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Original poster

I can't get my ds temp below 39.5????

53 replies

mixedemotions123 · 28/03/2006 20:45

My ds has got a temperature of 105 using braun electronic thermometer, and 39.5 with one under his arm. should i be ringing the doctor???

OP posts:
rummum · 28/03/2006 20:47

have you given him calpol or anything yet as these take a while to work... I'd strip him off to his pants and open the window to let the cool air in... put a cold flannel on his head...

BTW how old is he...

dinny · 28/03/2006 20:47

if you can't bring it down, then I would ring, yes. have you tried all the usual tricks? Calpol, Nurofen, no clothes, tepid sponging?

how old is he and how does he seem in himself? is he poorly with a virus?

rummum · 28/03/2006 20:48

ice lolly

WigWamBam · 28/03/2006 20:50

How old is he? If he's a baby then yes, I would ring the doctor or NHS for advice. I'd also get advice if he has other symptoms that are causing concern.

Otherwise you could give calpol and ibuprofen alternately, and strip him off and sponge him down with tepid water. Don't use cold, and don't try to cook him down too much.

Piffle · 28/03/2006 20:50

WE have been thrugh this with dd, we also could not get hers down, calpol and ibuprofen, windows open, strip off and cool forhead and face with tepid wipe.
It is not recommended anymore to tepid sponge other parts of the body.
To be honest, if the child is coping, sleeping and responsive, thres not a lot they do that you cannot do at home.
PS dd has tonsilitis so get him to the doctor and find out what is causing the high temp maybe?
Do you have after hours number?

Piffle · 28/03/2006 20:50

Ps dd is 3

rickman · 28/03/2006 20:54

My dd was ill last week and when I got her to the doctors her temp was 40.?, they sent her to hospital as she looked dehydrated and was difficult to rouse. After spending most of the night there we got sent home, so I would say ring your doc but they are unlikely to do anything unless your ds seems to be unable to cope with the high temp.

Original poster
mixedemotions123 · 28/03/2006 20:55

ds is 7. Igave him calpol @ 7.30 and also nurofen(the nurofen came straight back up). He is definatley not right. I took him to the drs earlier today, they checked his throat and ears, and said prob viral. I don't usually worry too much, but it doesn't seem to be going down. We haven't stripped him as he is shivering, but i have been putting a cold flannel on his head. I am trying to get through to nhs direct at the minute.

OP posts:
Piffle · 28/03/2006 20:59

you have to strip him to be honest lay a fine sheet over him the weight might help him feel less shivery.
Has he been drinking anything? Keeping water/joice down ok?
If he isn;t drinking and bringing up everything, dehydration might be a prob
You could try nhs direct but the last few days, they have Been terribly busy.

rickman · 28/03/2006 21:00

My friend who is a nurse, said that when you are shivering when you have a temp, it is the body's way of trying to cool itself down. She says you really should strip them off anyway. It might help.

If you are concerned and 4 hourly calpol and nurofen aren't working, then I'd get another opinion. My dd had a chest infection which had been missed at the doctors but was picked up on an xray.

Hope he is feeling better soon.

Twiglett · 28/03/2006 21:02

my DD had a temp we couldn't get down with calpol / nurofen when she was about 18 months .. turned out to be pneumonia (no coughing diagnosed by x-ray)

Twiglett · 28/03/2006 21:03

meaning .. if you can't get his temp down .. get some help

Original poster
mixedemotions123 · 28/03/2006 21:33

thanks everyone. I have just spoken to out of hours gp, they said not to rely on ear thermometer, and to make sure it doesn't go above 40 on the underarm one. He has fallen asleep on the sofa at the mo. Have checked him over as much as I can, no sign of rash,etc. The doctor said that they could give him a nurofen suppository to get temp down. Ds is autistic, and there is no way on this earth he would let them do that bless him. I said that i would give it another hour and see if it goes down using all the other methods. Thanks again for your help.

OP posts:
Original poster
mixedemotions123 · 28/03/2006 21:33

thanks everyone. I have just spoken to out of hours gp, they said not to rely on ear thermometer, and to make sure it doesn't go above 40 on the underarm one. He has fallen asleep on the sofa at the mo. Have checked him over as much as I can, no sign of rash,etc. The doctor said that they could give him a nurofen suppository to get temp down. Ds is autistic, and there is no way on this earth he would let them do that bless him. I said that i would give it another hour and see if it goes down using all the other methods. Thanks again for your help.

OP posts:
Original poster
mixedemotions123 · 28/03/2006 21:34

thanks everyone. I have just spoken to out of hours gp, they said not to rely on ear thermometer, and to make sure it doesn't go above 40 on the underarm one. He has fallen asleep on the sofa at the mo. Have checked him over as much as I can, no sign of rash,etc. The doctor said that they could give him a nurofen suppository to get temp down. Ds is autistic, and there is no way on this earth he would let them do that bless him. I said that i would give it another hour and see if it goes down using all the other methods. Thanks again for your help.

OP posts:
Original poster
mixedemotions123 · 28/03/2006 21:36

thanks everyone. I have just spoken to out of hours gp, they said not to rely on ear thermometer, and to make sure it doesn't go above 40 on the underarm one. He has fallen asleep on the sofa at the mo. Have checked him over as much as I can, no sign of rash,etc. The doctor said that they could give him a nurofen suppository to get temp down. Ds is autistic, and there is no way on this earth he would let them do that bless him. I said that i would give it another hour and see if it goes down using all the other methods. Thanks again for your help.

OP posts:
Original poster
mixedemotions123 · 28/03/2006 21:37

oh god sorry Blush I don't know what happened there.

OP posts:
Squarer · 28/03/2006 22:18

ME - my DS has just got out of hospital after high temp - there is certainly a virus doing the rounds as there were 3 of us int he short stay childrens ward with the same.

The shaking you describe could be what they call "rigour" and is associated with high temp. Ibuprofen (Nurofen) brought DS's temp down the quickest. Get his clothes off, but make sure he then doesn't get cold (shivering through being cold increases temperature). Get a fan going if you have one, but don't point directly at him for the above reason.

Hope all goes well... let us know how he is

Original poster
mixedemotions123 · 29/03/2006 08:56

squarer, I hope your ds is feeling a lot better now. Ds has been asleep since 10.00 last night, he isn't feeling too hot at the moment, but it is def not like him to still be in bed. I am sure it is only a virus as there is so much of it around. I just hate it when his temp goes so high. He had meng when he was a baby, and the temp always starts the old alarm bells ringing, but i am sure he will be ok. Many many thanks.Smile

OP posts:
singersgirl · 29/03/2006 10:31

Mine have both had a nasty viral fluey thing with very high temperature causing shaking in the night, exhaustion and loss of appetite. Took DS1 to docs to check for secondary infection, but he was fine - lasted 5 days. DS2 is on day 5 at the moment.

Hope your son feels better soon.

wabbitintheheadlamps · 29/03/2006 10:58

I got back from weekend in hospital with ds (6months) on Mon pm... viral gastroenteritis.

Definitely doing the rounds but I was glad they carried out tests to rule out bacterial infections

I took ds straight to a&e when I couldn't bring his temp down over a period of 12 hours

Go with your gut instinct - the worst that can possibly happen is that you'll come home reassured that the consultant paediatrician is not concerned about your ds's progression through his illness. HTH

Squarer · 29/03/2006 11:24

ME - temperatures are frightening things for little ones aren't they (even when they are bigger lo's). I'll bet it did set some alarm bells ringing with you.

My DS is sleeping in til 11 since getting out of hospital (there's an evil part of me likes this virus) and having anything up to 5 hour afternoon naps. Seems like it is the bodies way of shaking this virus, and your DS is doing a good job!

Would seriously recommend Nurofen syrup if you haven't used it already - it was the only thing that touched my sons temp, and worked within half an hour.

Look out for a viral rash. I took DS to doctors yesterday, as though he had had a pinprick type rash throughout, it developed into big purply blotchy spots yesterday. This rang some bells with me, as you can imagine. They were just part of the virus though, and have gone today.

I hope your DS is feeling a whole lot better soon! As Wabbit said, go with your instincts. (I didn't have to think - I had no idea, but the doctors think my son had either had a febrile fit and I had found him afterwards, or he was about to go into one and I found him before).

Original poster
mixedemotions123 · 29/03/2006 15:54

the febrile convulsions are one of my main worries. He had 7 when he had meningitis, his temp then was 104+, so it is a fine line. He got up at 12.00 looking a bit less flushed, suddenly started shivering again at 3.00, temp 103.6. I tried the nurofen last night but he brought it straight back. The problem with him being slightly autistic is adding to it as he WILL NOT let me go anywhere near him with it now, he's terrified of it. I will just have to try to control it with calpol. The doctor said yesterday that he could develop a rash, but at this stage, the first sign of one and I will take him straight to A&E. I am the first one to say that you can't take chances with children, but I also admit that I probably worry too much.

OP posts:
Chapsmum · 29/03/2006 15:58

hmmm if he is seven he could potentially have half of a nurofen meltlet, will investigate further and get back to you.
Additionally you could dip a lolly pop in nurofen and let him suck it off. Even if you can rub it in his gums it will be absorbed.

two mins...

Chapsmum · 29/03/2006 16:08

the are not suitable for children under 12, but presumably this is because 200mg is too high a dose. half of this would be suitable for a 7yo. check with your gp if in doubt.