temp of 39....??

[kitbit]

ds (aged 2.6) has been up since 6am, with a 1hr nap instead of his usual 2 or 2.5hrs. His skin is roasting hot but not sweaty and he had a temp of 39 although after a dose of Calpol it is now hovering between 37.9 and 38.5, he is also dopey but this could be because he really is knackered. He refused all his food (not that unusual, is a very picky eater but could not even be tempted by ice cream) but did have about half a pint of milk before I took him up to bed. He's now in bed with a fan on him.

I'm going to go up every 5-10 mins and take his temp, if it goes up again I'll piggyback a dose of nurofen.

Am I doing enough, should I be worried? If his temp goes up again should I just run him to the doc? I had a funny feeling when he refused his tea that somethng more than pickiness was wrong, although at that time he had no temp. Should I listen to that instinct and take him to the doc anyway right now?

Should add that we are in Spain so no NHS Direct, which is why I am hoping that some wise and experienced mummies are online. Anyone have any thoughts?

It seems a bit early to take him to the docs. If it was me I'd give him the neurofen now and check him after 30 mins-1hr ish to see if his temp has gone down. There is a problem if calpol and neurofen can't get a temp down so then you should take him to the doctor.

Hope he feels better soon poor little chap

OK will do, is it OK to give Calpol and Nurofen so close together or is one of those things that you do when you really have to but shouldn't make a habit?
thanks for the fast reply x

How long ago since the calpol?

about 45 mins now

Oh and my dc never eat when they have temps, I wouldn't worry about that as long as he has had some fluids.

Ideally an hour I was told (when ds had pneumonia) but I'm sure it would be ok now.

he refused his afternoon drink which was very unusual, wondered whether he might have actually got a bit dehydrated as the temp here today was 32º. But he did have the half a pint before I took him up, which was a big relief

OK, when he's this knackered I should be able to get him to have the dose sort of in his sleep, so will take some up now

DD (who is 4yrs) didn't drink more than a couple of spoonfuls in about 20 hrs and was vomiting all day a while ago and she still didn't get dehydrated so try not to worry too much about that. Checks are to look at their tongue and eyes which should be 'wet' and to pinch their skin to watch if it springs back. Also to press on their nails, the colour should come straight back to them.

Good luck getting it down him!

dh has just administered the nurofen with success! will keep an eye. Temp is down a couple of notches, which is good.
Thanks for the tips about checking hydration, didn´t know about the nails and that's one I can do while he's sleeping.

am going upstairs to tidy our room and lurk nearby to keep an eye on him, will pop back with an update later
thanks so much, I really appreciate your help x

kitbit, when he is sleeping, try putting a moist towel on his forehead - rewet and wring after a while. I find it is quite effective in absorbing the heat.

My ds 9 months has just had a bout of exactly as you described. Also went off food completely. It took him about 3 days to kick it - but I am also bf-ing. His temperature tends to soar when he is sleeping.

Hope your ds feels better soon.

his temp seems to be levelling at around 37-37.5 which is still a bit high but he seems settled. Am going to dose him through the night and watch him carefully, but I feel a bit happier that he responded so quickly to the initial doses.
Will keep the towel idea handy too, thanks blueshoes. He'll probably wake in the night (tends to anyway, esp. when ill) so we'll do this while I'm settling him back down.

God, I thought I was quite organised and informed but was all of a sudden feeling a bit flappy. Maybe there's something going round at the moment, we do tend to get the latest british lurgy when the holiday season starts as the germs come over with the holidaymakers and our little ones don't have british antibodies so whatever it is always whips around the village schools and nurseries. sigh

just to say thanks again and let you know that he is sleeping more soundly now, and his temp is down to 36.8, much better. His skin doesn't feel burning hot any more and he's started to sweat which is great, he wasn't sweating before so was obviously not cooling himself down.

I think I'll be spending the night in his room just in case (mind you, last time I slept on the Z bed next to his bed, he tried to climb out of his bed to be sick...and threw up all over me. ah well, sacrifices of motherhood!)...but am feeling much happier now. Might have a poorly little boy tomorrow but at least it doesn't look doctor-worthy any more.

thanks all, have a lovely Sunday x

Glad the temp is down kitbit! One more tip a friend gave me to check their temp is to press your lips to dc's forehead, much more effective than using your hand and less likely to wake them than a thermometer in the ear!
Hope he (and you!) have a good night.

just to let you know....it's CHICKENPOX aaarghhhh!!! He had the jab about a year ago so the spots aren't as severe as normal thankfully, but that's what the fever was. Poor little chap has been prodded and poked by about 8 paediatricians and nurses this morning, and was feeling very grumpy and restless so we went to the port (where there is noooooobody!) and looked at all the boats. He brightened considerably at the thought that there might be pirates but sadly there were none there today. He said he thought they had all gone on holiday as the weather is good. (bless)

anyway, I didn't know pox started with a raging fever...now I do!

x