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at what point is a fever dangerous?

at what point is a fever dangerous?

Old Sep 30th 2010, 10:37 am
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Default at what point is a fever dangerous?

Hi any medics out there??? daughter (17years) has fever of 38.4 and shivering uncontrollably. Bit achy and head ache, nauseaus but no rashes. Giving paracetemol and cool towel which hope will help. Just wondering at what point i should worry (more than a mother already does when one of her own is sick)
AND whilst she is burning up she is cold and wrapped up - do i take blankets off her to cool temp down and make her shiver more so or leave her wrapped up? Should probably already know this stuff but we just dont really do sickness in this house!
thanks folks x
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Old Sep 30th 2010, 10:47 am
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Default Re: at what point is a fever dangerous?

Originally Posted by daunted
Hi any medics out there??? daughter (17years) has fever of 38.4 and shivering uncontrollably. Bit achy and head ache, nauseaus but no rashes. Giving paracetemol and cool towel which hope will help. Just wondering at what point i should worry (more than a mother already does when one of her own is sick)
AND whilst she is burning up she is cold and wrapped up - do i take blankets off her to cool temp down and make her shiver more so or leave her wrapped up? Should probably already know this stuff but we just dont really do sickness in this house!
thanks folks x
Not a medic person, but I would phone your GP or med emergency number now and ask them.
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Old Sep 30th 2010, 10:49 am
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Default Re: at what point is a fever dangerous?

Originally Posted by daunted
Hi any medics out there??? daughter (17years) has fever of 38.4 and shivering uncontrollably. Bit achy and head ache, nauseaus but no rashes. Giving paracetemol and cool towel which hope will help. Just wondering at what point i should worry (more than a mother already does when one of her own is sick)
AND whilst she is burning up she is cold and wrapped up - do i take blankets off her to cool temp down and make her shiver more so or leave her wrapped up? Should probably already know this stuff but we just dont really do sickness in this house!
thanks folks x
How long has she had the fever? Does the paracetamol bring her temperature down at all? If you are unsure phone 1800 022 222 which is the Health Direct phone number. Staffed by qualified senior nurses they will advise the best course of action for you.
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Old Sep 30th 2010, 10:52 am
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Default Re: at what point is a fever dangerous?

Originally Posted by daunted
Hi any medics out there??? daughter (17years) has fever of 38.4 and shivering uncontrollably. Bit achy and head ache, nauseaus but no rashes. Giving paracetemol and cool towel which hope will help. Just wondering at what point i should worry (more than a mother already does when one of her own is sick)
AND whilst she is burning up she is cold and wrapped up - do i take blankets off her to cool temp down and make her shiver more so or leave her wrapped up? Should probably already know this stuff but we just dont really do sickness in this house!
thanks folks x
According to my medical handbook..

An infection will not generally elevate core temp above 40.5c.
Anything higher would be heat illness.

A temp caused by an infection higher than 38 can be treated and made more comfortable with Asprin, Ibruprofen but should not be used under age 17..it can cause liver failure..

Above 40c - sponge wiith lukewarm water.

Those chills are caused by the release of bacteria or viruses into the bloodstream.

41.5 is considered a medical emergency - not sure of this.
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Old Sep 30th 2010, 11:00 am
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Default Re: at what point is a fever dangerous?

Fever is normal infection response - keep her well hydrated and in loose clothing and try to keep room temperature constant. Keep her in blankets if she is cold but dont be tempted to wrap her too tightly or warm as you want to cool her body temp not keep it high. Any fever that reaches 40 degrees or more can be dangerous, as can a prolonged fever, so if it gets up past 39 or lasts for more than 48 hours I'd be calling a doctor. If she vomits, is confused, light hurts her eyes etc or she seems to get worse, call a doctor. Better to be sure and thats what they are there for.

Hope she gets well soon.
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Old Sep 30th 2010, 11:01 am
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Default Re: at what point is a fever dangerous?

The most important thing is to get her temp down asap and get her to drink lots of fluids.
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Old Sep 30th 2010, 1:25 pm
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Default Re: at what point is a fever dangerous?

Thanks guys - after her temp reached 39.9 spoke to the doc. Confirmed what has been said here. If it goes above 40 and you cant get it back down again then call back. In the meantime plenty fluids and paracetomol every 4 hours. Its gonna be a long night me thinks. Not only is she sick but my son snapped his tibia in half on monday at soccer country week in perth so he is now home and needing nursing Anyone for wine????????
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Old Sep 30th 2010, 1:28 pm
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Default Re: at what point is a fever dangerous?

Originally Posted by daunted
Thanks guys - after her temp reached 39.9 spoke to the doc. Confirmed what has been said here. If it goes above 40 and you cant get it back down again then call back. In the meantime plenty fluids and paracetomol every 4 hours. Its gonna be a long night me thinks. Not only is she sick but my son snapped his tibia in half on monday at soccer country week in perth so he is now home and needing nursing Anyone for wine????????
Stay off the wine,you'll prob fall over and break yer arm
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Old Oct 1st 2010, 12:43 am
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Default Re: at what point is a fever dangerous?

Originally Posted by daunted
Thanks guys - after her temp reached 39.9 spoke to the doc. Confirmed what has been said here. If it goes above 40 and you cant get it back down again then call back. In the meantime plenty fluids and paracetomol every 4 hours. Its gonna be a long night me thinks. Not only is she sick but my son snapped his tibia in half on monday at soccer country week in perth so he is now home and needing nursing Anyone for wine????????

Good luck!
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Old Oct 1st 2010, 1:02 am
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Default Re: at what point is a fever dangerous?

I asked our doctor about this a while ago. He said that if the temp reaches 41.5c, and you can't get it to go down using panadol after a few hours, then go to emergency.

Personally I'd play it a bit more on the safe side, and go sooner rather than later.

But forgetting the "upper limit" mentioned above- the most important thing, is to observe the patient's condition.

If I get a fever of 40c, but I'm not in too much discomfort, I'm not going to worry too much. But if I get a fever of 38.8c, I feel sick, lethargic, my face looks grey and my lips are a funny blue colour...I'll be far more worried.

Anyone reading this thread - take it for what it is, just comments on an internet forum. Don't rely on it. Rely on advice from your doctor or hospital instead.
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Old Oct 1st 2010, 2:03 am
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Default Re: at what point is a fever dangerous?

I wonder what the normal temperature is, when I worked as a care assistant in my younger days, we were told 37.4.

My temperature rarely goes above 36.7 and when it reaches 37 degrees I start to feel ill, I had strep throat last year and my temp was 37.8 in the beginning and I felt dreadful, the highest it reached was 39.5 and I was in hospital.

To me, a temp of 38 degrees is high and I would be ill with that but I wonder what the 'normal' body temp is these days - according to medics.
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Old Oct 1st 2010, 2:49 am
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Default Re: at what point is a fever dangerous?

The normal body temp range is 36.5-37.5
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Old Oct 1st 2010, 4:05 am
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Default Re: at what point is a fever dangerous?

Originally Posted by daunted
Thanks guys - after her temp reached 39.9 spoke to the doc. Confirmed what has been said here. If it goes above 40 and you cant get it back down again then call back. In the meantime plenty fluids and paracetomol every 4 hours. Its gonna be a long night me thinks. Not only is she sick but my son snapped his tibia in half on monday at soccer country week in perth so he is now home and needing nursing Anyone for wine????????
Hope they're all better soon Mand. At least it's school hols right?
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Old Oct 1st 2010, 10:26 pm
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Default Re: at what point is a fever dangerous?

Thanks everyone! After 24 hours vomiting and not being able to keep her temp down I have just returned from 8 hours in a&e before she has been admitted for IV fluids and antibiotics. She has picked up a nasty infection, possibly a kidney infection as she has a dodgy kidney from an infection whilst much younger.
Am off for 2 hours kip before heading back for the doctors rounds
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Old Oct 1st 2010, 11:31 pm
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Default Re: at what point is a fever dangerous?

Hope shes ok xxx

make the son a packed lunch n leave it in a backpack, he can carry it around etc then if hes on crutches...
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