To give calpol or not?

[SailorCentral]

DD 5 is currently asleep in bed. On Saturday night she was burning up, had a temp of 40°. She slept most of the morning, then perked up a little Sunday afternoon.

Today she is still asleep in bed. Temp 39.7°. She is coughing a little but otherwise no other symptoms. Half her class is off sick today too.

I’m hearing conflicting advice from my family- give her calpol to fight off the fever. Or let her body do what it needs to (ie sleep and use the fever to fight off the virus). Obviously I’ll call her doctor later if no improvement, but I’m wondering what the MN consensus is on giving calpol for a fever

I would give Calpol to bring down a temp 38+. Body is still fighting the virus but it’s safer to bring the temp down. It’s also helpful to know if a temp isn’t coming down with meds as this can indicate something more serious.

Absolutely no question about it i would give calpol. Why wouldn't you?

I’ve always given my DC calpol to reduce fever, with DS2 calpol never worked, so had nurofen. Other things to try just leaving them in vest and pants and bathe forehead, arms and legs with a Luke warm flannel.

If a child is hot and it's distressing them then they should have fever relief (same as you or me!). There isn't any reason to think this will prolong the illness or make it worse. There are lots of misconceptions around fever.

I would 100% give calpol

If you were that hot with a fever you’d feel rubbish and take paracetamol surely
give the calpol

With that fever absolutely yes.

Personally I have never had a temperature without feeling really poorly - even if it's 'just' a banging headache. I will always take something to bring down the temp and relieve other symptoms. I don't see why it's considered fine to let children go untreated!

Have you considered the risk of febrile convulsions if you don't give Calpol?

I only give calpol if my child is upset; your body needs the fever to fight the infection! It's doing what it needs to do.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/febrile-seizures/

Information on febrile convulsions. For me personally this is why I would be giving calpol for a high temperature like that.

I'm pro giving Calpol for symptoms relief, but there isn't any evidence it prevents febrile convulsions, for what it's worth.

Thanks, she just woke up asking for water so I’ve given her some calpol too. Will check in an hour if her temp has gone down

Yes of course you do - we were on holiday once and DS had an awful virus and we had no calpol! Ended up having a febrile seizure and went to the private clinic doctors where he spent 30 mins with them giving him calpol equilvalent and we took it away with strict instructions to use it

GP told me to give Calpol for any fever over 38.5.

Definitely calpol! I think the 'the body knows what to do' brigade need to rethink. There are countless examples of bodies not being able to heal themselves and I think playing about with the pain levels of children who can't describe them to you is irresponsible.

Yes, I absolutely would give medication (would give Nurofen rather than Calpol for fever, it works better). I would feel dreadful with a fever that high, why would I leave my child like that? It likely won't bring it down to normal when it's that high anyway, it will just relieve it a bit. And as someone else said, it's useful to know if the fever reduces with medication if she gets worse and needs to see a GP.

Humans used to use specific plants to reduce fever, because they knew it was dangerous. Now we're fortunate enough to be able to buy medication from the supermarket. Why would you not?

In the ambulance service we are absolutely not allowed to give paracetamol for fever alone. Only ever for pain/humanitarian reasons if somebody is distressed. So if she's sleeping I wouldn't give it. But fwiw, if awake, I'd give it to my dcs with that temperature. Risk of febrile convulsion is greatly reduced by that age and even then, it's not the temperature but how quickly it spikes which causes it.