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Parenting

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Original poster

Tips for reducing temperature

21 replies

Spandex · 26/04/2007 19:55

DS has temp of 38.5.

He's only got a nappy on, given Calpol and I'm not sure what else to do.. .. .. when do I start sponging him down with cool water?

Any tips on how to make him more comfortable, please?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

beansprout · 26/04/2007 19:57

Wet flannel or sponging will help. You can alternate calpol with nurofen if you need to. Make sure he has plenty to drink. How old is he?

Hope he feels better soon.

Original poster

Spandex · 26/04/2007 20:02

He's just 2. I'm really worried.

OP posts:

beansprout · 26/04/2007 20:06

How long has his temp been up? how is he in himself? Sleepy, clingy, floppy? Any other symptoms?

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mumfor1standfinaltime · 26/04/2007 20:07

Do you have a fan? Put it in the room. (not directly on him)

wulfricsmummy · 26/04/2007 20:08

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foxybrown · 26/04/2007 20:11

Nurofen was far more effective than calpol on my lo. You can call NHS Direct and talk to one of their nurses if you are worried. 0845 4647 - 24 hours.

Original poster

Spandex · 26/04/2007 20:19

He's chatty (talking nonsense but it's hard to decide how much more than usual!), now downstairs watching a DVD with his dad as he couldn't sleep. Temp been measurably up since 6pm but he's been hot and clingy all day.

Take him to GP? Is there such a thing as a GP at this time of evening?

OP posts:

foxybrown · 26/04/2007 20:21

is he drinking? Any other symptoms? Rash? Or does anything hurt?

foxinsocks · 26/04/2007 20:24

it's not necessarily the degree of the temp (though obviously if it goes very high then you have to watch them carefully) but the way he's behaving. A temperature can just mean their body is fighting something off - you just need to keep an eye on him.

You can use nurofen too if you have any. I find that reduces the temps in my kids better (though it seems to depend on the child!).

foxinsocks · 26/04/2007 20:26

this is the netdoctor page on temperatures in children - it's very good

Original poster

Spandex · 26/04/2007 20:36

Thank you so much for your responses. Can't see a rash. He's just got the temp as far as I can tell so far. Will keep careful eye on him.

OP posts:

foxybrown · 26/04/2007 20:49

Foxinsox is right, he's likely to be fighting something off. If he's taking fluids then you can probably relax a bit. You can't do much more than you are doing really.

Hope he's better soon

bristols · 26/04/2007 20:53

Spandex - there are out of hours GP services. You just ring your surgery and there should be a recorded message with the number to call. Our local one operates at the hospital. Just so you know. Hope your LO is better soon

beansprout · 26/04/2007 20:55

If you can get him to bed soon, rest/sleep is the best thing for him. You can keep an eye on him while he sleeps.

foxybrown · 27/04/2007 10:09

spandex, how is he today?

Original poster

Spandex · 27/04/2007 14:31

Hi. He is much better today. A restless night but in the morning, we gave him some Medised and he fell asleep for four hours. When he woke, his temperature was much reduced - down to 35.5 degrees.

I'm reluctant to dispense things like Calpol etc at the first sign of fever in case it masks symptoms of something more serious. Plus, I don't want to reach for medicine at the first sign of any illness.. .. .. .. .. ..

Am I mistaken to think that way?

OP posts:

beansprout · 27/04/2007 14:32

I feel the same but it has a role when you do actually have to reduce their temperature. I don't dish it out all the time but will use it when I need to. Am glad he is feeling better

Original poster

Spandex · 27/04/2007 14:39

Forgot to say thank you very much to you all who took the time to post and help me out. I'm very grateful.

OP posts:

foxybrown · 27/04/2007 14:41

Ummm, sometimes mums are generous with the old calpol medised for a good nights sleep ... allegedly

bristols · 27/04/2007 18:04

I agree that its not good to give calpol etc willy nilly but it is very important to treat a high temperature quickly. Treating a temperature won't mask anything more serious. If it's something serious then there will normally be other symptoms rather than just a fever. But an untreated temperature could develop into febrile convulsions which are very scary for all involved. It also puts unnecessary stress on all the organs of the body if they have to work at high temperature.

Spandex - glad your LO is on the mend.

christywhisty · 27/04/2007 22:02

Have to agree about the febrile convulsions. son(11) has had about 20 of them and the last one last year when he was 10.5.
We have always been advised to give him calpol and nurofen together as they work in different ways.

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