How high does a temperature have to be before I need to do something?

[Elf1981]

My dd feels boiling hot at the moment. Just taken her temp, it's 38.5 under the arm.
She's seven months old. Seems a bit niggly in herself, what should I do?

Calpol, strip her off, sponge with tepid (NOT cold) water and then take her temp again in half an hour. Read the side of the Calpol to see how much for her age.

thanks. i had striped her off half hour before doing temp.
shall give calpol and test again later.

Might be teeth? Calpol should bring her temp down.

NHS advise that you contact helpline if they are under a year and have a tempreture 0845 4647

do they? I would only contact someone if either the temp didn't go down with calpol, or it hit 40.

LIke www says it could just be teething, or it could be a virus.

Yep page 30 in the nhs book, if temp is over 38c and child is under one contact nhs direct.

she has been teething for a while, had two teeth come through last month but never had a temp before.

though a leaflet I got did say that teething does not cause temperatures despite what I have been told.

it blinkin well does cause a temp, but not always.

best give them a call and put your mind to rest eh!

thats what I thought but when I mentioned it to my HV she snottily told me that a temp should never be put down to teething then stuffed the leaflet in my hand!

dd is playing on the bed, will take her temp in a min.

just checked nhs direct, it does say anything over 38 in babies is classed as a fever.

Elf, if you're worried and feel there's something more then call them. I wouldn't, personally, but I am not you, not there, not a dr, etc etc! IME they veer from Go to A&E to it'll be fine but they are fairly thorough on the phone so you may find it reassuring.

personally I wouldn't worry unduly unless it was edging towards the high 39's and didn't come down with calpol and nurofen ... leaving at least 30 mins after dosing

I would strip down and give calpol / nurofen over 38

but its your baby so up to you

Ring em, go on

stripped her off, calpol'd about half an hour ago, temp now 37.1
Due to go to my ma's in an hour, will head off there when dd awake and keep taking her temp to see how she goes.
Thanks for all the advice
Elf xxxx