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Original poster

QUICK! Temp advice needed!

76 replies

lou33 · 30/04/2004 21:14

Dd2 has been off school ttday with a temp and a sore throat etc,that is not going down with calpol and ibuprofen. She feels really hot, but says she is freezing, and is shivering. I can't remember if I should strip her off or keep her covered. Help!

OP posts:
hercules · 30/04/2004 21:15

Strip her off with a temp. With a temp they often feel cold but need to be cold.
How high is it?

popsycal · 30/04/2004 21:16

i thikn strip....
but will bow out if someone knows better

i would also ring docs - but that is just me

how old is dd2 lou?

Original poster
lou33 · 30/04/2004 21:16

Not worth taking her anywhere yet, but it won't go down. Thanks Hercs

OP posts:
Original poster
lou33 · 30/04/2004 21:17

7 pops. Thanks

OP posts:
tamum · 30/04/2004 21:17

I think at her age she's past any danger of febrile convulsions, isn't she? So my gut feeling is make her comfortable, which sounds as though it would mean keeping her covered. I don't know for sure though, oh help. Sounds like she might need antibiotics if it's no better by tomorrow, doesn't it?

cab · 30/04/2004 21:18

Sponge her down too or give her a tepid bath and if you can't get the temp down phone the out of hours surgery.

hercules · 30/04/2004 21:18

Ice lollies are good for temps and wet cold flannel at thisage. Ds (8) always feel very dramatatic with one when ill even with no temp.
Too much tv i guess.

Lisa78 · 30/04/2004 21:18

Strip lou - doesn't matter that she feels cold, if her temp is up, you want to cool her down

MadameButterfly · 30/04/2004 21:19

sorry, no idea what to do.
I hope she feels better soon though
{{{{{{hugs{}}}}}}}

Original poster
lou33 · 30/04/2004 21:20

Thanks. My instinct was to strip, but just wanted it confirmed. Now for the battle of removing all the layers she has hidden under.....

OP posts:
hercules · 30/04/2004 21:21

You can also give cold bath or shower. If i wre you I'd stick her in a cool shower.
Might be a bit cruel though but would make sure she was awake. I am a bad mum though and would find that funny.

goosey · 30/04/2004 21:21

how much pain-relief have you given her and when? She really should respond a little bit to it.
Tonsillitis gives really rough symptoms so I would get her to the doc asap tomorrow. Any sign of a rash or neck-stiffness/photophobia call immediately otherwise give as much fluid as poss. and don't allow to overheat.
Hope she's better soon.

butterflymum · 30/04/2004 21:34

If you remove clothes to help cool her, you can cover her with a sheet. Cotton is best as it is cooling and absorbent.

If you are going to sponge or bathe her to help reduce the temperature, it is important that you never use cold water as it causes the blood vessels on the surface of the skin to contract and therefore retain heat. Tepid water helps them to dilate and loose heat.

Don't forget to get her to drink plenty too.

Hope she is soon on the mend.....but do follow your instincts and seek medical advice if needs be.

Take care.

butterfly

SofiaAmes · 30/04/2004 22:33

How much ibuprofen are you giving her? Calpol doesn't work at all on my ds and ibuprofen usually only works in larger than normal amounts. Last time he got an ear infection he was 3 (we were in the usa) and had a fever of 104/105 (normal for him), the paediatrician was very reassuring when I told him that 5ml of ibuprofen hadn't worked. He said give him 7.5 and give it more frequently than the 6 hours it says on the bottle. He said that it's pretty hard to overdose a child on it.

Lisa78 · 30/04/2004 22:51

I would never dose a child with more than the recommended limit, nor more frequently than is said

Original poster
lou33 · 01/05/2004 09:36

She's having max dosage. I wouldn't give her more unless the doc told me it was ok, just in case. She's much the same today. I kept her in with me last night to keep an eye on her. Our local gp has stopped doing saturday surgeries now, and dh is away , so I am transportless, and with 4 of them to drag around, I think I will just take a wait and see attitude. Thanks for all your help anyway .

OP posts:
mears · 01/05/2004 09:45

When a child has a high temp but feels shivery best to bathe them in a luke warm bath or sponge down with luke warm water, then keep on some light clothing such as pyjamas. Keep giving alternate doses of nurofen and paracetamol. Those 2 medications can also be given together if the temp is really high.

Stripping completely and using cold water can cause the temperature to go up more for the reasons Butterflymum mentioned. The blood vessels on the surface constrict (peripheral shutdown) which means the heat cannot be lost from the body.

If a temp lasts more than 48 hours then child needs reviewed by a doctor.

Hope she feels better today Lou.

Original poster
lou33 · 01/05/2004 17:30

Temperature has gone up, despite regular calpol/ibuprofen since 2am yesterday. She is stripped and in a cool room. Am dragging fan out now.

OP posts:
Original poster
lou33 · 01/05/2004 17:31

Stripped as in knickers and a light sleeveless top, though she keeps trying to put jumpers on.

OP posts:
hercules · 01/05/2004 17:33

Lou- I would call the doctors now to be honest.

hercules · 01/05/2004 17:34

Although I dont know if that's the best advice or if I actually would. How else is she feeling? Is she alright in herself?

Original poster
lou33 · 01/05/2004 17:38

No she feels really poorly. Her throat is v red. Am going to call nhs direct. Can't get anywhere because dh is away and has our only car, and I don't drive, and have all four kids at home when dd1 gets back in 20 mins.

OP posts:
carla · 01/05/2004 17:39

lou33, I know it's hard, but tell GP you have no way of getting to emergency GP clinic. DD2 had this last year (she was 3 and has always refused Calpol - we used to squirt it in her mouth and she spat it out). Only thing that worked was paracetamol suppositories. Don't know if a 7yod would take that, but do try. I was so shocked to see dd2 shivvering, and didn't know what to do. DD1 put a blanket on her, dear thing, but I had no idea 'till I called GP either. Is there really no-one you could leave them with for half an hour? If not, I'd get them all down to your local church, and get the vicar/priest to do some work. Really feel for you. XXX

hercules · 01/05/2004 17:42

If you speak to gp and they think it is necessary then they'll visit you at home. Seems perfectly reasonable to me.

stace · 01/05/2004 17:42

my ds had temp of 40.3 last week and i was told that if they are alright in themselves ie not delirious or floppy or anything then they can handle really really high temperatures as it is the bodies way of dealing with the illness but speak to nhs direct as soon as you can for them to put your mind at rest!!!