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Posted by gold on 03-Jan-2009 01:45 Report
How high is too high for body temperature?
My 15 yo is sick and has a high temp. currently 38 but was 40 about 20 mins ago.
 
Replied by mz-pink on 03-Jan-2009 01:56 (Ref 1558326) Report
Hi,
40 is a bit high... Give him panadol to reduce the temperature

Regards,
mz pink lover
Replied by dididi16 on 03-Jan-2009 01:59 (Ref 1558327) Report
if you are worried you could ring the home care doctors who come to your home anytime after 6pm the number is in the phone book I think its under home care
Replied by Anklebiters-Kidz-Wear on 03-Jan-2009 02:00 (Ref 1558328) Report
Over 40 is definitely getting too high it also depends on how you are measuring the temperature eg underarm, mouth etc as it varies for each one, icey poles are also great for cooling temperatures.

Regards,
Queen
Replied by gold on 03-Jan-2009 02:02 (Ref 1558329) Report
Thanks everyone. It is sittng at 38.6 right now.

I have wet cloths on his forehead and neck.

I have him an icy pole about half hour ago - he threw up everywhere lol but his temp had dropped a little at least.

I have put him in my bed so I can monitor him throughout the night.

I gave him panadol about 2 hours ago.
Replied by WiccanMum on 03-Jan-2009 02:02 (Ref 1558330) Report
Once you get into the 40's kids are at risk of febrile convulsions. I'm a nurse with neonatal/paeds and emergency trainging. I also have three kids. I have seen what it looks like and it aint pretty. Panadol/Ibruprofen (if he's not asthmatic) and a tepid bath will help, if temp not down to at least 36.5 in an hour or two, off to casualty. Being febrile means your body is trying to fight off an infection.
Replied by gold on 03-Jan-2009 02:04 (Ref 1558331) Report
mama... is that right? It needs to get down to 36.5?
Replied by WiccanMum on 03-Jan-2009 02:10 (Ref 1558332) Report
  • 36.5 is the average ideal temp for adults and adolescents
  • A temperature between  36.1 to 37.2 degrees Celsius (C), is considered normal.
  • A temperature of 37.8 to 38.9 degrees C is usually called a low-grade fever.
  • A temperature of  39.5 degrees C or higher is called a high-grade fever.
  • Generally, oral temperatures of 38.9 degrees C or higher are fevers that may be more serious.
Replied by WiccanMum on 03-Jan-2009 02:12 (Ref 1558333) Report
Sounds like your son may have a bit of gastro, if he's vomitting. Fever and chills/shakes are common too. Try and keep his fluids up, as much as he can tolerate, though I do know that's easier said than done. A tepid bath as opposed to a cold/cool bath/shower as the skin reacts to the cold by constricting its blood vessels, which will trap body heat. The cold may also cause shivering, which can generate more heat.
If it's anything like what my kids and I are recovering from, it only lasts 48-72 hours but it really knocked us for six.
Don't leave it too long. Your gut instinct as a Mum will kick in when it needs to and you will know (hopefully) when to bundle him up and take him to the doctors/casualty.
Good luck!
Replied by gold on 03-Jan-2009 02:19 (Ref 1558334) Report
OK temp was about 36 a few mins ago so seems to be settling down now.

that was the first time he vomited and i think it might have been too much water along with the icy pole.

Thanks so much mama for all your advice and to everyone else as well.

I tried googling but could only find what the normal temp is not what is considered too high. I'm sure I could have found it if I had the patience to read through the pages but I was in a hurry.

I can always rely on OZzies to have the answers LOL..
Replied by WiccanMum on 03-Jan-2009 02:21 (Ref 1558336) Report
Hope he feels better soon. And that you can finally get to sleep! I know I need to!
Replied by pmtee on 03-Jan-2009 03:10 (Ref 1558338) Report
could be appendix too...........
Replied by pmtee on 03-Jan-2009 03:14 (Ref 1558339) Report
Replied by mamacrass on 03-Jan-2009 02:02 (Ref 1558330) Report
Once you get into the 40's kids are at risk of febrile convulsions. I'm a nurse with neonatal/paeds and emergency trainging. I also have three kids. I have seen what it looks like and it aint pretty. Panadol/Ibruprofen (if he's not asthmatic) and a tepid bath will help, if temp not down to at least 36.5 in an hour or two, off to casualty. Being febrile means your body is trying to fight off an infection.
mama.nearly lost my daughter when she had febrile convulsions, grand mal and tonic clonic clusters all at once. Her temp was 38. They had to put her in an induced coma on life support after she stopped breathing in the ambulance on the way to the hospital The couldnt go to the best hospital for her then because after bagging her, they took her to the closest hospital to stabalise her and then transfer her. it aint scary, it is extremely frightening, especially when you see your child dying/dead and noone will tell you what is happening.
Replied by gold on 03-Jan-2009 03:22 (Ref 1558340) Report
pmt... he's had his appendix out already
Replied by pmtee on 03-Jan-2009 03:23 (Ref 1558341) Report
okies.....
Replied by gold on 03-Jan-2009 18:16 (Ref 1558914) Report
Update...

Temperature was still running pretty high this morning so I made them squeeze me in for the first appointment of the day at the local medical centre. (With my shoulder injury last year they all know me very well LOL).

Turns out he has a serious case of bronchitis.
Replied by gold on 08-Jan-2009 21:20 (Ref 1566333) Report
Update

So the bronchitis didn't settle down. After 3 full days of temperatures ranging between 38 and 39.5, even though he was on strong antibiotics, I took him to the after hours medical centre and they gave him some ventalin and suggested to take him back to the doctors again if it didn't settle after another 24 hours.

Took him to the local GP the next afternoon who referred him for an xray which we had done yesterday morning. Back to the GP who told me that he has pneumonia and gave us a referral to the local hospital and told me to take him there straight away. Said he would need IV antibiotics and an overnight hospital stay.

So we spent from 2.30 to 10.30 at the hospital yesterday afternoon/night only to be told that they would not keep him overnight. After some stern words from me because of how sick my son obviously was, they did give him some antibiotics IVly and then sent us home with a script for a different type of a/b to be taken in conjunction with the ones he is already taking.

For the last few days he has been coughing almost nonstop, but today, finally, the cough has eased considerably.

Poor boy has lost over a week of his holidays and we may now not be able to travel to Sydney next week to visit his cousins for 6 days :-(

At least he is now on the mend it seems, but it has not been much fun for either of us.
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