When to worry about temperature?

[Fuzzled]

DS is 1. Temperature this morning was 38 compared to his usual level of about 36.4. I gave him Calpol and it came back down. Went up again about 2 hours later so I've given him Calprofen and it's coming down again (I know coz I'm compulsively sticking the thermometer in his ear!). He's fine in himself IYSWIM although a little subdued and looks a little washed out; he's eating and drinking well and playing normally if being a bit more huggy than usual.

I've spoken to the doctor to reassure myself and he said it was likely viral due to a cold and to do the usual stuff with Calpol/profen and fluids etc, and to phone if the temperature spiked again.

So, what would you consider a "spike"?

I'm thinking that it would be a temperature that doesn't come back down after dosing; or if he becomes lethargic or has a rash etc?

Sorry if this is a stupid question but this is the first real temperature (highest previous has been 37.5!) he has had and I'm a bit of a worrier by nature. He's also due his nap soon and it's a bit worrying for me.

TIA!

Hi Fuzzled, Sorry your DS is not feeling to well.
A spike in temperature is anything above 37.5c anything below that is considered a normal range.
It is good your DS is alert and eating and drinking well and the calpol and calprofen and working well in making him more comfortable and bringing down his temp.

If his temp does go above 37.5c again it is really up to you if you take him to the GP. I personally have a 48hr time frame where as long as the are reasonably well and continuing to drink I care for them at home. If they become lethargic, not drinking or any kind of rash then straight to the GP. If they are still unwell after 48hrs I would pop to the GP's just to check its not something that needs antibiotics.

Please don't ever think you are being a worrier though it is better to get him to the GP if it will give you peace of mind, that is what the GP's are there for!

and of course lots of cuddles help!

Ignore the thermometer for a moment.

Try and look at your child and assess what's happening. A temperature is a normal reaction to illness and your child's body is very cleverly fighting the illness in the best way it can.

You do not need to medicate for a temp alone. Look at your child. Are they eating/drinking/playing/rousable etc. I give meds if dd is in pain/uncomfortable/suffering. The temp on its own is doing a good job.

I know how hard it is to remain calm but natural measures such as loose clothing, air circulating, plenty of fluids and rest are usually enough for a child who is ill with a virus. If they are lethargic, unrousable, in pain, behaving unusually or have an uncontrollable temp then this is very different but a slightly pale and subdued child with a mild temp (38 is a mild fever) is normal for everyday childhood bugs.

I am the most anxious parent where health is concerned but have started schooling myself to look at dd, not the thermometer.

I don't agree with ignoring the thermometer, they are there for a good reason, they give us valuable information!

I would be worried if a child (if older than one year) has a temperature which quickly increases from 38 to 39 (say in less than 1 hour) and that that temperature does not come down with calpol and calprofen (even if it goes up again after 6 hours but then comes down again with medication). I would also be worried if the temperature keeps coming back for more than 48-72 hours.

Clearly, I would be very worried if there are other symptoms, like rash, breathing difficulty, unresponsiveness, etc. then I would go straight away to A&E, not GP.

I have very bad experiences with GPs diagnosing life threatening bacterial infections as 'don't worry, just a virus' and after two weeks of 41 degrees and many trips to GP ' you are wasting valuable NHS resources, we already told you it is just a virus' whilst dc was close to dying when finally admitted ... DO DO TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS - DON'T LET ANY ONE AND ESPECIALLY NOT GPs FOB YOU OFF - IF IN DOUBT AND IF YOU ARE REALLY WORRIED GO TO A&E at least they have proper paediatricians, GPs I have come across don't have a clue whatsoever.

I think we're actually giving the same advice dikkertjedap (where's your name from btw?). Trust your instincts, look at the child. I do take my child's temp for a point of reference but I also look at the child. I don't mean ignore the reading, completely (as I said stop "for a moment"). I mean don't just look at the thermometer in isolation. The op is describing a child who is eating normally, playing and just mildly subdued, and the mild temp displayed by the thermometer corroborates how the child is iyswim.

What you went through is absolutely awful and a temp of 41 degrees for that long is obviously of grave concern. You were treated utterly shoddily.