Chicken pox

[mummytogirl]

Hi mums,

Wonder if anyone can help or give some advice, my poorly DD is really suffering with her pox, the problem I have is her really high temp of 42-40 I struggle to get below 40, calpol is just really not effective enough at all, speaking with the doctors they said of course you can give ibuprofen but I have heard and read that you mustn't give them it as it can enhance skin infections, has anyone experienced problems from given their child ibuprofen or has it been fine. Tia xxx

I wouldn't give it tbh as it can lead to adverse skin reactions. It doesn't matter if others have been ok as yours might not be.

I suppose it a balancing act between potential skin condition or potential convulsions.

Calpol/ Nurofen don't prevent febrile convulsions according to NICE

I thought they were due to overheating? Are they not?

Info from NICE:
There are medicines (known as antipyretics) that are commonly used to reduce fever. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are antipyretics (check the label if you're not sure from the brand name which one it contains). These medicines can help to lower your child's temperature and make them feel more comfortable but they do not treat the cause of the fever.

You should not use paracetamol or ibuprofen simply to lower your child's temperature or to try to prevent a febrile convulsion (a fit, or seizure, caused by fever) because studies have shown that paracetamol and ibuprofen do not reduce the risk of convulsions. However, it is okay to give your child one of these medicines if they have a fever and they are distressed or unwell.

Absolutely do not give ibuprofen. Ds2 ended up in hospital with his chicken pox due to secondary infection and the junior doctors on the night started ibuprofen alongside the paracetamol to try to control his temp but the consultant the next day stopped it because of the reaction with chicken pox and increased infection risk.

If she is very unwell and you can't control her temp then she needs to be seen by a doctor. Chicken pox can be serious.

I agree with above poster. If you can’t reduce the temperature, get the little one to a doctor.

Ok thank for your responses, we have a doctors apt today in a hour, just annoyingly they tell you to use ibuprofen and I'm not really happy to use it, but calpol doesn't seem to be helping either, so in a bit of a pickle x