High temp for 14mth old?

Caitlin is pretty sick at the mo and was fluctuating between 35.6 and 38.5 today before we took her to the GP. He was fine with the 38.5 as long as she was getting fluids (which she has but only a little here and there) and she hasn't really eaten anything for 2 days, she was eating frozen peas with DH at lunchtime tho.

Last time she was really sick she was only a few months old and we were told to go to hospital when her temp was at 38.

What sort of temps should we wait for before we go to after hours/hospital now?
She's really upset and crying all the time. GP thinks it's just a nasty cold and sore throat, but it seems so much more than that to me, she's been on a mix of Pamol and abby neurofen for 3 days now so I'd hate to think what her temps would be without that!

On the back of the plunket book it says 38.3 to seek medical advise, temps can fluctuate up and now so quickly I personally find pamol does nothing for my kids when they have high temps and usually will go straight for Ibruphen (sp) normally kicks it in the butt quicker, nurafen for kids is meant to be good, but my gp always gives me ibruphen on script he does not think much of pamol either.

I agree with pepsi, you should take her in, I'd wait until her temp is over 38.3 and see what they say. You wouldn't want to put her to bed tonight with high temps like that incase they get any higher. My friend(a hospital nurse) said that if their temps get up to 38.9 they are at risk of fitting and so they admit babies as soon as their temps are over 38.5. Also if she starts vommiting take her in as this can sometimes be a sign that their body isn't coping with the temp.

I'm not an expert at all this is just what I was told when my daughter was sick. Plunket healthline would be able to tell you what do.

I hope she gets better soon

I agree with pepsi too Toni, if it keeps up I would take Caitlin in anyway. The last time Erin ran a temperature, I rang the GP and they said as long as she is keeping her fluids up (with a temp of around 38) and kept administering Pamol / Nurofen, we should be OK. They said to bring her in (or alternately go to A&E) if it stayed up for longer than 2 days or went up any higher ie: around 39+ as there is the danger of febrile convulsions as Helen21 mentioned.

buzimumto3boys wrote: My son got temps up to 39 and 41.2!!! and we went to the A and E only to get told it was a virus (so sick of hearing that word!) and just had to strip him down and give him pamol and brufen.... It really annoys me when these things happen as "just a virus" doesnt help... you still worry! They also asked if my thermometer was reliable - and I replied yes... its exactly the same as yours! and his was reading 39.6! The Dr has told me the combo of pamol which lasts 4 hours and the ibuprofen? which lasts 6 is the best thing for high temps etc. We always have a supply of both on hand just in case.

That's shocking! Anything above 40 degrees is hospital admission material coz of the risk of febrile convulsions and also a risk of encephalitis (brain swelling) as the body can't cope. And having had hallucinations myself with a temp of 39.5 when I had mastitis (I was in hospital at that stage) 39 is our cut off when I take the kids straight to the doc/after hours.

Hope Caitlin is feeling better this morning Toni! It's so scary when they're sick like that and there's nothing you can do to help

Buzimum is right that a combo of paracetamol and Ibuprofen can work really well, you'd usually give Pamol, then two hours later Brufen to get them both working effectively. Paracetamol can be given 4-6 hourly, Ibuprofen is 6 hourly.

I must say I dont trust the A and E Drs after our experience!!
Im glad she feels a bit better today, hopefully the worst is over!

It's good to hear she is feeling better, high temps are always so scary in little ones.

poor wee caitlin hope she feeling better big hugs toni