High temperature, no sponging, fanning, or mixing calpol and nurofen?

[tryingtobemarypoppins]

DS had temperature of 40.6 last night. I phoned NHS direct after a dose of calpol and a dose of nurofen, I had sponged him down and put the fan on. Nothing was working.

They said this was no longer considered to help and in fact could make the temperature rise and not do do it. Just strip him down, stick to just one pain killer and watch and wait. Felt guilty I hadn't known that!

Out of interest if your DC had a temp of 40.6 what would you do? My DH thought I was a bit OTT phoning for advice, but actually I think if I had been on my own I may have taken him to A&E????

I would give max dose of nurofen (seems superior to calpol wrt fever) and wait 45 mins to an hour before checking temp again. If temp not reduced would ring for advice. If temp rising, would go to A&E.

That's what I have read and been told too. The adviser said that sponging and fanning reduces the temperature too quickly and results in shivering making the temperature rise?

I would do the same as pooka. Ibuprofen often seems to bring temps down faster than paracetamol.

Sponging is definitely not advised any longer and a direct fan is not either.

will this link work?

I've never done the sponging or lukewarm bath just because I know how if I have a temperature, I usually also have the shivers and the idea of even a hot shower is hideous - makes me shiver terribly.

Thanl LaDiDaDi a really good link. Thanls Ruby, I felt like I should have known!