I seldom treat a fever. It has a function, and it needs to serve that function.
If their temperature reaches dangerous levels, then I will treat. But Panadol is ALWAYS a last resort in this house, it is nasty stuff. I actually didn't even have any in the house for months we use it so infrequently.
Cool flannels, plenty for fluids and/or breastmilk, tepid bath if needed, rest and cuddles. I tend to follow their cues when they are ill, just as I instinctively know what/how I want to be when I am sick, so do they.
That is my totally non-medical opinion, learned from my highly-trained nurse mother... LOL
My big girls have both just had horrid colds with very high temps. Most of the time I tried to reduce their temps the natural way - not too much by way of covers, cooler baths/showers, quiet time on the couch etc. Having said that, when their temps reached 40 I was reaching for the panadol pretty damn fast
Check out the RCH fact sheets, basically up to 38 is considered normal and if it's over 38.5 and they are miserable you can adminster panadol. I don't give panadol unless the fever is over 39.5 and they are lethargic/flat/in pain. Otherwise I monitor every half hour and see how they go with lots of fluids.
Yeah, I don't give panadol until temp is dangerous if I can help it. A fever is the body fighting it off so they will get better faster if you let them have a fever for a while HTH
Thanks ladies. Very helpful. It is what I thought that we get a fevers for a reason and it has a job to do and that if I medicate then could it perhaps hamper or prolong the recovery.
30 minutes after my first post her temp went up to 38.8. Put cold washers on her head and back of neck. 20 minutes later it was up to 39.0 so we went to shower. Just took her temp again and it is 39.6. She is drinking and asking for toast.
Is her temp rising fast?
Sorry if seeming clueless, seems rational thinking has left my brain at the moment. I hate seeing her so miserable
If it was rising that fast and up that high I would give her some panadol hun, it's not going to hurt her to have it ITMS and that is just what I would do - she's 2 1/2 right? I would do that with my 4 and 5 year old and tended to act quicker when they were younger Hope she's feeling better soon. xoxox
I have a DD who has suffered from febrile convulsions so I treat fevers quite aggressively with nurofen firstly (find that to be most effective) and panadol as a back up. One thing we were told by RCH was not to treat by tepid baths/washs etc as it can cause them to shiver which causes a temperature spike which in my DD's instance can cause a convulsion. Obviously our situation is different from the normal, but I thought I would share what we were told by the doctors and nurses about the tepid baths.
In saying all of this, we have also constantly been told by the doctors that even treating with nurofen/panadol will not help if they are going to have a convulsion and that fevers are the body's natural response to illness and is present for a reason. If my DD did not have convulsions then I would tend to leave the treatment until they displayed signs of being in discomfort.
How is she? Is she active, lethargic, animated?
I would keep going the way you are, and treat the illness, not the fever. If it gets over 40 and her appearance/animation becomes worrying, I would give the her the bottom end of the Panadol dose.
If you are worried, call Nurse on Call or Health Direct (or whatever they are called where you are!). Hope she is better soon xx
Thanks again. DD1 is 3y4months.
She is lathargic (for her anyway) but still sitting up watching a DVD. She just ate a piece of toast and is asking for another. Will give her another 30-60 minutes and if the temp keeps going up then I might do your suggestion Lime and give her a small dose of panadol.
I rang healthline and they said to give panadol if I feel she needs it. I was ringing them because I was not sure what I felt I should do so they were not to much help.
LOL
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