High Temp and Fluids

Jake has picked up the lovely flu DH bought home last week... Yah!

He woke with a temp of 38.5 and vomited, managed to get him to have some pamol and stripped and temp came down quickly to 37.7 and then slowly dropped to 36.6 (his normal temp).

He vomited 3 more times between 5.30am and 7.30am but is refusing to drink anything (though nothing really came out when he was sick as he must have had an empty tummy)....

He is sleeping now, but how long would you wait without fluids before taking him to GP/ED?

My brain is complete mush and I just cant get the common sense part to kick in this morning.

TIA

Ring healthline 0800611116

Here is the super handy advice my brother gave me:

RULE OF THUMB ON FLUID VOLUMES:

If they are behind on the fluids, try to give 5 ml per minute via syringe for 1-2hours, then switch to the formula on the next line:

If they are not behind on fluids, give 5 ml per 5m inutes for maintenance. Give an extra 50 ml per vomit/diarrhoea.

Sometimes you have to "force feed" them, giving 1ml bits at a time. It works, but is extremely draining emotionally on the parent.

If 5 ml at a time isn't working, see a doctor.


SOME GENERAL ADVICE ABOUT WHEN TO TAKE YOUR SICK BABY TO A DOCTOR OR HOSPITAL:

1. Whenever you want your baby reviewed. See a doctor everyday if you feel the need to. Doctors can't predict the course of a baby illness with 100% accuracy, unfortunately. So, if you think things have changed or are not going according to plan get a check.

2. If fluid intake is reduced, and you can't maintain input using the 5ml syringe trick.

3. Reduced number of wet nappies

4. Looking sick/pale.

5. Looking "not right" to you.

6. Fever over 38c all the time in a newborn (over 39c in a baby over 6/12). It's allowed to go over those figures, as long as it comes down again a couple of hours later.

7. Drowsy, difficult to rouse.

8. A dark red or purple skin rash that doesn't fade when you press on it with a finger or the end of a glass

9. More than intermittent vomiting.

My DS had a temp earlier during the week, pamol and a home made ice bloock helped heaps. Hope Jake gets better soon Sweetie.