DS1 has a temp of 39.7 - how bad is that? Is Calpol enough?

[MegaLegs]

He has been off school, was isck first thing but not again since, he is so hot temp is 39.7. Have just given him Calpol. He is quiet but "with it", slightly glassy eyed and lying on the sofa.

DS2 and DS4 also had sickness thing but seem to have recovered - DS2 was sick alot so I think he got rid of the bug.

bugger have scared myself now

if his temp isn't coming down with calpol alone you can give ibuprofen as well and that should bring it down. If it doesn't start to come down within an hour then call your gp.

This was what a gp told me when my ds had a temp of 40 and I thought he had menangitis because he had cold extremities.

Thanks wannabe - will take his tyemp again in a bit. I think he sensed I was a bit panicky and it made him cry but he is ok again now. He's more pissed off that he can't find the remote and the tv is stuck on Bratz

That is high.

Also try sponging him with lukewarm water.

Oh bum - he has just been really sick, brought up all the calpol. I have sponged him down and he seems cooler to touch.

It's gone down - 38.9.

megalegs, you wont be able to give him more calpol but if you can get some infant ibruprofen in him then do.

The current advise is not to cold sponge, but warm bath and air dry, cold sponging only results in a short term drop in temperature whereas the bath brings the blood to the surface as the body tries to cool itself in response to the environment so its reduces temp quickly. Cool sponging makes the body think it has to heat itself up and this brings the temp back up quicker, if that makes any sense.

I would take him to the doctors though if you cannot control with medication, is he drinking plenty?

Don't sponge again, not recommended any more! Warm/hottish bath and then dry naturally.

If cool water used, body will try to warm itself. If warm water used, body will try to cool itself - sending blood outwards rather than keeping it in the core iyswim.

Tends to reduce temp if you use warm water.

Sorry x posts - LEM explained that to me yesterday!!!

as lucy ellen says you can give up to the maximum of calpol and ibrufen (at correct intervals) which my GP recommends with temperture and lukewarm bath. I tend to give calpol then 3 hrs later ibrufen etc. I find ibrfen better at bringing temp down so you might want to try him on thts sooner ratehr than later.

SweetFA, but you explained it better than i did

Agree that Nurofen is much more effective.

I'm obviously out of date with my sponging down info . Whatever, I find it often makes the child feel better if they are burning up.

Oh and I was told quite recently that Drs. are only concerned if the temp is 39 or above in an older child.

Good luck, hope he gets better soon.

DS2 has kicked off again now it's a vomiting relay. He also has tummy cramp

DS1 is cooler still. I won't give any more Calpol (DH is bringing home some more)will give Ibruprofen in a bit,

My poor boys - we are rubbish at being ill in this house - and now DH has snapped at me when I asked him not to be late. (He's manically trying to clear up someones garden before it gets dark)

Oh no!

Thanks everyone - could you tell I was in a panic? Everything has calmed down again now, and ds3 and ds4 want some tea!!

oh dear megalegs, it does sound like a rough day at the ranch, i hope everyone gets better soon

Mercy, i think the jury is out on the temp reduction techniques. I was told the bath and air dry by a nurse on our out of hours centre when DD was about 11m and battling to reduce her temp. I have since been told to sponge by NHS direct. I think the bath method is very new, but they chop and change so much dont they. Like you say, in your experience the sponging works for you so go with it. Also, its not exactly that easy to bath a poorly child in the middle of the night (although i gave DD three baths in one night once when she was poorly). I hope you dont think i was criticizing I found the theory behind the bath and air dry method made alot of sense at the physiological level though.

Phew - all sleeping. My Aunt, whom we saw on Sunday, has phoned to see how we were as her two boys and husband have had same as my boys, Noro (?) Virus apparently, sweeping the South Coast (she likes to be dramatic does my Aunty) she advises bacterial wipes to clean my doorknobs.

Quick look on here, (yeah right) and then I should really get some sleep as I feel it might be a busy night.