Conflicting advice re child's temp

[littleboyblue]

Brief history, ds1, 20 months, has had high temp for a week. Last night it reached 41.8, called ooh doc who came round and said keep him on 3 hourly alternate calpol and nurofen and to avoid cold weather, which I understood to mean keep him indoors.
Ds1 has a farm trip planned with his play group for wednesday which I have just cancelled because dr said he has viral infection. We were planning on visiting SIL on thursday for weekend in seaside town. I just spoke to another ooh doc who told me if he seems well on the day then he can go weds and can also go away for weekend as planned and that I should only give meds if temp is high, not 3 hourly. He is well in himself and is plying as normal, so should I give meds regular like advised last night for next few days or just when temp climbs like just told now?
And would you allow your dc's to go on weds? I'll be there too, so can bring him home if he becomes unwell......
And would you still take him away on thurs for weekend?
I'm thinking he's fine and meds are controlling his temp and there's obviously a hospital somewhwere near SIL so I would just do what I would at home if he became ill.
Am I being irresponsible for thinking he can still go to these things? Sholud I cancel everything and keep him in?

Bump.
Anyone? Please?

Ds used to regularly suffer from high temps which seemed to stop almost as suddenly as they started, so can understand your worries.

Is his temperature rising noticably between 3 hour med doses? We used to use the ear thermometer and therefore monitored temp every hour when times were bad! When temp was steadily rising we kept up regular meds but cut down when temp increase steadied. (Always found nurofen worked better than calpol)

As regards Days out I'd wait and see - at this age they recover so quickly he may be better by then. Keep a regular eye on temp and how DS is feeling

Thanx cuppa. His temp an hour ago was 35.9 so the constant meds have been controlling it. I think I'll do what second doc said and wait to see if temp climbs again. I have just bought an in ear therm so have been checking it every hour or so. I'd really like him to go on wednesday, I may just see how he is on the morning

sounds like he's on the mend - hope you can go and have a good time on wednesday

He will probably be fine by midweek.

Thanx. I hope so. My dad is supposed to be coming over to mine to have ds2 (9 weeks) for the day while I go with ds1 to this farm trip, but he's worrying me telling me I shouldn't be takings ds1 out at all anywhere for at least a week, he wouldn't have taken me out blah blah blah, so is just making me feel again, that I am a crap mum and am possibly putting ds1's health at risk to fit my convenience. He didn't say that, but that's what it feels like, and I'm not. I think he's fine and will be fine, and I can always take a bottle of calpol with me so if his temp gets high when we're out, I can give meds like I would at home. It just might mean ds will be a bit grumpy,but wouldn't be different if he was indoors....agree? Or is my dad right?

How is DS1 today?

I think staying in for another week is a bit OTT - so much depends on how steady temp is keeping.

Sorry for coming in at such a late point, but I have only just joined Mumsnet.

I have 2 kids, 2 and 4, and always use natural methods for getting their temp down when they are ill. If you are interested I would be happy to offer advice.

Using Calpol or nurofen will repress what the body is trying to do in dealing with the illness, getting a temp is a very healthy way to deal with illness and stopping this process can cause allergies at a later date. I have learnt this the hard way!

I always rest the children for 24 hours after they have finished running a temperature. Lowering the temperature artificially doesn't count (with calpol). You have to let their little bodies have a chance to recuperate. The body uses all its energy to get well so should be resting.

Probably not what you wanted to hear, but hope this helps.

cuppa Ds1 is absolutely fine, thank you for checking. I gave him a dose of nurofen at 1pm on monday afternoon and his temp has been perfect since then and he is back to his old self. I have been checking his temp every couple of hours and he's been fine.

We went on our trip today and he had a wonderful time which was great, I think he needed it.

Naturally Thanks for advice, I have heard that the reason they get the fever is the body's way of fighting infections and whatever else. I did speak to the doctor about the reasons for lowering temperatures artificially and was told it was to prevent them getting so hot they go into convulsions. Thankfully the calpol and nurofen worked and he was fine from monday.
Out of curiosity, how do you treat their temps then? If there is something I can do that does not involve giving these meds, I would def be interested in hearing about it, at least it gives me another option doesn't it?