How high should a temperature be before you give calpol or other medicines to bring it down?

[PanicPants]

Because I feel as if I'm giving ds calpol/mediced etc ALL the time to ds. He regularly has highish temperatures of 38 degrees plus. I'm always at the gps, and he always has runny nose. He's had 6 courses of antibiotics (he's 16months)and during our last visit to gp just before Christmas he said it's just the way e is, that he's just a snotty child!

Anyway he has got a temperature which has been going up and down over the past week, he's off his food, a bit clingy but other than that he's ok.

I just think I'm giving him too much medicine atm.

bump because I'm a bit worried.

Calpol is fine within the recommended dosage. Would avoid antibiotics - over use can mean they lack effectiveness when really needed.

My dd is 16 months too - I've no idea what her temperature is. She often works herself up and gets hot and bothered. Is your ds teething? - getting back teeth can really make a child clingy and off food.

My feeling is that you should give calpol if there are symptoms that you think it would help with - but that a slightly raised temperature isn't one of those symptome. If your ds is miserable and feverish or has a very high temperature, then definitely calpol, but if he's just a bit feverish, then keep him cool, lots of fluids and give his body a chance to sort it out. I always err on the side of not giving medicine - especially antibiotics.

And to be controversial, have you thought of stopping taking his temperature? If he gets really hot you'll be able to tell when you pick him up - otherwise a bit of benign neglect might be called for!

I only use Calpol if ds has a fever that needs to be brought down. If he just has a raised temperature I leave it. They can carry very high temperatures and still be "walking wounded". I like to know what's happening and a raised (as opposed to high) temperature lets me know that his body is trying to sort something out.

I would be guided by how he is tbh. If his temp is 38 amd he seems quite happy, then dont give anything. If it goes up to 38.5 or above and he seems unwell then give Calpol.
They can have a temp of 38 after a bout of crying or exercise and it does not mean anything other than that they are hot!

i only give Calpol to my 2.3yrs old dd if she is crying/screaming with a illness...or otherwise i wouldnt bother giving her any if she is happy enough. Otherwise it get to the point where her body get used to the med and wont work

is that right everyone? as thats how i think of it

during a telephone call with NHS direct a few months ago I was told that the body needs a raised temperature to deal with the gremlins or germs that are trying to attack the body and by giving Calpol etc to bring the temperature down we are doing more harm than good. A raised temperature that is just going up and up and up needs intervention or advise but a steady 38.5 for example doesn't.
Also, the best advise I was given by a doctor when my first child was just a baby was to treat the child, not the symptoms.
It's held me in good stead over the years.

i would give calpol only if they seem ill as well as a high temp (over 38.5).
my dd's can easily get to 38 if a bit hot - but not necc ill.

Thanks everyone, I am going to stop giving the calpol unless he has a really high temperature and is unwell, and you're right about the body needing a raised temp to sort itself out, hadn't thought about it like that before.

Throw away the thermometer. Then you won't know, then you won't give calpol

I've never had a thermometer, TBH I wouldn't know a normal temp if it hit me in the face. I know a high one though, just by touch the child feels like the are buring up. If they are miserable then, give calpol, if not, don't bother

I know, trouble is he always seems to be unwell. He's off his food, very clingy and wingy and his temp has been over 39.4 this week, but it seems to be going up and down, up and down. One minute he's fine, the next he's poorly again.

Going to leave him be for a while and see if he can sort it out himself - poor wee man!

above 39 you do definitely need to bring it down as if it hits 40 it can trigger fits.

strip him down to his vest
cool water to drink
those fever strips are good (cool gel strips from boots you place on their forehead)
if it doesn't start to come down straight away, then give a dose of calpol and nurofen - you need the combination to get the temperature down quickly.
it it doesn't go below 39 within 30 mins i would go to A&E.

don't mean to alarm, but a couple of months ago my dd2's (14 months old) temperature rose to 40, i thought she was just a bit hot, dh insisted we took her to a&e and they were quite freaked out (calpol suppositories, nurofen dose the whole works).

Thanks Twickersmum - will defienitly bear that in mind. (How awful for you btw).

Will resist giving medication unless temp gets over 38.5, and will go and invest in some of those cooling gel strip thingies.

We already do all the rest with him. Although today he hasn't been too bad, perhaps he's on the mend.