Very high temp - is giving calpol enough?

[steppemum]

dd2 is 5. She was poorly and warm last night, gave her calpol, she slept for 4 hours, then woke up hot and I gave her more.

Then this morning, still warm, so gave her more and she threw up.
Since then she has been curled up on sofa. I always wait after throwing up before giving more anything.

So just been to check on her. Gave her Ibuprofen. Then took her temp as she was so hot

It was 41.6 in one ear and 42.6 in other

(she always gives 2 different temps one in each ear - that is another story!!)

She does tend to get high temps when she is poorly, was hospitalised with it when 18 months. Drs told me to take highest temp if different.

But 42.6!!!

I have never seen that before. Should I do anything? She is shivery so wants to be under blanket. Hopefully Ibuprofen will bring temp down. I can't give calpol yet as she had it at 8 am when she threw up, so don't know if she absorbed any

If I hadn't actually taken her temp I wouldn't be worried, she looks tummy bug ish, is sipping water, hasn't fallen asleep, but 42.6!

I would call NHS direct for advice to be on the safe side. Hope she's better soon!

I think A&E immediately with a temperature that high.

Can't A&E until about 12:30

I have 2 other children here (one not mine, and he has ASD and is poorly too) and I have no car.
dh back at about 12:30 and other child goes home at same time.

Will wait to see if temp comes down after meds, and gice calpol at 12 too.

Will call NHS direct

(and go and get dressed just in case )

Honestly she needs a&E now however inconvenient

Agree. A&E. Over 40 is the trigger to take it more seriously I think. Hope she gets seen soon.

Temperatures of 42 can cause irreversible brain damage

Phone an ambulance if you haven't got a car. Don't hang about.

Ambulance then. That's what they are there for.

Tepid bath works.

I've had to do that with ds1 when he was younger. Even tepid is unpleasant initially, but it does bring temp down and then they feel more comfortable.

Ds1 h always got really high temps, ds2 can be just as unwell but no where near the same temp.

Do see what NHS direct say though, and only you know how your child is. If they are really not responsive or whatever ignore the bath advice and get to hospital.

According to most sites, fevers above 41.2 or so can cause brain damage. HOWEVER, from what I read, ear thermometers are not reliable above 39.5 or so.

If possible I would retake it under the arm (adding 0.5 degrees to get a core temperature) and, if 41 or above (core), I would call an ambulance or go straight to A&E. Given what you say about how she is generally, I doubt it is that high but better safe than sorry.

What everyone else has said.
That temp is way too high & can lead to other nasties if not brought down asap. DH is a paramedic & would fully expect to be called out to a child with a temp that high. NHS direct will help initially and will recommend what to do. Let us know how you get on eh.

Really think she needs A and E ASAP with a temp that high.

Don't give a tepid bath as it could a febrile convulsion.

Hope she's feeling better soon.

I hope you are on your way to A&E and your dd is okay.

Ok,
it is now 39.9 (because of ibuprofen)

I know that she does get high temps when ill with normal bugs (40 is normal for her when ill)

And she responds well to ibuprofen and calpol
which is why I didn't phone ambulance, and it is now under 40, so I am off to phone out of hours doctor

Why did you ask for advice??

well, Bea,
I have phoned out of hours because you guys all said do something.

if the temp hadn't come down with the ibuprofen, I would have called ambulance, which I would never have done I don't think (not unless other symptons)

Out of hours, have said bring her in. The are happy that it is now 39, but because of 42 earlier they want to see her. We have 1 pm appointment, so will go as soon as dh gets home

Well I am very glad she's getting seen and I hope she's ok. I just am shocked that you wouldn't have called ooh for a child with a temp of 42 if we hasn't told you to.

Our dd is prone to very high temperatures.

We have always been told that 42 degrees can result in permanent brain damage.

Clearly, thermometers are not 100 per cent accurate, but this goes both ways: they may give a reading which is slightly too high or slightly too low and you won't know which way. We have two Braun ear thermometers and usually they give exactly the same reading or virtually the same reading.

I am also glad that your dd is seeing a doctor and hope that she gets better soon. It is good that her temperature has responded to the nurofen and you may want to consider spacing out doses of calpol and nurofen over the 24 hours to avoid temperature spikes.

Bea,
I would have phoned anyway if the temp hadn't come down with meds, I guess mn just made me see it as more urgent.

But, as I tried to say, she was awake, talking, drinking, and just a bit snuggly on the sofa. That is not the profile of a very sick child.

The ooh basically said the same as I said above. She is fine, has a viral infection, as long as her temp responds to meds there is no cause for concern. If her temp doesn't respond to meds, or she develops any other symptons, then bring her up to A&E.

There is a bug around at the moment that causes very high temp.

We spent a week in hospital when she was 2 with temp of over 40. As soon as ibuprofen and calpol wore off it went back to over 40. She was in hospital to be monitored and to test for everything to find out why she had a high temp. But the only actual treatment she had was round the clock alternating calpol and ibuprofen. So I am not blase, about temps, but if that is the treatment and I can give it now at home, I don't necessarily see the need to go to A&E.

Still, 42 was pretty scary

I agree with Bea, the moment the temperature reaches 42 I would definitely go to A&E even if child seems otherwise not too ill.

Up to 41.8, as long as child drinks, is responsive, no breathing issues, no meningitis symptoms, I would keep it home, if temperature responds to medication. But 42 degrees is my cut off point. As said before, it can result in permanent brain damage, not worth the risk in my opinion, comes down to simple physiology.