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Fever and medication

13 replies

florenceuk · 11/10/2002 11:23

Poor DS has had a fever for days and days, which turned out to be an ear infection - now has runny ears and is on antibiotics. Anyway, I thought I'd pass on a tip from the doctors on using paracetamol and ibuprofen. Basically, you can give these together (as long as your child is over six months), so that when the effect of one wears out before the next dose is due, you can give the other. Ibuprofen (Nurofen) is every eight hours, paracetamol (Calpol) is every four-six hours (not more than four times a day) - so you could administer ibuprofen first, then calpol, then a double dose for bedtime. This seemed to work really well with bringing down DS's temperature and keeping it down - initially we found the calpol would wear off and we would have an hour of misery until he could have another dose. Still had a rather miserable time (including waiting five hours in A&E with numerous other feverish children) but at least I learnt something useful. Only problem is, now DS has decided he hates syringes so I have to figure out how to get the antibiotics in...

OP posts:
SofiaAmes · 11/10/2002 23:11

Yes, I found that the only thing that would keep my ds's temp down when he had an ear infection was the combination of the ibuprofen and paracetomol. Neither worked on its own. Try letting your ds play with a syringe with water in it in between doses. He may just decide that it's a fun toy and let you dose him up again with it. Also, we always let our ds have a couple of syringes full of water after giving him the medicine. Good luck.

robinw · 12/10/2002 07:49

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floops · 12/10/2002 08:14

Just to add - my ds had recurrent ear infections (which boys are more prone to apparently) I managed to get quite good at recognising the signs before it became too painful and I always took him for antibiotics (everyone has different views I know)as soon as I realised. I believe in comfort for the little ones. I too used a combination of Ibuprofen and paracetamol regularly. I don't know whether it was a coincidence or not but as soon as I started using a shampoo shield (which also stopped the ears becoming water logged during hair washing)and keeping his head out of the water during swimming, the ear infections stopped.

SoupDragon · 12/10/2002 08:23

I think they must be prone to ear infections for the keeping water out to have an effect - my DS1 has swum underwater since 6 months and has never had an ear infection. DS2 has had 1 ear infection at 6 months but nothing since and he swims underwater too.

But, whatever works for your child is definitely the way to go! I've heard cranial osteopathy can help sort out recurrent infections by helping with drainage (yeuk!)

Mo2 · 14/10/2002 21:10

RobinW - do you know if Boots still make that toothpaste - we used to buy it and then recently I haven't been able to find it? Anyone else had any success?

robinw · 14/10/2002 22:34

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Marina · 15/10/2002 08:54

Mo2, they switched to a new form of lid for this product - so they might have been running stocks down of the old packaging. We got some just the other day. I swear by it (well, I often swear when "helping" ds clean his teeth...)

Mo2 · 15/10/2002 10:42

Great - thanks Marina & RobinW - I'd switched to the Boots 'adult' brand when I couldn't find it, but DS2 keeps saying its too minty and he wanted his 'crocodile' toothpaste, at which point I said that I thought the shop had 'stopped making it'. Funnily, the first thing he said to me the following morning was "Mummy I'm very cross - that shop has stopped making my crocodile toothpaste" I'll have to go on a hunt to Boots stores further afield now. Incidently, he hasn't had any infections since we started using it... coinicidence or not, I don't know?

robinw · 15/10/2002 22:44

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Marina · 16/10/2002 09:49

Thanks for the tip-off Robinw - ds is one of those children who has not had a bacterial infection of any sort since switching to that toothpaste a year and a half ago.
What is it with Boots withdrawing all their ranges that anyone wants to buy? I hear a rumour that they are phasing out what used to be charming and inexpensive baby and toddler clothes. Boo, hiss.

Batters · 16/10/2002 10:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

florenceuk · 16/10/2002 11:30

Thanks. DS is only 11mths, so can't use that toothpaste, but I discovered that Dentinox (?) teething gel has xylitol in it, also those homeopathic teething granules. May explain why DS likes those as xylitol is an artificial sweetener isn't it?

On the ear infection, his ears are still running, does anybody know when this is likely to stop? He is however much more cheerful, and has decided he loves the antibiotic and the syringe. However I accidentally shook the bottle without the lid on (yellow explosion over Mum and kitchen) and will need to get some more to finish the course...

OP posts:
Mo2 · 16/10/2002 15:41

Hurrah - have just come back from Boots and they now have lots of Crocodile toothpaste in stock! Must have been a temporary blip in stocks...

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