Temperature of 40 degrees

[vsnm13]

Hello! I know that I am a very anxious mum and this is my second baby but his temperature is 40 degrees this evening ( he does have a virus) and I'm so worried. I have phoned the 111 service and they said to keep him at home and give meds and fluids which is what I'm doing. He is one year 4 months.
I just wanted to know as other parents ... at what temperature would you panic? Am I being silly to panic? I know other friends of mine who are parents don't panic at all when their kids have temperatures of 40.
Thank you

I dont panic at 40 personally. At 42 I get mildly concerned. What is it you're worried about?

I would be keeping a v.close eye on them at that temp. Signs to look for: lethargic/difficult to wake, dry nappies, skin rashes.

Ultimately, if you feel concerned it's always best to speak to your GP or out of hours service. At this age any HCP would rather you seek reassurance if worried.

<disclaimer - I am not a doctor>

Sorry just saw that you've spoke to 111. I always keep any young child with a high fever close to me overnight so as to keep an eye on things.

Yeah, This is watch super carefully territory for me.

Make sure they're dosed up, they're sipping at a drink, they're comfy, theyre close by.

But you can always, always take them somewhere if you're worried, or call 111. Do t hesitate to to trust your gut.

Hope they're better soon.

Thank you. Yes I am sleeping in the same room as him to keep an ear and eye out on him.
He did have a meningitis scare and was admitted to hospital when he was 6 months. It wasn't thank goodness as the bloods work said so.
I suppose when he now gets a temperature I go into my panic station.
No rash just red skin where he is hot.

Can you bring the temp down with calpol/nurofen? Is he making lots of wet nappies? Breathing ok?

My daughter always reached 40, sometimes 41 when she had a temperature. Just seemed to be a thing for her. 24 hours later and she would be running around shrieking again.

I would sleep in the same room if you can and keep pushing fluids. Try to remember that a fever is the body's immune system doing its thing and isn't a worry in itself. How your child is in themselves is a bigger indicator of illness.

Can you cool him down anymore? Cracking a window slightly, removing all layers, maybe a wet flannel? Is he happily sleeping?

Its normal to feel extra anxious when you’ve had a scare in the past, but it also doesn’t mean you’ve lost your instincts because he was ok last time, so listen to them. If he’s settled and you can bring the temp down a little that’s great, but if you feel something isn’t right and he’s too lethargic etc then don’t be afraid to seek more help.

A temp of 40 in an active toddler running and playing with a runny nose (would follow advice of 111) is different from a temp of 40 in a pale lethargic toddler (if this is the case, take him to A&E).
Other things to look out for is if he is getting the normal amount of wet nappies (if he has few wet nappies it could be a sign he is getting dehydrated) or if he has a rash that doesn’t go away if you press
a glass against it (sign of sepsis - go to A&e).

as a previous poster said, if you are unsure, you could ask for out of hours gp appointment. Calpol and child neurofen can be taken (following the instructions on the packet) to help bring the temperature down.

What?! Mildly concerned at 42? That's dangerously high.

@babysharksb1tch - yes 42 does seem v high. Better to seek medical advice

@YomAsalYomBasal

The number of the temperature isn't really that significant and medics won't be interested in that alone - as the OP discovered. More important is how the child is in themselves (and the speed at which temperature rises if worried about convulsions).
High temps are a protective mechanism and I think we have forgotten that to some extent, as a society we are very quick to jump in with the calpol.

So at a temperature of 40, would you/do you give your child calpol?

If they are grumpy/unwell yes. Running around no.

would be astounded if anyone of any age was running around happy as larry with a temp of 40. 38, sure, their form can vary but not 40.

Hope he's ok OP. My 2yo was at 39.9 overnight when the Calpol wore off, but with Calpol on board she's ok if a little quiet so she'd just having a Cbeebies day with DH. If it wasn't coming down or she had the symptoms listed above we'd be on to the GP or going to A&E.

Tbf none of my children have been running around, playing and have never been happy when they've had a temperature hit 40, and if they had I'd be questioning whether my thermometer was working OK 🙃
As PP said above. 38 or so then yeah, they can still be quite perky. But at 40, it's calpol for me generally.
Hope little ones ok OP.

@Justwingingitox it depends how they are. I try not to interfere with temperatures if possible, it's the body's way of killing off the germs, but if a child is miserable or their behaviour is concerning I do give it.
It's worth me reiterating that no amount of calpol or other fever lowering strategies will prevent a seizure and can in fact cause one. It seems to be convulsions that parents most worry about with a high temperature but that's not exactly how it works.

Treat the child not the temperature. If he's acting fine, eating and drinking fine, but very hot. I wouldn't be concerned. If he's feeling awful, crying, not eat eating not drinking and hard to wake even at a smaller temperature I'd get help

One of my dc is the same currently, temp hasn’t been below 39.5 for a few days (even with meds). I had an ooh appt for him yesterday and they were more interested in how he actually is - I.e sleepy and lethargic or up and about. The doc said 40 & happy, not too much concern but 40 and sleepy - get medical advice.
he also said if it goes on for more than 5 days they’d be concerned but not for less than that.

its easy to be worried though, I know I am.