When to give Calpol?

[Stuckintrafficyipppee]

My understanding is that current advice is that you shouldn't rush to give Calpol for low fevers. Can anyone confirm please or link to any guidance? If my DC is with my mother, she tends to give Calpol at the first sign of being a bit warm because she "doesn't want to risk the temperature getting higher". I've told her that I'm more comfortable with keeping an eye on, say, a sniffle and a slight temp (unless DC is complaining of pain and/or discomfort). However, I'm not good at standing my ground with my mother, so I'd be grateful for a second opinion.

I don't even give it for a temp unless it's also accompanied with obviously feeling unwell. I would automatically give it once the temp was in the high 38s or seemed to be rising to 39.

Equally I also sometimes give calpol if there's no temp and they obvs feel a bit ropey.

I always give paracetamol straight away if my child has a temp. That's what it's for. If I have a fever I feel like shit, why would I want my child to feel like that? And partly yes, don't want it to get to the point where it could become dangerously high. This is totally anecdotal and I know I'm a randomer on the internet, but my DH is a trainee HCP, and I have relatives who are doctors and pharmacists respectively who support my approach. Actually if anything the doctor relevant is the most syringe-happy of the lot when it comes to children's paracetamol.

I guess it depends on one's definition of a temperature? My mother will give for a temp of 37.5 (which I probably wouldn't even notice in myself unless I randomly took my temperature).

How old is the child?

My DS is almost two. I wouldn't give calpol just because he had a cold for example, but I would if his temperature went over 38 degrees.

I would take medicine to relieve my own pain or fever, so I treat my child the same way.

Child is four.

I only give Calpol if they are grumpy.

If it was a dangerously high temp (I'd have to Google what that is!) then I'd give it too, but that's unlikely to be the only symptom.

And yes, I'd definitely give Calpol like a shot if clingy, uncomfortable or complaining. I'm thinking more of a child who seems happy in themselves and has a slight temp under 38.

I don't have a working thermometer atm so give Calpol if LO is obviously unwell and miserable, or if she's struggling to sleep with being unwell. As long as you're sticking to the recommended doses, some Calpol when it maybe isn't strictly necessary isn't going to do any harm 🤷🏼‍♀️

It depends on the age. Over 37.5 under 6 months and 38.5 over 6 months but there is a degree of sense involved. If you can take a layer of clothing off or open a window etc. then do that.
39 or more for a child or adult and especially after calpol or ibuprofen for prolongued periods at least call 111 as it will set your mind at rest and prevent either further unnecessary dosing or avoidance of medical care. That is for wearing pants/vest/nappie / etc. and resting. Spidey pyjamas over vest and bouncing around but rubbing face/ears is most likely teething; cold tether or drinks and distraction. No improvement try calpol and push quiet resting.
Decide what you are happy with and tell MiL that is the way it is going to be.

Thanks, everyone. It's definitely not a massive issue in the great scheme of things, especially as she won't be with DC that often when DC is coming down with something. I've just tried to encourage my mother to look at the whole child rather than getting hung up on the number on the thermometer (which is a bit of a temperamental piece of shit, tbh). As it is, I've known her give a happy child Calpol for a temp of 37.4 (is that even a fever?) but not give Calpol to an uncomfortable DC because the number on the thermometer was normal.

One of my ante natal group friends was a GP and she was quick to dose with Calpol. Her view was - why not if there's a chance they're in pain.

I think that definitely makes sense with teenies who can't tell you if they're in pain. DC is a bit older and very articulate so that takes a bit of the guesswork away.

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng143/chapter/recommendations#antipyretic-interventions

These are the guidelines.
I'm a paeds nurse and on our ward we treat temperatures over 38°. We only give scalpel for temps under 38 if the child is miserable or distressed.

In a previous hospital where I worked we would always treat a temp over 39° but would only give calpol for temps less than 39 if the child was distressed.
Every hospital has different practices as per usual in paediatrics 🙄

Sorry that should say calpol not scalpel 😳

My pharmacist friend told me that a fever is the body's natural way of fighting illness so only give calpol if child feels unwell to alleviate the headache etc. Made sense to me but I just use my judgement.

I never take the kids temperatures but judge by their behaviour and whether they feel hot to the touch - if lethargic and feel hot they get Calpol. Also if I have other reason to think they might be in pain but don't have a temperature eg unexplained crying that isn't solved by cuddles etc. So no I wouldn't treat the number on the thermometer!

I treat my daughter like myself. If I have a temperature, I feel awful and will 100% take paracetamol. If I have a bad cold and feel all grotty, I take max strength cold & flu! If I have a sore throat, I take ibuprofen etc etc.. much the same with my child. Why should I make her suffer when I wouldn’t let myself?! It’s just suspended paracetamol at the end of the day, it’s not going to harm. They can’t tell you at a young age but generally, it’s easy enough to judge..

I wouldn't give a happy child calpol temperature or not.

But I also wouldn't be taking a happy child's temperature.

I give calpol if I suspect pain, but I err on the side of caution with that as I wouldn't want them to be in pain unnecessarily.

I don't take temperature unless they are very obviously visibly unwell, in which case I would be giving calpol anyway.

18mo and a nearly 3yo

I’m just another random person on the Internet with no medical training but I wouldn’t be so quick to medicate. 37.4 is not even a raised temperature let alone a fever.

Fever is the body’s way of fighting off infection. Obviously you need to make sure their temperature does not go dangerously high. But I find that from the age of 2 or so, when you medicate to bring a fever down, they immediately feel better and start running around again which isn’t going to help them get better. Personally I would rather leave them with a bit of a temperature so they rest in bed or on the couch and sleep it off. I think they get better quicker that way. I would put a cold flannel on them instead to make them more comfortable.

I wouldn’t hesitate to relieve my own pain with paracetamol so I don’t hesitate for my children.

I honestly don’t understand the reluctance. If used within the correct dose limits there is no evidence to suggest that short courses of paracetamol are harmful to children.

Agree with those who say that if I would take it for myself in that situation, why wouldn't I offer it to my child?

I have friends with 1-2 years olds clearly suffering from teething pain and are coming up with every herbal and natural powder to rub on their little gums. Just give them Calpol, that's what it's for!

I have quite a few GPs in my family and they all say give Calpol for a fever or obvious pain, just follow the dosage and timing guidelines.

I also think the advice you are referring to was an article in an American journal around five years ago, the Telegraph gave a very misleading headline like: ‘use of paracetamol makes illness worse’ or something. That was not the conclusion drawn from the study at all.

The study focused on standardising the guidelines of fever management and encouraged the prioritisation of child comfort rather temperature reduction. The study was a stand alone one not a systemic review.

NICE guidelines haven’t changed and they recommend considering the use of paracetamol for fevers. It’s on the NHS website if anyone wants to check it out.

Oh yeah, when I say I always give for a fever, my DD is 1 and a half so I don't really count it as a fever unless her temp is at least 38. It would be different for a younger baby as PP have said, NHS website tells you what is considered a raised temperature in different ages of infants.

This is a really good website about fevers in children.
www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/a-z/fever-myths-versus-facts/

I used to give to my daughter as soon as she had a temp creeping towards 38, however this is because she is prone to having feberal convulsions. Which are not to do with how high her temperature is but how quickly it shoots up, so I never liked to take the risk.

The convulsions are not dangerous as per say but are terrifying to see.