False temperaturee reading?

[pacific407]

My 11mo son had a slightly elevated temperature yesterday (37.5) and I put him to bed with calpol. At 12 he woke up and my dh went in to him and then called out in a panic because the baby was so hot. By the time we'd sorted the thermometer out and taken his temperature he'd been crying for 10 minutes (he gets very hot when he cries). Also stupidly I had the thermostat in his room too high and had the humidifier on because he's had a cough, so the room was really warm. Plus he had layers on. Not too bright of me I realise, but you live and learn.
Anyway, my question is, could his temperature reading at 12 (which was 39 degrees) have been false because of all the surrounding circumstances? and at what level do I need to start worrying about his temperature (I.e. Straight to emergency room kind of worrying, rather than calpol and see how we go type of worrying)? Thanks for your thoughts...

If dd has a temperature, her environment makes a massive difference. So if she's gone to bed okay but developed a temp in the night whilst under a duvet and snuggled up in fleecy pyjamas, her temp can be quite high. Strip the heavy duvet, replace fleece with cotton etc and her temp naturally lowers so yes it certainly makes a difference.

In terms of when to worry it's not just about the numbers on a thermometer. The general 'rules' of a temp are over 38 degrees in a 0-3 month old and over 39 degrees in a 3-6 month old are worthy of medical advice. In an older baby and child it's important to look at them. How are they outside of the temp? Are they rousable? Hydrated? Behaving normally? Eating? Drinking? In pain? Any other symptoms? Unusual crying? Listless? Not recognising you? Floppy? Responding to medicine? Some children can be ill enough to need immediate medical treatment but have no temp. Others can spike fairly high temps and still be running around happily.

A temperature is the body naturally fighting something and is not a worry in isolation (again I'm talking about older babies and children here). You don't need to lower the temp with medicine if they're otherwise okay. Uncomfortable or in pain then yes. Sensible steps to always take with a feverish child are loose cotton clothing, light cover if they want one, fluids, air circulating, heating turned down. Keep them comfortable, gently cooling them, no rapid measures and no letting them shiver and look at them and how they are not just the number on the thermometer.

Pacific,

I think it would depend on your child and a load of other factors. Firstly, a temperature below a certain level is not, in itself, dangerous. People seem to keep raising this level but, personally, in a baby of that age, I certainly would not be overly concerned much below 40 degrees. Even then, it is worth trying to bring it down before considering the emergency room.

Clearly, if he is prone to febrile convulsions or has other risk factors, I would bring that number downwards.

The general idea is to look at the child, not the number on the thermometer. If the breathing is fine (not breathing very fast, not sucking in below ribs etc), the child is alert and responsive and they are prepared to at least drink some water, it is not an emergency situation. Extreme pain, changes in breathing, consciousness etc all warrant a visit to A&E (I guess you are not in UK?) regardless of temperature.

On the other hand, whereas a lot of people try to avoid even a visit to the doctor with a high fever, if I had an 11 month old with a fever of 39, I would try to get a (non emergency) doctor's appointment just for my own peace of mind. In my view, that is part of a GP's job (although most now disagree with this POV).

Thank you both so much for your responses...I am very grateful (and you have put my mind at rest). Oh, and larry, I am in the uk, and apparently i watch too much American tv!!

Pacific, it's not usually the height of the temperature that's important - it's how they are in themselves. A child can be really ill with a fairly low fever and still bouncing around with a higher temp - my DSs can be burning up and still managing to fight with each other!

If they are floppy/unresponsive then I would be going straight to A&E. If the temperature was around 39.5 or over, was causing them discomfort and wasn't coming down with cooling attempts/paracetemol/ibuprofen then I would be calling OOH and getting some advice. If the fever was there for more than 3 days then I would get a doctors appointment and make sure there wasn't something else causing it eg. chest infection/urinary tract infection etc that might need antibiotics to clear up.

37.5 isn't really a fever and tbh I wouldn't medicate unless they seemed to be uncomfortable with it. Things like too many layers and a warm room can make their temperature a bit higher but it wouldn't go up to 39 on that alone so he's probably got something working on him. As long as he's happy in himself and drinking plenty then just keep an eye on him. You know him best and if you're worried at all take him to the doctor.

Pacific,

With your MN name and the use of "emergency room", I assumed you were in California! :)

oops- x posts with other, better replies! :)