When to give Paracetamol?

[*Tracee*]

Miss Claire has woken with a temp (38.5), at what point do you give panadol to reduce a fever?? I have removed a layer of her clothing and she has had a b/f. She is quite sooky too. I know temps work to fight off viruses so I don't want to dose her if I don't need to.

[Wems]

Mmmm I would wait abit longer and se how the other measures you have taken work

Although I don't give medicine very often anyway 38.5 isn't all that high though JMO

Hope she is feeling better soon

[~*Rebecca*~]

I know if I have a temp I feel pretty crappy.

I would wait a little while and give her a dose. It may help her to sleep and at least be a little settled.

Hope she feels ok soon, there is so much going around.

[ScarletRubies]

My inclination would be to cuddle and/or bathe.

Fever can be a good thing, even up to 40C I believe, and my GP advises not trying to mask or lower a temp artificially. Obviously, if it keeps rising or Claire looks like she's "not there" or has a convulsion, all this is irrelevant and you need to get her to a doctor or hospital.

I also thought I'd add that your body temperature rises during sleep, so taking her temp after a nap is not normally accurate.

Best of luck; I hate it when my kids are unwell.

[*Tracee*]

Thanks ladies, her temp is still mid 38's and she feels so hot, think it's time for a bath..

[Katanya]

Tracee -fever is hard I used to dose Felix up on panadol when was younger but after many stays in hospital the current treatments is to only give panadol when they are distressed, as fever is the bodies way of fighting (raising temp etc)
giving a tepid bath, reducing clothing lots of fluids even up and over 40 degrees, if it continues for more than 2 days take her to the doctor

If she is in pain then panadol is recommended (I might add I am not a health professional and I would ring a child health hotline in your state if at all worried or if she has any strange rashes)
*hugs* hope she feels better soon

[Kristie]

Poor Sweetpea hope she get better soon, we have to dose Aaliyah up as soon as she hits 37.5 as she suffers febrile fits, but 38.5 is when to give.

Hope she get better soon

[Shannon]

We shouldn't give Jessalyn panadol with her dodgy liver, but we have not accumulated a lot of info on the use of it.

Under 40 isn't really panadol worthy for us usually anyway. Fever is the body's way of fighting infection, so if you bring down the fever too soon, the infection (or whatever) can take hold. Give panadol to relieve pain if bubs is unduely distressed though.

Good luck - it's no fun with a sick bubbie.

[~Melissa~]

I agree with Katanya & Shannon. I don't give panadol for a fever alone. If my girls are distressed or they are in pain then I might give them some though. I always try to help them in other ways first though.

[Kylie]

Tracee - I use Brauer's as it doesn't try and mask the temp, it helps the temp. My girls haven't really had a temperature before though, but we don't have any paracetamol in the house so I'm not much help.