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Original poster

TEMP OF 40 in 18mth old for 2 days...

20 replies

yellowbean · 24/04/2008 18:30

dd has had temp of 40 for 2 days, comes down to 38 with calpol etc, have taken her to doc, no obvious sign of infection, is generally okay tho not eating, and sleep disturbed.... when should i get worried? what could cause this?

OP posts:

Original poster

yellowbean · 24/04/2008 18:36

anyone? i've not had a child with an unexplained temp that high before?

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foxythesnowfox · 24/04/2008 18:39

My Lo is prone to high temps, she's had a couple lately followed by a rash, so nothing more than a virus.

I find ibuprofen (Nurofen) more effective that Calpol. If the high temperature isn't going down, you can use them both as Nurofen isn't paracetemol based. But do bear in mind that the temperature is her body fighting infection anyway.

foxythesnowfox · 24/04/2008 18:40

Oh, and plenty of fluids if she's off her food too.

Original poster

yellowbean · 24/04/2008 18:41

so i shouldnt worry yet? just seems like long time to be that high

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foxinsocks · 24/04/2008 18:41

mine also get those high temps (used to freak me out when they were little)...I would take her back if you are still worried.

Did they check for a urine infection? If it carries on going, it's worth ruling that out otherwise there are lots of odd viruses about at the mo.

SenoraPostrophe · 24/04/2008 18:42

a temp of 40 isn't unusual, as long as it does come down with nurofen/calpol. It'll be a virus I imagine. last time ds had one, the doc said to bring him in after 5 days if that's a help.

Psychomum5 · 24/04/2008 18:43

a little one with a temp that high for that long needs to be seen IMO.

my DD3 and DS1 had unexplained temps like that and it turned out to be pneumonia!

not saying that is the cause for your LO, BUT, go to docs I reckon!

good luck

Tiggiwinkle · 24/04/2008 18:43

I would second checking for urine infection if there is no other sign of infection (one of my DSs had one whe he was two, with no other signs than high temp and lethargy).

Original poster

yellowbean · 24/04/2008 18:44

they didnt do a urine sample. i'm prob worrying too much as i have no faith in the doc i saw....has misdiagnose my elder daughter twice, with serious infections.

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Original poster

yellowbean · 24/04/2008 18:47

strange you mention pneumonia, docs words were, 'i don't think its pneumonia at this stage'... i didnt take much notice cos he's so awful. she has had a cold and chesty cough but i dont think its a chest infection (recognise those from elder dd)

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Renaissancewoman · 24/04/2008 18:49

can you give nurofen as well as calpol to get temperature to stay down or go lower?

generally i think medics worry if there is some other feature as well as temperature. keep checking, keep ventilated, keep naked or nearly naked and give drinks repeatedly. my daughter has had a few bouts of high temperatures lasting a few days. i've only consulted doctors if some other feature eg pain or once when we were in africa and was scared she could have malaria. the tempertures have always come down after a few days of calpol and sometimes nurofen as well.

i hope it improves soon. if you have worries out of hours you could always call nhs direct. i know they sometimes get a bad press but i've generally found them useful.

re cause who knows. with illnesses my daughter has, had the cause has been obvious in only a couple of instances eg ear infection, tonsillitis. most of the time things resolve and i just assume it was a bug or virus of some sort.

Psychomum5 · 24/04/2008 18:52

they said that no way could my DS1 have pnuemonia either once (he was 6mths at the time and DD3 DID have it and was in hospial then too!!)

anyhoo......did bloods to shut me up, then when the results came back there was HUGE embarrassment as there was massivly high count of white cells.....they sent us for an xray and his lung were fluffy all over and worse than DD3's had been.

cue much apologies.....and still all the docs listened to chest and agreed that there were no crackles to indicate pnuemonia!!

((I must have weird kiddies))

Renaissancewoman · 24/04/2008 18:53

i just read the other stuff about chest. did he listen to her chest. if temp is still that high tomorrow it might be worth trying to see another doctor. how is her breathing is she wheezing?

CountessDracula · 24/04/2008 18:55

I would go to A&E if you have no faith in the doc and get her checked out properly

PictureThis · 24/04/2008 18:57

With a temp of 40 that is only dropping to 38 with paracetamol needs further investigation especially as it has been going on for a few days. I would definately take your lo back to the doctors/A&E

SquonkTheBeerGuru · 24/04/2008 18:59

I am today an expert on this, due to dd2 having had a temp of 40 since Saturday. Like you say your dd's does, it comes down a bit with calpol, but is consistently higher than normal. We've been at the docs, the hospital, and finally the docs again tonight. She has a chest infection that the doc says would have been impossible to spot earlier in the week.

A couple of suggestions that we have found work for us:

Ibuprofen works quicker than calpol. You can give them together as well. Ask doc if it could be an infection, and if it is worth giving ABs as a precaution (if any of her previous docs had done this, my dd2 would probably be better by now.)

When the temp is very high, sponge her down with a warm sponge (not cold).

Make sure she drinks as much as she can.

Original poster

yellowbean · 24/04/2008 21:33

doc did listen to chest and said was fine. checked one ear for infection! not the other and spent a millisecond looking down her throat. she is drinking loads and still breastfed so no worries there. think will take her back tomorro

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Miggins · 24/04/2008 21:59

Chickenpox?

Original poster

yellowbean · 24/04/2008 22:03

had chickenpox

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BigBadMouse · 24/04/2008 22:17

My DD2 had this a few months ago when she was the same age. She had got over a cough / cold thing so I didn't think it was that causing the problems - thought we were dealing with something new she had caught when run down.

First time I took her to the docs was 2 days after temp of 40C which only came down to 38.8 at most with calpol and neurofen. He suggested a viral infection and just sit it out. She started to get worse at the end of day 3 so he prescribed ABs (over the phone without seeing her as it was late) and within 24 hours of taking them she was much better. Apparently her chest didn't sound bad at all when he saw her on Day 2.

Definitely take her back to the Docs and hope you see someone you have more confidence in.

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