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General health

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Original poster

temperature of 40 degrees. anyone else had this? URGENT

22 replies

Detta · 12/04/2006 18:29

DS has been lethargic and listless all day, and just measured his temp which is 40 degrees. should I panic, or just give calpol etc?

OP posts:

waterfalls · 12/04/2006 18:31

Give him medicine, if his temp still does'nt come down, call your out of hours gp for advice, a luke warm bath might help if he is up to it, or a fan faced towards him.

DumbledoresGirl · 12/04/2006 18:32

Give Calpol certainly and strip him down to his underwear to aid cooling. Use tepid water on a flannel and wipe him over with that too. High temperatures don't necessarily mean you should panic. His lethargy and listlessness are simply signs that he had the temperature brewing. Has he any other symptoms? How old is he?

ggglimpopo · 12/04/2006 18:32

Give calpol, strip him off to undies, take his temp again in fifteen minutes. If it has not gone down or you are still very worried, ring nhs direct or your gp.

How old is he and does he have other symptoms. If he is a baby he should see a doctor.

A doctor or nhs is a better bet than mumsnet if you are worried about a sick child.

DumbledoresGirl · 12/04/2006 18:33

LOL at similarity between my post and ggglimpopo's! How many children have we got between us GGG? 9?

ggglimpopo · 12/04/2006 18:34

marthamoo · 12/04/2006 18:34

How old is he?

Children's Nurofen is better for bringing down a temperature than Calpol, if you've got any (or can send someone out to get some). If his temperature won't come down, strip him off and sponge him down with tepid water.

Mine have had temperature this high - and I don't generally panic (the only time I did panic was when ds1 really didn't seem to know where he was/what was going on - but he was better after sponging down).

Only you can really say whether you are very worried or not - and if you are, phone your GP - that's what they're there for

Much sympathy - have been nursing a sick ds2 for the last two days...

marthamoo · 12/04/2006 18:35

(and another pretty much identical post from me - if I add my kids in are we up to 11 ?)

waterfalls · 12/04/2006 18:35

I thought cooling off with a wet flannel was not advised anymore, because it is to shocking for the child, thats what my gp says anyway, was told fanning is much better, even if you have to fan them manually with a piece of card.

marthamoo · 12/04/2006 18:36

I still sponge mine down - tepid, not icy cold water though.

Tinker · 12/04/2006 18:36

Tepid is ok, cold = a shock

FastasleepInABunnySuit · 12/04/2006 18:36

Sponging is fine as long as the water is lukewarm not cold, as cold water makes the body fight to warm itself up. You don't want to make him shiver! I bathed DS in about 36 degree water to cool him down and it worked a treat :)

ggglimpopo · 12/04/2006 18:36

Tepid flannel ok on face and hands but not whole body as can chill a child and have inverse effect.

FastasleepInABunnySuit · 12/04/2006 18:37

I would call your doctor if he's very little though, just to be sure. I had a temp of 41 a while ago and I was pretty ill... but it depends what's wrong with him so I'd check to be on the safe side

DumbledoresGirl · 12/04/2006 18:38

Re the damp flannel thing: You might be right Waterfalls but I have never done the flannel-all over-the-body thing. I just wipe their heads and wrists - which is very cooling.

FastasleepInABunnySuit · 12/04/2006 18:38

Well yeah I wouldn't bathe him in anything less than 36 degrees! you can go a bit colder for sponging... (sorry if that sounded confusing!)

DumbledoresGirl · 12/04/2006 18:38

ROFL ggglimpopo, another similar post!

spacecadet · 12/04/2006 18:42

try giving nurofen(infant) then 4 hours later calpol, then 4 hours after that nurofen, keep alternating it until temp comes down.
sponge all over with tepid water as everyone else has said.

Original poster

Detta · 12/04/2006 18:48

thanks all. feel reassured a bit, as temp has come down half a degree. have phoned NHS direct to be on safe side. he's had high temps before, but not as high as this.

OP posts:

Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 12/04/2006 19:07

All mine run temps of over 40 when ill. If it's completely abnormal for your child then keep a close eye, but remember the temp goes up naturally at this time of day anyway.

chapsmum · 12/04/2006 19:27

glad you have phoned NHS 24
As other posters have said you can use nurofen(special formulation ) from 3 month.
Nurofen is more effective at brining a temp down.
Alternate every three hours. he can hve 4 doses of caplol in 24 hours and 3-4 doses of nurofen, age dependant.
I find that a temperature that persist despite these measures need further treatment from a dr.
Tepid sponging and cool baths are not advised as, to bring the bodys temp down by more that 0.5 degrees every 20 mins can send the body into shock.
But a wet flannel to the head and wrists with a fan on will help to bring the temp down.
MAke she his room is cool and dont worry about him sleeping in just a nappy with a sheet and fan.
You never mentioned his age...

Original poster

Detta · 12/04/2006 19:53

sorry, I was panicking! Have now spoken to nurse and doc via nhs direct, who have put my mind at rest somewhat. My son is 3.6 and has had high temps before, but not quite this high. that said, we have a new and very accurate thermometer so maybe his temp has been this high before and we weren't aware of it! His temp is down to 38.4, still high, but the nurse said it's quite normal for children of his age to have an evening temp of 38. Thanks so much to all of your for your support, advice and very very prompt replies! We're planning on staying up all night in shifts, just to make sure he's ok in his cold bedroom!

OP posts:

Original poster

Detta · 14/04/2006 11:31

Just an update.... DS has tonsillitis. Apparently a very high temp is common with this. Didn't think to look in his throat, as he hadn't complained of it hurting or anything. Now on anti-biotics, so hopefully on the mend. Didn't get to see the Fireman Sam stage show though

OP posts:

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