03March/Pages/advice-for-managing-child-fever.aspx

Thinking around fever management has changed in the last couple of years (a lot). Routine practice has changed a lot of what is being said above contradicts current management guidelines. The parents who are advising you are only telling you what they were told before the recommendations changed. The article above tries to explain it.

These are the NICE recommendations - page 14/ 15 refer to 'care at home" and may help you to understand where the GP was coming from.

www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/11010/30524/30524.pdf

Hope this helps.

I called NHS direct before I got your replies. Said no I musn't alternate but whilst on phone temp hit 40 so back tracked and said better give nurofeun after giving calpol 4 hours before. Said the real reason they don't give both is that it could mask a really bad infection but we aleady know he has throat infection. She said if the nurofen alone doesn't keep temp down to go back to GP.