How to get a temp down

[BeanoNoir]

Hi,

Dd (23 months) has been really hot since in the night last night. She's obviously poorly: runny nose, watery eyes, not wanting to do much, breathing a bit faster than normal and her skin just feels so hot. She's been sipping water and milk but not eating very much. We've got her stripped down to nappy and pants and giving her calpol but her skin just feels so hot still. Is there anything else we should be doing? I felt today she wasn't poorly enough to see a doctor, she just needed looking after, but now I'm doubting myself.

Nurofen is better for high temps and you can actually give both.

Fan, tepid flannel to allow heat to evaporate off the skin as it dries, ice pops, lollies, ice cream, to help rehydration

Now I've written that down I feel awful not taking her to a doctor today, but she honestly seemed better than she does now. I took her to local shops in the pushchair and she sat happily in the charity shop playing with toys. It's the faster breathing (about a breath a second and then pausing for a bit) and the hot skin that worries me a bit but I am a worrier. Should I phone nhs direct?

Is nurofen ibuprofen? We've got calprofen we've just given her.

Do you have a thermometer?

Yes same stuff. Alternate it with cal pol.

She just wants to lie on me, I'm 37 weeks pg and now have a little oven resting on my bump wish I could take her poorliness away it's horrible seeing such a little person suffering.

I've got a digital one I used to use when ttc - is it best to stick it under her armpit as I don't think she'd keep it under her tongue?

Thermometer has been under her armpit for a couple of minutes and says 39.45 and it's still going up slowly. Any idea how long I'm supposed to leave it there? Under the tongue it's a minute, I thought it was longer under the armpit?

Take her temp under her arm, how many breaths a minute is she taking?

Ok, thermometer seems to have stopped at 39.65.

She's just fallen asleep on me so breathing a bit more regular but just counted 50 in a minute

She has only just had the calprofen and had the calpol about 4 hrs ago. Should I wait a bit and take temp again to see if it has gone down?

Right ok I'll take temp again in half hour and ring nhs direct if she seems bad?

Respiratory rate is much much too high, should be about 30 breaths a minute at this age.

Call your OOH asap, how are her lips/nails, bluish?

She is awake again now she didn't sleep for long at all.

Just checked a number of other paediatric sites, her breathing rate is off the scale you need to seek URGENT medical advice or go to A&E

If you cannot urgently speak to an OOH doctor (tell them that breathing rate is 50 breaths a minute, this is far more serious than her high temperature), then call ambulance as she may need oxygen asap.

I've called 111 and told them the breathing and the temp and they're getting an ooh doctor to call. And said if it gets worse before they call to phone 111 again.

Thank you for helping me, I'm glad I started this thread now I was worried I was just fussing.

Don't wait too long please. Personally I would call 999 for ambulance if her breathing rate is still this high as she may need oxygen and is in danger of stopping breathing altogether as her body is having to work much much too hard to get oxygen.

If you have an a&e close by you could go there straight away, but not if it is too far as she may stop breathing and then you need an ambulance pronto.

Whilst waiting take breathing rate. This should be around 30-35 absolute max.

Really if breathing rate is more than 35 then 999

Are u sure its 50 breaths in a minute?

Breathing does increase with a temperature... But shouldnt be that many... Just ring an ambulance

Going to ooh which is next to a and e now. I told the doctor on the phone her breathing rate and they said to do this. I will update when I can. She seems ok just poorly, not distressed but we're getting there quickly now.

Per degree fever it should only increase by a few breaths.

50 breaths per minute is off all scales at this age. It could result in acute respiratory failure, eg stopping to breathe.

I think you need 999 not 111 as this is an emergency

To be more precise, perdegree of fever you would expect respiratory rate to increase by 2breaths.

Given that the high end of the range for respiratory rate for this age group is 30 then add 4 to account for fever, so respiratory rate of 34.

If breathing rate is 50 then urgent medical help.

Hope she's ok, I agree re breathing rate and also temp under arm is usually 1 degree lower than actual temp afaik so 40.5ish which is v high.