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General health

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Original poster

Is a HIGH TEMP always a worry?????

22 replies

drosophila · 01/12/2006 21:12

DD is 22 mths and has a viral infection according to DOc today. She has a cough and a runny nose. SHe also has a high temp at the moment (38.6 armpit method ) but doesn't seem too bothered. I have given two 5ml spoons of calpol about 45 mins ago but she still seems pretty hot if a little cooler. She if eating and getting up to mischief but is obviously under the weather looking pale etc.

How worried would you be about temp?

OP posts:

heavenlyghosty · 01/12/2006 21:13

I always worry about temps (we have had two meningitis scares in this house) ... If the calpol doesn't bring the temp down I do infant nurofen and that always does the trick.
Poor DD ... hope she feels better soon.

foxinsocks · 01/12/2006 21:16

No - we were specifically told (by GP and hosp) that it wasn't necessarily the degree of the temperature but how ill the child is 'behaving' e.g. you can have meningitis with a really mild temperature and have minor viral infections with really high temps

you can give nurofen as well as calpol and make sure they aren't wrapped in too many clothes

foxinsocks · 01/12/2006 21:16

but I agree, as a parent, you always feel a temperature is a cause for concern!

christMissybaby · 01/12/2006 21:16

i would be worried about the high temp (happened to us recently). we were advised to strip her to nappy, keep room temp very cool. gave her the calpol but had liquid nurofen at the ready (as recommended by pharmacist).

good luck!

Original poster

drosophila · 01/12/2006 21:19

Hadn't thought of nurofen. I am a bit wary about nurofen as her brother is asthmatic and I sometimes think she may be. You shouldn't have Nurofen if asthmatic.

I guess I could do the old tepid sponge but as I said she is not too bad just what you expect with a cold.

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buktus · 01/12/2006 21:21

my gp always says that the body raises the temp so high to try and kill off the infection, he says its a natural process, but obvious if it goes very high the need to lower it is a must in case a convulsion happens

Original poster

drosophila · 01/12/2006 21:23

HOw do you monitor temp when they are asleep?

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LoucheWoman · 01/12/2006 21:24

call NHS direct. they will ask some Q's then a doc will call you back.

if she seems not too fussed, i wouldnt worry too much, BUT, um, i think that if their temp stays v high there is a risk they can have convulsions and stuff, which is obv not good...

if worried about the asthmatic connection, nurofen is not an option without medical advice...

but if calpol not bringing temp down...

def seek medical advice.

and no matter what they say, if worried again, come on here

Original poster

drosophila · 01/12/2006 21:26

thanks, she is sitting on my lap drawing.

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LoucheWoman · 01/12/2006 21:26

when asleep... i guess you put the themometer under their armpit as usual? have always tended to leave them if asleep... but if youre worried, there are forehead themometers available (obv no good to you now what with the shops being shut n all)

just have a feel of his/her head and if you are worried, then take risk of waking to take temp.

trust instincts.

Original poster

drosophila · 01/12/2006 21:27

I am still bfeeding at night and the close contact made her feel very hot now she is sitting up she feels cooler.

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Original poster

drosophila · 01/12/2006 21:28

but how do I get drawing baby to bed????

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SlightlyMadSanta · 01/12/2006 21:29

We we told by a v good GP (on a Sat morning) that a temperature just indicates that the body is trying to fight infection (bugs don't survive as well at higher temps), the level of the temperature is irrelevant as far as the infection is concerned. A child with a temp of 37.2 could be much more poorly than a child with a temp of 38.8.

However, a high temperature can lead to complications such as febrile convulsions (fitting) which is why it is wise to control it best you can with medicine/stripping/tepid water.

A think 39 is the threshold that is normally quoted for being at risk of convulsions unless there is previous history in which case it would be lower than this.

LoucheWoman · 01/12/2006 21:29

she does sound ok... but ive been told that a temp that stays high, and doesnt respond to calpol must be and brought down asap.

i take on board the thing about it being a natural process, but i would also watch like a hawk for sudden deterioration in condition...

Original poster

drosophila · 01/12/2006 21:31

thanks everyone....I remember once DP was really really ill and his temp was way lower than 37. Never did find out what it was but it was awful.

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foxinsocks · 01/12/2006 21:31

I also think it is also very child dependent. I have one child who, when she gets a temperature, gets it very high straight away - so almost always 40.5C. Whereas her brother, with exactly the same bug, will only get a temp of around 38C (in fact, I can't remember his temp ever going any higher!).

They are funny things temperatures.

LoucheWoman · 01/12/2006 21:32

as for getting her to bed... dunno! next time she yawns, take pens away, say 'ok, bedtime sweetie', and take her to bed. would be wary of letting her get distressed if temp already high, so its rocking and stuff...

take the path of least resistance when theyre ill, is my approach

LoucheWoman · 01/12/2006 21:34

funny things, humans, if you ask me! (child or adult)

foxinsocks · 01/12/2006 21:37

you can also get those ear thermometers dros if you're worried - you can use them while they are sleeping (or just feel their head - you get a feel for when they have a temp)

it may be that you are able to try nurofen at some point - both mine are asthmatic and are fine with it but I can't remember when we tried them on it

mckenzie · 01/12/2006 21:39

I was told the same as Buktus recently by the NHS Direct team (ie the temperature needs to be fairly high to kill off the bug')
According to the guy I spoke to, if you give Neurofen and it goes no higher then it is okay to leave it at that and just monitor. If it goes higher then you need to seek professional advise.
And I was given some advice years ago but a GP
'treat the child, not the symptoms'.

By the sounds of things your DD is ok and coping wiht the temperature (mine was the same last week even though every afternoon/evening her temp went up to the high 39s and low 40s for 4 days, hence the call to NHS direct). She was still her usual self, eating okay, drinking plenty and generally making a nuisance of herself

realjolly · 02/12/2006 10:45

find this link has some good info
A really high temp, over 40 degrees celsius can be dangerous though, as if it gets muhc higher then that, the body can overheat and often a person with such high temps will feel very ill AND will possibly hallucinate!
Saying that, every individual also has a different threshold...i.e. my temp forinstance can easily go up above 39 degree without me feeling necessarily really ill, but some people can really feel ill with a low fever, and this doesn't just depend on what causes this temperature, just how your body can deal with it, iykwim!
personally, if my Kids have 38+ I usually don't worry to much, but es used to get a real high temp , over 39 degrees celsius, when he was a Baby and used to go floppy and limp, which was the point we would take him to see an emergency Doctor and they would usually administer Paracetamol supositories (sp?) as they tend to lower the temp better and quicker! Sorra, am rambling ona bit!

Original poster

drosophila · 02/12/2006 10:58

Much cooler this morning but still with obvious cold symptoms. Thanks for all advice. I was a little more worried than usual as DS was admitted to Hosp on Tuesday night with particularly vicious virus.

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