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Original poster

Worried by dt1s high temperatures, have been given conflicting advice.

78 replies

Overrun · 08/10/2007 13:44

I am concerned about my 2 year old dt. He has been really ill since thursday morning, averaging temperatures in the high 39s and 40s. He was seen by a gp on the thursday morning as I thought when he developed a temp, he might have a chest infection because he had had a bad cough for a while at that point.
GP said virus, but thought there may be an ear infection as glands up, but couldn't see because of wax. We were given olive oil drops.
We also got him seen by an out of hours gp yesterday as his temp went up to 40.9 which I thought was really high. I also thought he was getting a bit dehydrated as very thirsty and not weeing a lot. She also said virus, but couldn't see into his ear because of wax (we are giving him the drops)
He does perk up a little bit sometimes, and unfortunately was like this when he was seen yesterday (typical).
But 90% of the time he seems really ill. He has also been sick a few times.
Anyway thats the back ground, heres the question.
One doctor said don't give capol as it stops them fighting the infection and any temp of over 38.5 is high, doesn't matter how high. The other doctor said give capol and was a bit concerned by how long he was having high temps for, and that they were not really coming down very much.
SO WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

OP posts:
goingfor3 · 08/10/2007 13:46

I would give calpol and cool him with a luke warm bath. 40.9 is very high, I would take him back to the dr's.

mumfor1standfinaltime · 08/10/2007 13:47

I would go to A and E. Only because when I was 4 years old I had high temp (104) and my parents took me to hospital as the doctor kept saying it was a virus. I had pnemonia.
Don't want to scaremonger, but only you know your little one.

RubyShivers · 08/10/2007 13:49

i would be alternating calpol and nurofen and strip him down to his nappy
I have never heard anyone being told not to give calpol
TBH as this has been going on for four days and he has new symptoms i would be taking him to A & E especially as you think he may have been dehydrated even before the sickness
with high temps and young babies always err on the side of caution
hope he is ok

belgo · 08/10/2007 13:53

I've heard the advice of only giving calpol for a temperature of over 38.5°C. Above this temperature, you should alternate calpol and children's nurufen (as ruby has said). Also give him small amounts of fluids often.

If his temperature doesn't come down, then like other posters have said, take him to A&E

Original poster
Overrun · 08/10/2007 13:54

Thanks for replies, we did take him to A &E on the advice of NHS nurse yesterday (as she was really worried about him), ( I left that bit out as knew the post was too long and a bit of a saga anyway) Sorry to confuse every one.
It was the very stroppy A &E nurse who said about the capol and temp, and referred us to the out of hours dr. Who also said virus, but did say keep giving the capol and calprofen (which we have been doing).
I think because they have listened to his chest, it can't be chest related, but am worried about ear. He is burning up again now, very pink skin. Particularly on one side of his face and his right ear. Could this suggest infection, or does any one know anything about slapped cheek virus?

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Original poster
Overrun · 08/10/2007 13:56

Also, I have been doing tepid sponge baths, and stripping him off, but nhs nurse said this had now been discredited as an approach.
Its a nightmare when you are worried about your child, and every one has different professional advice.
I am torn between thinking well he has been checked out, and a small part of me that thinks maybe they are missing something

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RubyShivers · 08/10/2007 13:57

a high temp indicates a problem (either a viurs or infection somewhere)
on that basis return to A & E and ask to see a doctor

4 days is a long time to have such a high temp

TwigorTreat · 08/10/2007 13:57

personally I'd go back to A&E

my DD had high temps over a period of 4 days .. the calpl and nurofen (that I was using religiously and would recommend you use too .. how can you not medicate a sick child?) eventually stopped bringing down her temp

a chest x-ray showed she had pneumonia and needed iv anti-biotics .. this wasn't picked up on listening to chest

RubyShivers · 08/10/2007 13:58

stripping off discredited
it really helps - using a tepid water to sponge them down does cool the skin

TwigorTreat · 08/10/2007 13:59

I didn't say that to worry you .. I have just given up thinking that GPs and nurses are anywhere near unfallible

the most accurate diagnosing tool you need, IMHO, is your gut instinct... You're his mother .. do you think there's something wrong?

what's the worst that can happen .. you spend a few hours in A&E again for nothing?

make it clear it has been a number of days and what you are concerned about .. medics will far prefer you keep going back .. things change in a moment with small children

Original poster
Overrun · 08/10/2007 14:00

Thanks Ruby and Twigor, the problem is that professionals do get it wrong don't they. Thats what goes through your mind, or it does mine.
I know this shouldn't stop me, but I felt really humilated by the staff at A&E yesterday, depsite having been told to go by NHS nurse.
I think that I should maybe take him to my gp again though, before going down the A&E route.
His glands are up though, which has got to mean something.

OP posts:
Luella · 08/10/2007 14:01

Definitely alternate Calpol and Neurofen, as this will not only make him feel better but also hopefully stop any febrile convulsions. My GPs always err on the side of caution and advise Calpol/Neurofen for any temperature.

Also if you're worried about him insist on taking him back to the GP/A & E, do not be put off or made to feel you're a neurotic mother. You know him best and if you're worried you should get him seen again. Hope he feels better soon, poor little chap.

madamy · 08/10/2007 14:02

Ditto going to A&E. DD2 had exactly the same experience as Twig - 6 days of high temp, not really relieved by calpol and brufen. saw GP 3 times, ended up in A&E and chext x ray showed pneumonia. She also needed to saty in and have iv antibiotics - the change in her once they started to work was huge!

TwigorTreat · 08/10/2007 14:02

just remember it will be most probably be totally different staff today at A&E and they will be less busy than at weekend

rosealbie · 08/10/2007 14:02

I also wondered about pneumonia only because a friend of mine told me the other day her ds had been ill with similar symptoms as your ds.

It wasn't picked up initially but in the end was quite dense and he need strong antibiotics.

His temp kept spiking at night and he was also vomiting.

LilBloodRedWantsGore · 08/10/2007 14:02

My GP said to cool sponge the head and neck, but not the body as it can be too much for them to cope with when poorly and already upset. Also, use Calpol and Calprofen and strip down to nappy.

Personally, I would take to A&E if not getting support from GP. You know your DT best and know if something is not right!

Original poster
Overrun · 08/10/2007 14:05

He is asleep again which is why I can post like this, while I try and work out what I am going to do.
ON the subject of Capol and Calprofen. We have used this in the past when temps are high. But our own gp basically told me off on thursday for using it, saying it can give ulcers. But I try and give with food, which is sometimes difficult when they are not eating I admit. And only use it in times like these.

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Original poster
Overrun · 08/10/2007 14:07

x posted with a few of you, I'm afraid I am still dithering about it. Also don't want to wake him, but am certainly strongly considering getting him seen again, as I have never seen him so poorly.
Those of you whose children were diagnosed with pneumonia, did the gps/nurses who saw them listen to their chests?

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Niecie · 08/10/2007 14:08

My DS had something similar to this in January. We alternated Calpol and Ibuprofen to a strict timetable (don't forget to write it down as it is easy to get confused). Keep him drinking if possible. The sickness is probably due to the temperature.

My DS had a virus which lasted 10 days but if your DS has a bad cough then I would keep pushing for somebody else to see him. Temperatures tend to come down a bit in the late morning/ early afternoon so if you want somebody to see your DS at his worst avoid going at those times.

Apparently sponging children down has been discredited because it makes them shiver and whilst this makes them appear to be cold it is actually uncomfortable for them and not helping the core temperature.

I hope he feel better soon.

RubyShivers · 08/10/2007 14:08

overrun - as long as you aren't medicating with this stuff all day every day you are fine to use it

FWIW, my GP told me when my DS has a high temp to automatically alternate the calpol and nurofen

i honestly think you should go to A & E

Your GP will probably send you there anyway

rosealbie · 08/10/2007 14:09

I think the gp did listen to my firends ds and it wasn't picked up until he had a chest x-ray.

Hope you get him sorted out soon

TwigorTreat · 08/10/2007 14:11

yes .. DD was in for almost a day whilst they tried to work out what was wrong, including getting a urine sample which isn't easy for an 18 month old ... the thing was her temp would NOT come down

re the calpol / nurofen thing

I will always medicate over 38.5 .. but not under that ... I think it is cruel not to because why shouldn't they have the pain relief .. I would intersperse calpol and nurofen because calpol (paracetomal) stabilises a temp and ibuprofen brings it down (DD also has febrile episodes at 40)

DD's temp however wasn't coming down hence the battery of tests

I strip children off but never do the sponging

HTH

if it was me, which it isn't, I would not hesitate to go back to A&E and totally bypass GP

TwigorTreat · 08/10/2007 14:12

have to say DD did not have a cough, they did listen to her chest .. it is only when having a chest x-ray that they diagnosed pneumonia

madamy · 08/10/2007 14:17

Again - only when dd had chest xray that pneumonia found. Gp had listened to chest all 3 times, and even dr in A&E didn't pick anything up on listening to her chest. he was amazed when xray back as about 2/3 of one lung affected.

Original poster
Overrun · 08/10/2007 14:17

Well its only 2.15 pm now, but its 40.7 again. I think it comes down when they get fresh air (which is a good thing, but possibly why it wasn't as high when they checked him yesterday.
I have taken him for walks in the garden too, and out in the pushchair to get his older brother..
Have spoken to dh, who thinks we should monitor for another day and then if not better maybe do something.
One more question. I am assuming the panting that he is doing sometimes, is because of his temperature, would you agree with that. It does sound a little bit grunt like at its worst, which worries me

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