Baby temperature

[Lbee123]

Hiya I'm waiting for a call back from 111 so was hoping for some advice in the meantime.

16 month old has suspected throat infection, temp is difficult to keep down with medicine. He had Calpol at 7pm and it's currently 39.7

He's at his max of 4 Calpol doses today and can only have 1 more ibuprofen. Then that's his lot until 7.30am tomorrow. Should I give it now to bring his temp down or hang fire for call from the doctor? My worry is if I give it now he almost certainly won't last til tomorrow morning but the Calpol obviously isn't working now. My original plan was to give it about 11pm but his temp clearly has other ideas.

Try to bring down his temp in other ways first, make sure he's properly hydrated etc. I'd wait a while if it's his last dose. I hope he feels better asap

I would give the ibuprofen, his temp is high and he will be at risk of potential febrile convulsion. Strip him off and do skin to skin as well, that can still help with bringing his temp down.

How often have you been giving calpol and ibuprofen? I usually alternate every 4hrs so my DD has 8hrs between two doses of the same medicine and that keeps us going through the 24hrs.

When my DD had a temp of 40.8 with a UTI the hospital gave 10ml of calpol and 7.5ml of ibuprofen at the same time so they will have options.

Try to strip him off to his nappy and cool the air in the room (if using a fan do not blow it directly at him and that may have the opposite effect). Lots of fluids.

I would try to hold back the dose unless the fever was so high it made him floppy/shaky/delirious. The fever is part of the body's mechanism for fighting the infection.

Has he seen a doctor for the throat infection and been given antibiotics?

A high fever does not cause febrile convulsions. It's the speed of the temperature going up. Anti-pyretics like calpol and ibuprofen won't prevent and shouldn't be given to prevent seizures.

I'd echo other methods to keep him comfortable. Fluids, loose cotton clothing or stripped off, no duvets, air circulating, ice lollies etc.

Is he in pain or uncomfortable?

Has he had any swabs done from throat to confirm bacteria or viral infection as he may need antibiotics if it's bacterial I would get him checked, as I've been through similar circumstances now my little one takes febrile convulsions with any infections he gets

He's seen out of hours gp last night and nurses at walk in. They all said throat is red but no spots so suspect it's viral tonsillitus. Nurse this morning prescribed antibiotics as she said she suspects it's heading that way anyway and she would prefer to nip it in the bud as soon as she can.

He's getting crankier... not constant crying but constant whining and whimpering. He won't sleep (usually in bed for 7).

He's got a vest and nappy on. He's drinking loads so that's a positive

Just give him 2.5ml so hopefully that might help him feel better while I'm waiting

He had them both around the same time this morning but that was because he was shaking and twitching with a temp of 40.2 after that I gave Calpol 4 hours later and then ibuprofen 2.5 hourd lster and then 2.5 ish again and so on. And even then it hasn't kept his temp down fully lowest has been around 37.9/38

I would ask to get some swabs done to check what viruses as my little one had 3 viruses within his throat at one time and it made him so poorly antibiotics they gave etc wasn't working he needed stronger meds, he's still attending pediatricians for tests as he's getting 4-5 infections a month including pneumonia, in and out off hospital by ambulance due to breathing difficulties, now takes seizures,

I don't know whether to take him to the local childrens a&e? I just don't want to waste their time if I'm being overly precious

What you've just described regarding shaking and twitching is the way my little one woke up out a sleep crying, couldn't stop i knew something was wrong got him to hospital in time before he went complete floppy and blue due to a febrile convulsion, I would strongly recommend him being seen if your not happy with his temperature

A temp of 38 isn't necessarily a worry, it's a sign that he is fighting an illness so unless it came with other symptoms like floppiness and inability to wake him up then I'd not worry.

show even the NHS website states that febrile convulsions are likely linked to the start of a fever and a temp of over 38 degrees. So not sure why you think they aren't linked. Calpol isn't to prevent a seizure it's to lower the temperature to reduce the chance of it.

NICE guidelines: "Antipyretic agents do not prevent febrile convulsions and should not be used specifically for this purpose"

NHS advice: "Research has shown the use of medication to control fever isn't likely to prevent further febrile seizures"

Of course they're linked to fever, hence the name but calpol and ibuprofen won't stop them. They specifically advise not to give meds to prevent seizures because it doesn't work that way. It seems to be the speed at which the temperature rises, not the fever itself.

I can confirm that calpol and ibuprofen do not stop the seizures from occurring as even though my little one has been given them when ill as precaution to try control temp he still had seizures and I have been told that it's due to the type of infections/how quick the temp suddenly rises, it is a frightening experience especially when your 24 month old had to get his clothes cut off him right in front off a full emergency team, to get oxygen into him quickly I wouldn't wish it on anyone

So gp called me back, said that it's clear it's my first child. That as long as his temperature drops with medication it doesn't matter if it shoots back up as it dropping which is reassuring and to just keep alternating meds and I only need to worry if he gets breathless or goes floppy. So now I feel like a pest and a crazy mum

I'm so sorry they made you feel like this. I hate the mistreatment of mums. You need to ignore them and trust your instinct.
Is he better this am with the antibiotics?

As a mum to a ds who has had febrile seizures, I agree with others that Calpol/nurofen do not prevent seizures. In his case, the seizures always happened right at the start of the illness (in one case shortly before his temp went up) but not during the rest of the illness course, even when temps were over 40 degrees, which makes sense with it being the initial burst of response that is the issue. (I should also say that in the vast majority of his illnesses he had no seizure, even with a very high temp, suggesting that only certain bugs were triggers.)

I've found, after a couple of hospital stays, that there can be a lot of hysteria around children's temperatures, with the nurses in particular somewhat obsessed with bringing it down (not just my opinion, the consultant said so!). The latest advice, which all the consultants agree with, is that a fever per se isn't a problem as long as the child is relatively comfortable (bearing in mind that being ill is no fun), and is just the body fighting the infection. You do come across contradictory advice from different HCPs though, which is very confusing for first time parents in particular, and you should never be made to feel a nuisance for getting advice.

Hope your little one feels better soon.

Thanks both. He went up to 41 in the night and the gp didn't even answer my original question as to whether it's okay to give him an extra dose in the night so I did it anyway. He put me off ringing 111 again which is a shame as previously they have always been fantastic and very reassuring.

He isn't quite as hot this morning but he did have the extra meds in the night. Going to ring my own gp shortly and ask their advice on medicating him as the same thing might happen later of I'm alternating every 2 hours.

The gp told me I must not be medicating him correctly if his temp is still reaching above 39 whilst alternating every 2 hours and I need to make sure I do that.

That GP sounds awful. Please don't let his attitude put you off seeking advice.

I think 41 is very high for one so young and I'd be worried about that.

If it is bacterial the antibiotics should make a difference. If you don't see an improvement i think you need to have him seen again.

How's his eating / drinking at the moment?

He seems a bit better at the moment in that his temperature isn't flaring up as much whilst I'm keeping on top of the medication. It still hits 40 and slightly above during the gap when he isn't allowed more (still alternating 2 hourly at the moment)

I spoke to my own GP practice who were lovely and said he thinks an extra dose is safe although he would prefer that I stretch doses out further where possible so 3 hourly and so on. But agreed that until the antibiotics kick in and reduce the fever 2 hourly is okay for now.

He is drinking loads which is good. Eating is hit and miss. He usually eats constantly but he is only really eating one full meal a day

I'll see how he is over the weekend. If he is still getting a temp of 40 I will take him back though... he starts shaking and twitching its awful. He's had 3 full days of antibiotics now so would have thought they'd have made a difference already and if not, will soon?

I would have thought after three days the antibiotics would be working. Maybe it's not bacterial? The shaking and twitching doesn't sound good. I'm not sure I'd leave it the weekend, though i do have health anxiety and am prone to panic unnecessarily.

Antibiotics should have worked by now so take him back tomorrow - you might need a different antibiotic

I would agree with others antibiotics should've started by now, I would get him checked over again

I hope everything has worked out for you!

My foster mum always said to use a cold flannel on there head neck and bottom of feet and wrists. Keep doing it make sure he's stripped give him a cool bath! Use a fan!