Help with toddler please

[squiddybear]

3 year old DC has covid and had had a temperature all day. At 6pm it hit 39.8 so we called 111. They advised that normally they'd send us to a walk in but can't due to the covid so we'd get a call from a gp in 2 hours. In that time DC perked up and asked to play and cooled down somewhat. We then got a call from 111 to advise no one could call us and we would get a call in the morning and to call back if DC got worse e.g floppy, fits etc. DC has just woken up and is back to 39.6 they are due the next dose of calpol but refusing to take it no matter what we do so now I'm stuck. He's very sleepy BUT it is well past his bedtime so it's no shock. He's with it and responds to questions etc I just can't get this bloody medicine down!

Please can anyone help

I would force the calpol if they’re due. Aim to the cheek and it’ll slide down. Sometimes easier whilst sleepy rather than fully waking.

Sorry to hear it, have been there and , it's scary and miserable.

In that position I would probably try and force the Calpol down I'm afraid, are there two of you? One to restrain DC and the other to use the syringe. We also have a Calpol refuser, it's hard. And frequent small sips.

Unfortunately as others have said you need to force the calpol in. One hold them and the other squirt it in. Not nice but it’s for their own good.

Thanks both. We've tried forcing but he just spits it back up/chokes and makes himself sick.

He never used to be a refuser! We've got about 3ml down him so I guess that is better than nothing

NHS advice on fever in kids is to give paracetamol if their fever is making them feel poorly. It does make them feel better, but artificially reducing their temperature doesn’t actually make them more well. Paracetamol doesn’t prevent febrile seizures either. And a high fever isn’t necessarily more dangerous than a moderate fever - my oldest always had temps over 39 with viruses, and occasionally over 40, and she never got seriously ill.

Has he been drinking ok? Playing in the daytime, eating a bit, alert and breathing alright?

Can he explain why he doesn’t want the paracetamol? Would he take it mixed with some undiluted squash to mask the taste?

I think if it were me I would be checking on him in the night, or maybe bring him in with me. But there’s nothing really in your post that sounds super worrying to me right now.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/fever-in-children/

Hope he feels better very soon!

Can you phone OOH and ask for paracetamol suppositories? You need to get that paracetamol in to bring his temp down.

Horrid. I hope he is over it quickly

I would second this and also the PP suggesting suppositories. I know that doesn’t help tonight but you might be able to get some tomorrow.
Also I always find Ibuprofen brings their temp down much better than Paracetamol and lasts longer.

The other thing we did with my medicine refuser was gave double strength calpol. The GP prescribed the 6+ calpol and worked out the dose for us based on DC’s weight. So we only needed to give roughly half the amount.

I have mixed into a petit filous in that sort of situation. Or else a quick squirt into the side of the cheek when they are sitting up and he should swallow by reflex. Follow up quickly with something he likes.

DH is going to sleep downstairs with him tonight to keep an eye on him. He's been up and down today. Has been sleepier than usual but also been up and about and wanting to play outside etc. it doesn't help that our house is so hot!!

We've been told that we will get a call back in the morning so guess we will have to wait until then and just keep a close eye.

He's just gone off to sleep so with any luck sleep may help....