Should I take her to GP?

[OlivesTree]

My 8 month old has caught my cold and is running a fever that has been as high as 39.2 but is now hovering around 38.8. Guidance I have read on NHS website says she should see a GP if fever reaches 38.8. but being a Saturday evening I think she may be better off if I just keep her at home drinking her water, lying in a nappy in front of the fan and striking her with damp cloths to try to bring temp down, than sitting in a hot walk in clinic for goodness knows how long.

Am I doing the right thing? So worried about her, but she does seem happy enough, just very hot and runny nose & eyes. Have also given Calpol.

Sorry so rambling!

I'm sure you're stroking her and not striking her :) (Not tried it but I'm thinking striking wouldn't be the best thing for a fever )

If she seems happy in herself, I would just keep an eye on things overnight. However, you could always give NHS Direct a ring and see what they say. I would call sooner rather than later, not because I think it is urgent but because their waiting times can get very long.

Hope she's feeling better soon.

Definitely no striking!!

Is she breathing OK? Do you have one of those bulb things to suck the snot out of her nose (she will still be mainly breathing through her nose at this age)

Unless she is showing any signs of struggling with breathing, or being in lots of pain then I would just give calpol and brufen (if needed) and see how she gets on.

I don't think I'd personally do the wet cloths and fan because it will chill her and cause her body to think its cold and warm up further iyswim?

Is her tmep 39.8 after calpol? Have you tried nurofen? Think she can have it at 8 months but not sure...

Thanks for the replies. I was reading them last night, but couldn't reply at the time. She is lots better this morning, as I expected she would be but it is the first time she has been sick and I was so worried, so was great to have some reassurance.

eastendy that totally makes sense. A friend told me that she had read that it wasn't a good idea to use wet cloths so I stopped, but neither of us knew why. Now know for next time. No more striking!

Thanks again everyone. Happy Sunday!

Glad she's feeling better, OlivesTrees!

National Institute for Clinical Excellence Guidelines

The reason it is not recommended to use cold cloths and fans on children with fever is because it brings down the temperature too quickly and then the temp rises rapidly when these measures are stopped. Febrile convulsions are caused by a sudden rapid rise in temperature, hence no tepid sponging anymore!

Thanks for the link purple, will file for next time and sneeze for the explanation.

DD is much better today. Amazing how quickly they get over illness. Took me a week to get over what took her two days.

Apparently ibuprofen/paracetomol should only be used if the child appears distressed or unwell.

If they have a fever but are happy then you should let the fever run it's course. The purpose of a fever is to raise the body temperature high enough to kill off viruses and bacteria.

When DS was poorly in hospital they stripped him off and sponged/bathed him (including his hair) in luke warm water and then left him to air dry. They also opened windows and put a fan in his room (directed away from him so as not to indice shivering and then a rise in temperature) They placed a bucket of ice in front of the fan to make it cooler.