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.

Respiratory rate is one of the vital observations, much more important than temperature or whether child seems distressed (child may no longer have energy to show distress)

I have told both 111 and the doctor on the phone that I counted 50-60 breaths per minute (in then out = 1 breath) and they didn't seem as concerned. She has had pneumonia before and breathing went fast then too and they said because of this just go in to check she's ok. We are v close to a and e and I'm in the back of the car with her now while dh drives.

If I don't come back for a while I will update I promise.

I hope you get their soon and that she is seen straight away. Do kick up a fuss if necessary. You don't want to risk that she needs to be intubated if it can be avoided. Respiratory rate of 60 can result in damage as it indicates that she is not managing to get enough oxygen. Do tell that she has history of pneumonia so X ray can be taken upon arrival

Don't worry about updating.

Hope she is going to be okay.

Hi, we've seen a doctor and they've checked her all over and listened carefully to her lungs because of the pneumonia. Said it's just a bad virus and to keep her fluids up and reg paracetamol and ibuprofen and monitor her, if she gets worse to go back but she should start feeling a bit better in a day or so.

Thank you all of you for replying on this thread. I always know I can come to mn if I'm unsure of anything. Glad my mind's been put at rest and I can focus on helping her feel better.

Hmmm are you still there? I'd be asking for a chest x ray

Hope the doctor checked her SATS levels. Did they measure her breathing. I am sorry but I have very bad experiences with doctors failing to diagnose life threatening pneumonia through listening. Some doctors can indeed do this but it is very hit and miss. So keep a very close eye on her and especially her breathing rate. Also if lips/nails become bluish then that is another danger sign.

To check oxygen level google capillary refill test also sometimes referred to as nailbed test.

You push hard with your thumb on the nailbed ofmone of her fingers and move your thumb whilst pushing to the end of her fingertip. Her nail should go white but within 2 seconds of you letting go the nail should be pink again.

I hope she gets better soon.

I agree re pneumonia not always being detectable with stethoscope, ds was only diagnosed with an x ray

By the way my dc was under the care of a top Great Ormond street respiratory consultant who said he always relied on x-rays as you miss too many cases when you rely on listening ...

Don't want to scare you but also want to make sure that you don't have a false sense of security.

The doctor you saw did not diagnose pneumonia, but this does not mean that she does not have pneumonia.

Another danger sign is high fever which does not significantly respond to alternated calpol (eg paracetamol) and calprofen (eg ibuprofen). Fever which remains high day AND night is also something to take note off.

I will keep monitoring her. She had a higher dose of paracetamol at the hospital and since being home it's like she's suddenly woken up, seeming lots better, chatting away. It doesn't seem like when she had pneumonia before, but I am taking on board what you say and will be checking her throughout the night.

I'm sorry to hear you've had bad experiences with a serious illness getting missed. I hope things are ok now.

If I feel like things aren't right here I won't hesitate to go back to ooh, that's what they said to do anyway. Her breathing's calmed loads since this last dose of paracetamol too. She was all drowsy just wanting to cuddle before and now I actually want her to sleep she's talking nineteen to the dozen, not complaining at all though I'm happy to see it

Just counted her breathing now she's asleep. 29 in a minute, that's much better.

Glad she is much better and her breathing rate is now within normal range.

Hopefully she is over the worst.