When to stop giving calpol for a fever?

[Nosleepforthismum]

My DD (1) has been poorly since Friday last week. Symptoms have been a fever, refusal of her food, only wants milk but will throw it up if given too much in one go and generally extremely irritable. Sleep has gone completely out the window but still having wet and dirty nappies (although wees are much darker due to dehydration and poos are pretty much liquid). We’ve been treating the fever with calpol which drops it right down and DD is happier for a while.

I’m hoping we are coming out the other end now. DD is sleeping a lot more and the fever is coming down to just under 38 degrees (without calpol) I always worry anyway about giving too much calpol incase it masks more serious symptoms but I’m thinking that even though she’s still not well and a little feverish I can try and see if she can fight off the infection on her own now?

The harms of an uncontrolled fever greatly outweigh the tiny risks of calpol.

Keep giving the calpol.

If she's had a fever for nearly a week, and symptoms of dehydration, I'd have taken her to the gp by now too

I give paracetamol when I think he needs it. I don't suffer in pain or through a fever myself without painkillers so I don't do that to him either.

I think if she's having wet and dirty nappies and is keeping down milk then give paracetamol. Sometimes it's easier to keep a fever down with ibuprofen.

I have sought urgent medical advice whenever a fever cannot be controlled with medication and/or my son cannot keep any food or liquid down to the point of having nothing but dry nappies. And of course look out for listlessness/floppyness with fevers.

Tbh when it's something like severe gastroenteritis and nappies are bone dry, you know it and you get to A&E sharpish. If she's fairly content at home but just off her food, hot, generally miserable, then give her medicine. Also recommend ice lollies/mini milk lollies/diluted apple juice.

Thank you, I am waiting back on a phone call from the GP today but NHS guidance seems to be that a fever can last between 1-4 days before starting to come down and in the absence of any other symptoms (like a rash) was worried about wasting their time.

Never worry about wasting their time with young children.

Thanks, I’ll give the calpol when she wakes up and interesting about ibuprofen for a fever. I’ll go and buy some baby neurofen later to see if that helps.

It’s hard to know what the right call is sometimes with kids and illnesses. She’s my second and I’ve done my fair share of a&e trips and urgent GP appointments over the last 3 years and as you say, any of the symptoms listed above require urgent attention and it’s very obvious when that happens. I struggle with this stage of “could be something minor/could be something serious” as I’m just a bit on edge incase I miss something.

Yes brufen is better for fevers and you can alternate paracetamol and brufen. Have a look at dosages on the bottles and max them out if she's suffering.

Honestly, if you're feeling unsure or doubting your own judgement just get her to the GP for some reassurance. Don't hesitate.

I would give calpol for pain but I wouldn't necessarily treat a fever unless it was vert high and the child seemed unwell as a result or if I had been advised specifically to do so. There is advice about this on the NHS website.

If the temp is 37 (as in below 38), I wouldn't give calpol for that unless she is otherwise in discomfort or unwell. Yes, 38 or above, I would offer calpol if she seemed unwell or in pain. If she seemed fine, I wouldn't bother.

We don't give Calpol for most fevers but use to to treat symptoms and help with rest. This is my rough rules I follow

36-37.8 give Calpol/ibuprofen for symptoms only
37.8-38.8 give Calpol/ibuprofen for symptoms and to help get sleep so dose before bed or a nap
38.8-39.5 give Calpol/ibuprofen for symptoms, to help sleep and regularly through our the day manage spikes in temperature
39.5+ give Calpol and ibuprofen to regularly throughout the day according to prescribing directions on the packet

Usually we will start with giving for symptoms and for sleep. Have a day or so giving regularly and they a few days of giving it only as required

Thanks everyone. Seen the GP today who confirmed it’s viral but nothing to worry about. Also recommended ibuprofen over paracetamol so thank you again to the PP who said the same!