High fever, calpol does nothing, vomits even in sight of nurofen

[MissRatherTired]

DD (7) has a fever (flu i think). Gave her usual calpol 6+ earlier when temp was 39, but it kept shooting up. Partner did hour round trip to late night pharmacy for nurofen. Temp was 40.5 by then, nurofen (gagged, "mommy please never give me that again") took it down to 39 for 2 or 3 hours. 5 hours later she was back up to 40.6, but asleep. So I monitored her for about hour till she woke. Prepared another spoon of nurofen... she vomited even just when she saw the stuff poured out on to the spoon. So she's back asleep again having had only a glass of water. I will try the chewable capsules tomorrow but she is very prone to gagging and vomiting in pure revulsion, so they're not likely to work out.
I read somewhere on a U.S. hospital web site that the brain knows when the body gets too too hot... but she has got to 41.1 before and then she had 3 A&E trips in 2 days.
If i lighten her clothes or covers she just shivers and shivers.
How can I get her fever down? X

Try towel soaked in cool water, apply to her forehead

Can she use Nurofen suppositories?

www.nhs.uk/conditions/fever-in-children/

Nhs advice is not to try and cool her down.

If you’re worried you can seek advice from your GP out of hours or 111.

Asked her that, when the pharmacist also suggested them on the phone earlier. Not a chance though :( I wish I'd got some just in case.

We're overseas atm so can't access NHS. Supposed to be flying back tomorrow (well today) evening. Which is looking less likely by the hour.

I've resorted to the cool towel before. Once I do think it helped. The next time it didn't... and I got such a telling off from NHS 111. There's such conflicting advice coming from health professionals from different places / generations.

Can you give her half an ibuprofen tablet?

Or 250g paracetamol? Half an adult tablet. Mine would swallow these with a drink of ribena

Do not give her half of any tablets .Calpol is paracetamol you cannot double up .if it's been more than 4 hours since the calpol give her another dose provided she hasn't had more than 4 in the last 24 hours .Dont put a cold towel on her .Strip her of pjs but leave a light blanket on top of her .If temp goes about 41 you need to go to a and e /see a doctor very soon.Agree that you should try Ibuprofen suppositories in the morning.

The recommended dose of calpol 6+ for a 7 year old is 5ml which is the equivalent of 250mg paracetamol

If her fever is not touched at all with that I'd be tempted to give the equivalent of 7.5ml 6 plus calpol when the next dose comes round.

Do not give her half of any tablets

Of course don't give her paracetamol if she's already had some within 4 hours!!

But if its time for a dose, a half adult tablet is the same as the Calpol or liquid Nurofen dosage and might be easier for her to take. It certainly was for my dcs.

The recommended dose of ibuprofen for a seven year old is 200mg. That’s usually a whole adult tablet depending on the strength.

Just be aware that you can’t use ibuprofen and paracetamol together in children in the same way as for adults.

I’d talk yo the pharmacist again or consider seeing a local doctor if you can’t access proper medical advice any other way.

Don't give ibuprofen and paracetamol together, no, but you can give paracetamol and two hours later give ibuprofen if needed.

Not in children trewser. You need to seek medical advice before treating a fever in that way.

www.nhs.uk/medicines/ibuprofen-for-children/

If you've given your child ibuprofen and they still have a high temperature after 1 hour, you could try paracetamol instead.

If this helps bring down their temperature, carry on giving them paracetamol only (following the instructions that come with the medicine).

Call your doctor if you've tried both paracetamol and ibuprofen and they have not helped.

Do not alternate between paracetamol and ibuprofen to treat a high temperature without advice from a doctor or nurse.

I'd give her Calpol but she's so unwell she'll just puke it, which happens in times like this. She's even gagging on water. May well be A&E for her shortly but will try with suppositories when the pharmacy opens. Her temp has not seemed to go above 40.6 all night so may sleep for 1 hour now and check again.
Thank you all so much for your help x

What country are you in? Honestly, I'd try their medical care system if she can't tolerate any drugs at the moment

P.s. I've alternated paracetamol and nurofen doses a couple of occasions in the past, on doctor's advice. It was a matter of luck and distraction and speed with chocolate whether she kept any down instead of puking it along with antibiotics...

If you've given your child ibuprofen and they still have a high temperature after 1 hour, you could try paracetamol instead

Isn't that what I said?

OP, I've been in your situation more than once or twice and hope your dd feels better soon.

Ireland. Out of hours gp is brilliant. But not open until 6pm. So A&E.

Meant to say I always gave adult tablets at the recommended dose for children as my dd HATED the sickly taste and syrupy feel of the children's preparations.

trewser it wasn’t clear if you were suggesting repeatedly giving paracetamol then two hours later ibuprofen. It’s really important to make sure there’s no confusion.

If that's what I meant that's what I would have said.

I've given completely standard advice, things I have done myself and have been approved by the nurse and gp!

Op you don’t know anything about the medical qualifications (or lack thereof) of the posters on this thread so please stick to advice from the NHS official site or local medical professionals. If there’s anything concerning you about your daughter, A and E wouldn’t be inappropriate, or possibly a GP appointment if you can access one.

I've given completely standard advice, things I have done myself and have been approved by the nurse and gp!

But you’re not a nurse or gp, are you? Your post could easily have been read as “don’t give ibuprofen and paracetamol together but you can give both two hours apart” which is incorrect. You also gave the wrong ibuprofen dose for a seven year old.

Noone has given any advice on this thread that is dodgy! Calm down purpledaisies.

If you read the NHS advice it is basically what's been said on here.

Of course you don't have to give medicine marketed at children when the adult one at the correct dosage works just as well, is cheaper, and a reluctant child might swallow it over a mouthful of sickly gel.