URGENT!!! What constitutes a high fever??

[Freya]

Is it 38 degree's? When is it time to say enough is enough and take baby to the hospital?

Reason Im asking is my son has been a bit lethargic and clingy all day and has had a fever since he woke this morning. His face is red and he is very warm to touch all over. Ive given him some panadol but I just took his temp then and it is still 38.2 degree's. He is drinking his formula in dribs and drabs but has managed to finish 240mls over the last couple of hours. His nappies are still wet.

Im just worried is all as GPs are hard to get into here but I have an appointment for Wednesday if he is still sick. I just want to have an idea of when a hospital trip is warranted just in case.

Im probably overreacting

[Astrolady]

I usually panic when it hits 39/40c and doesn't come down after panadol. Can take an hour for panadol to kick in.

Love

[Annikas_Mamma]

Annika always gets an unusually high fever after her immunisations. The nurse told me that the general rule was if the temperature has been around 38.5-39, the child has had panadol, and you have given it time to work, that it is best to bring the kiddo in. Don't worry sweet, I'm sure he'll be fine, but give them a call if you're worried. I hope he feels better soon.

[*Ang*]

Hi Anna

Usually and I stress usually a high fever isnt classified till its over 40 degrees. We took my DD to emergency recently when she hit 41 degrees after going between 39-40 in the preceeding 24 hours.

I actually asked my GP this question on Friday arvo about whether there was a certain temp where you should take action ie hospital and he said no - it is all dependant on other things too. By the sounds of it your son is not dehydrated as he is taking fluids so that is a good sign and fevers do make you lethargic so that sounds ok. I think it is a good idea to keep your docters appt but in the meantime if you do get worried dont hesitate to take him to emergency. It is better to be safe then sorry

Hope your little man gets better soon.

[Pandora]

My doctor says 39 for panadol, 39.5 go to the GP or A&E if panadol does not bring it down.
I give DS panadol if its over 38.5, or if I think there's pain as well as fever.

[srv]

Over 38.5 is a significant fever, although fever in itself is not dangerous. It's a sign that his body is fighting an infection of some sort. Most of the time it's a viral thing. Unless your bubs is under 3 months I wouldn't worry about that temp in itself. I'd be more looking at how your bubs is. Most importantly is his feeding, in particular his fluid intake. Make sure he is still having good numbers of wet nappies, His mouth and tongue are nice and moist and if he cries he's still producing tears. Very important to make sure he doesn't get dehydrated. He won't be his usual self with that fever and he won't want to play etc but make sure he isn't too drowsy, hard to rouse. If you have any doubts at all get him checked out. Remember most Paeds Emerg departments can give you a bit of over the phone advice if you're worried. It sounds like he's just picked up a viral thing. We usually advise giving panadol only if he seems bothered or upset by the fever or if he also seems to be in pain.

[mrsmac]

The hospital told me last time Riley had a fever that you can nurofen in between panadol if the temp hadn't come down-eg Panadol at 10am, nurofen at 12, panadol at 2. If bubs is still getting fluids its not as critical but worrying still I know.

[Mother Goose]

The hospital told me last time Riley had a fever that you can nurofen in between panadol if the temp hadn't come down-eg Panadol at 10am, nurofen at 12, panadol at 2. If bubs is still getting fluids its not as critical but worrying still I know.

The Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne has recently distributed a Memo stopping this practice as they found that Children who were given neurphen followed by panadol 2 hours later followed by neurophen 2 hours later etc where not actually receiving the full dose of the panadol and neurophen. I.e. the full dose was not absorbed before the alternating medicine was given and therefore the new medicine twas administered therefore the full effects where not being received. It is now recommended that the child be given panadol and if this has no effect then neurophen may be given.

[mrsmac]

I hate how hospitals will tell you the wrong thing, I do apologise, Hornsby Hospital told me that only 3 months ago- how are we laypeople supposed to keep up if the medical fraternity can't.

[Mother Goose]

don't apologise Chris! You weren't to know! I am sure there are many health care professionals out there who will continue the alternating method anyway (some may ignore the RCH publication or others may not even be aware of it). Of course, there will be situations where panadol or neurophen alone is not enough - in which case the RCH Melbourne recomends giving both at once (but I would only do this under a doctor's direction). Of course - you can always chat to your pharmacist about it as well! My pharmacist and I were chatting about it the other day when I was restocking on baby Demazin and Panadol.

[visitor2]

Anna how is Jett now ?

I've had Alex like this all day but his temp came down for a couple of hours after he had some panadol but it's gone back up tonight. Just put him to bed with some panadol in him. Alex's temp went up to 39.3 at one stage.

[~Kim~]

I took Darcy when her temp hit 39.8 for 3hours in a orw after 2 doses of panadol - they treated me like a fool (and I'm a retired peadiatric nurse- they just didn't need to know). Better my sick child be close to help if it's needed I say.

Hope he's feeling better Anna.

[Lelepoppysmummy]

We took Poppy to hospital when her temp go to 40 and couldn't lift her head. It had been around 38 - 39 for a few days and the GP said not to worry... But when it hit 40 we went straight to the childrens hospital not far from us. They were great. They took us straight in near them to watch her even tho they were really busy and couldn't treat her at the time. They just wanted to keep an eye on her to be safe.

I hope bub's gets better soon, breaks your heart to see them sick hey?!
lele

[paradise lost]

Last time DD had a temp we called NHS24 hotline. THey told us, over 38.5 give calpol (paracetamol suspension), over 39.5 sponge her down with tepid (NOT cold) water every 15 mins (which she hated but it worked thank goodness), over 40 get her to hossie, over 41 call an ambulance. Thankfully she never got that hot, but the sponging worked MUCH better than the paracetamol.

I'd had a dream 2 nights earlier that she was seizing in my arms and i was running through an A&E department so i was extra-stressed by it all!

How's he going now?

[Freya]

Even after a dose of nurophen he was still sitting on 38.2 all night. He is still warm this morning but is still asleep (he slept from 8:30-now and is still going, but I woke him at 11:30 to check his nappy was wet and give him a drink). He must be really sick if he is still asleep like this Im going to watch him today and if the temp doesnt lower below 38 even with nurophen then Im taking him to hospy whether they think Im overreacting or not.

[Lelepoppysmummy]

Just remember Mother always knows best! you know your child and if you know he's sick you make them listen!!!!
I had taken Poppy to the doc the day we took her to the hospital and she said she was fine. Whe i go ther home 20mins later her temp was over 39! The hospy took blood and she had a VERY BAD throat infection... Poor darling. I was so glad i took her to the hospital even tho her temp had dropped from 40 to mid 38 by the time we got there. And of course she's a show off so she was playing with everyone....
Just make sure you keep his milk up!!
Thikning of you! Let us know how he is...

Lele

[Freya]

He's awake and not very hot to touch. His temp is 37 so its dropped alot. He drank a whole bottle this morning and is crawling around playing which he didnt do yesterday

Thanks for all the advice!

[shellbell3]

Glad to hear Jett's alot better, hope the temp stays down. Prolly just a viral thing but it can be stressful. I took Ash to the hosp when her temp was 38.8 and she ended up having a UTI so was glad I did.