How long do you let a fever go for?

[raindrops]

michelle71...have you ever wittnessed your baby having a fit from a high fever?
I have and its HORRIBLE. my 2 year old a FC with a temp of 40 degrees and only had a temp for a couple of hours.

and it is true that babies with high fevers are at high risk of fitting and the ambos and emergency staff will immediately try and get paracetomol and ibruprfin (for kids) into the baby. thats why we are supposed to give them panadol to get thier fever down. then address the underlying health concern of the fever.


you dont let it ride out. you try to get it down cause babies can deteriorate very quickly. you monitor them and if you are in doubt at all, go to your GP. Ed or call the ambos in an emergency.

[Michelle71]

michelle71...have you ever wittnessed your baby having a fit from a high fever?
I have and its HORRIBLE. my 2 year old a FC with a temp of 40 degrees and only had a temp for a couple of hours.

and it is true that babies with high fevers are at high risk of fitting and the ambos and emergency staff will immediately try and get paracetomol and ibruprfin (for kids) into the baby. thats why we are supposed to give them panadol to get thier fever down. then address the underlying health concern of the fever.


you dont let it ride out. you try to get it down cause babies can deteriorate very quickly. you monitor them and if you are in doubt at all, go to your GP. Ed or call the ambos in an emergency.

Raindrops - I am one of those emergency staff. I have witnessed (and managed) many febrile convulsions. I am not saying not to treat the fever. What I said was the height of the fever is not the reason for the febrile convulsions - it is the rate of change of the temperature. As for the management of fever - there are a number of conflicting opinions on when to give paracetamol / ibuprofen. Even within health professionals there is debate on when to give medication but the fever is a positive indication the body is working to fight the infection or virus. I can find references for you on febrile convulsions and treatment of fevers if you like.

As a parent you need to do whatever makes you feel comfortable to manage fever in your child. However, the misconceptions about febrile convulsions also need to be addressed. Personally, I don't give paracetamol / ibuprofen until the fever exceeds 39 degrees but that is my personal management and not one I would suggest to others.

[Indadhanu]

Hi all, thanks for the info/discussion. Took Jazz to the dr, nothng visibley wrong, no ear, throat, urainry infection, still got the temps but didnt need paracetamol overnight. Dr reckons just a virus.

Thanks Michelle, I am a bit like you, I generally like to see if the temp will go down on its own, but definately give panadol at the 39ish mark, or if its consistently higher than 38 and making her really uncomfy. Thats what my GP told me anyway? Better to let them try to fight it, he said that fevers are important