Urgent question - high fever but shivering

[hillbilly]

DS (11m) has a high temp - 39 degrees but is also shivering. He has had calpol, I have also been sponging him down. What do I do - put clothes on him to stop the shivering or leave him in his nappy to try and reduce the fever?

Have been to doctor's already today and it is a teething issue.

Just keep an eye on him if he doens't respond to paracetemol and ibruprofen, looks lethargic or screaming inconsolaby take him to get checked out.

guys,

I do not want to be alarmist here but cool hands and feet ?

Please keep a close eye on him to make sure he is rseponding to meds.

I'm sure if he is eating and drinking, and is happy in himself, then it's probably just a virus.

Sometimes i think we know too much.

NHS Directs webpage still give this advice

"Fevers are fairly common in children. They are usually mild, but it is important to know what to do if your child gets one.

How to treat a fever

Keep your child cool by:
Gently sponging them with lukewarm (not cold) water and letting it dry on their skin; and
Making sure they don't have too many layers of clothes or blankets on.
Give them plenty of cool drinks.
Give them paracetamol liquid, such as Calpol, Disprol or Medinol. Read the instructions on the bottle carefully and give your child the correct dose for their age. You may need to give them a second dose four to six hours later"

I'm curious if this really isn't recommended anymore as generally this is how I would treat a fever in my children?

liaghen - what do you mean when you say "I do not want to be alarmist here but cool hands and feet ?"?

it really isn't specifically recommended any more (DD has febrile episodes still at 4.5)

I've never done it

I don't medicate under 38.5 and then start on calpol or nurofen

at around 39.5 I start to alternate calpol and nurofen and use a fan not directed at her

always strip her off, sometimes cover with light sheet

sometimes take her out in the garden

have never sponged due to paed's recommendation but I know some people do

I think she means that one of the symptoms of meningitis is cold hands and feet but when children have a temp anyway their hands and feet are often cooler.

The current advice is, or was when my DD had a high temp - bath, as hot as is safe for a few minutes - then air dry in a warm but not hot room. This is because, the body will start to try and reduce the temp in a warm bath, the blood will come to the surface and cool off. Evaporation of the water whilst drying will cool down - this is much more effective and quicker than sponging. The reason for this is the body will automatically try and heat itself if you put tepid water on it and works against what you are trying to do. This really works.

My DD has had temp of 40 and this was the advice we were given, that and alternating calpol/ibruprofen. DD used to really spike when teething, so for her to have a temp of 39 wouldn't worry me too much unless there are other concerns.

The problem with meningitis is that alot of the symptoms are experienced with a high temp anyway. So it is a worry of course. If your gut instinct is that of concern then get some medical advice. I would be reassured that he seems OK in himself though.

Cool hands and feet are classic signs of a high temp and not necessarily sinister.
We always were told a warm bath but not cold; the same reasons as expat says- body reduces the temp, and it also is quite refreshing.
If they are up to bath too, it's a sign that they aren't too floppy to respond and it distracts them.

Thanks everyone!

Well when my dh arrived home at 7pm we decided that it would be better to go to A&E sooner rather than later, as trying to find a sitter for DD (3) in the middle of the night might be dificult so managed to get a friend over at 7.30pm.

They were fantastic at children's A&E (they never make you feel like it's been a wasted journey), and also noticed that his breathing was a little laboured. They kept us in until around 10.30pm to monitor him and gave a mild inhaler (which we have not had to use since.

Since then he temp has still been up and dowm and he is still under the weather but definitely getting better.

So thanks again everyone.

Glad he's better hillbilly.

That's good news to hear hillbilly.