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AIBU?

AIBU to think 38 temp every afternoon isn't normal? Gp useless!

88 replies

Dennisreynoldsduster · 13/06/2021 11:47

DC had a virus and ended up in hospital for a night a month and a half ago. He had a fever, it came down and was normal for a few days, then (because we were told to keep tabs on him for a week) it started going up in the afternoons. Always the same time. Up to 38, would come down on its own without calpol.
He's a hot boy, we've never had a reading in the 36 bracket unless it's the early hours of the morning but surely this must mean he still has an underlying infection somewhere?

He's well, apart from some teeth coming through, and eating (pickier at lunchtime for some reason now) fine, drinking liquids, wet and dirty nappies (teething nappies are such a joy), he's playing, chattering, shouting, up to all kinds of mischief.

Because he's fine in himself, GP not even slightly interested, just said put the thermometer down and go on how he feels. But I'm only using the thermometer because with the kiss test he feels hot!

I'm a bit annoyed that the GP hasn't even seen him, and worried he could have a UTI even though the GP said because his nappies don't smell funny and he's not struggling to pass urine, it won't be that.

Am I being too PFB? I am prone to anxiety - health anxiety in particular - so I do find it hard to navigate instinct/irrational and rational reactions. DH thinks if GP says all fine, it's fine but I just can't see how 38 is normal - it's a fever!

He's had two covid PCR tests during this, plus the one at hospital, and all negative so it's not that, and GP knows all tests were negative so I thought he might see him now and check his ears/chest/throat etc.

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Lucifersladylove · 13/06/2021 11:50

Body temperature isn’t the same for everyone. If he runs hot anyway it could well be that this is normal for him. Body temperature does rise in the afternoon typically. If he looks well then i would agree with your gp that he’s fine.

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Dennisreynoldsduster · 13/06/2021 11:52

I'm worried though as he starts nursery soon and surely they're not going to accept that 38 is okay? He feels hot to touch his forehead when he gets like this, so it's not like he feels a comfortable temp if that makes sense?

I think he does run warm although I don't really know what is typical for him I'm just assuming he runs warm because we've never had a reading in the 36's

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JudgeRindersMinder · 13/06/2021 11:53

I think if he seems well, and his temp is following a daily pattern, then the GP’s advice is right. Step back from the thermometer

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vivainsomnia · 13/06/2021 11:58

teething can give a low grade fever. It's normal.

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snowdropsandcrocuses · 13/06/2021 11:58

Temperature is only one guide of illness. I have phoned the doctor when dc had temps over 39 and sometimes 40 but they still weren't overly concerned. Honestly as long as dc is well in himself, eating, drinking and passing urine then I really would step away from the thermometer.

Nursery won't even ask what his afternoon temp is, especially if he is running normal in the mornings. You know your child so if there are other symptoms then of course get them checked out but really from what you say it doesn't sound like anything to worry about. There's really not much they can do with a mild temp anyway except advise calpol, keeping him in cool clothing and keep fluids up.

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Angrymum22 · 13/06/2021 12:00

Have you tried a different thermometer. It may need recalibrating.

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Dennisreynoldsduster · 13/06/2021 12:04

The thermometer is fine, it's a Braun one, using the braun covers and new batteries. He's cooler with an under arm, but then under arm reading is cooler and if you add on a degree it's the same as the ear one.

Just everything I have read says 38 fever so I'm confused as to why it would keep happening. He's in the mid 37s normally as far as I can see (that's as far as it comes down during the day apart from at night when it comes right down)

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imaginethemdragons · 13/06/2021 12:07

Agree 100% with GP

I don’t own a thermometer to be honest.

If child feels warm to touch but is eating, drinking, peeing, pooing and playing it has absolutely no consequence.
If hot with uncomfortable symptoms then fluids, fluids and calpol. Keep an eye.

A high temperature is the bodies normal and natural response to fight off bugs, so unless symptoms I let the body do what it needs to do.

So yes, put the thermometer down otherwise you will be continuously worrying over minor illness.

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Dennisreynoldsduster · 13/06/2021 12:09

thank you. I just thought because it's been going on for weeks, surely there must be an infection that needs treating.
He does feel hot sometimes which is when I use the thermometer, not just warm.

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cupsofcoffee · 13/06/2021 12:10

How do you know it didn't happen before the virus too?

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Dennisreynoldsduster · 13/06/2021 12:12

Well I don’t for sure but I never noticed him feeling hot on his forehead or looking hot

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PlonkyPlink · 13/06/2021 12:14

Your GP is right. Just because someone’s professional opinion does not agree with yours, does not make them “useless”. I admit to skin in the game as I am a GP, but no longer work in a GP surgery, partly as a result of this kind of attitude when I was working my arse off, not seeing my own kids, and doing the very best I could with limited time & resources.

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GreenBinLid · 13/06/2021 12:16

Why are you measuring his temp every afternoon? With kindness meant you need to chill out.

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cupsofcoffee · 13/06/2021 12:17

@Dennisreynoldsduster

Well I don’t for sure but I never noticed him feeling hot on his forehead or looking hot

But you won't have been looking out for it, or checking his temperature daily, so you really don't know for sure.

The fact that it happens daily and your son appears perfectly healthy suggests it's normal for him.
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fishonabicycle · 13/06/2021 12:17

If you think he has a UTI take a urine specimen to your surger in the morning and get it dipped

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itsgettingwierd · 13/06/2021 12:17

Ear thermometers can be inaccurate in young children.

You have to pull the ear lobe back and up.

I'd use a forehead one in a young child.

Other than that nursery are unlikely to test temperature in a child who seems well. Plus they won't be touching and kissing as much so won't feel he's a hot bod.

And if they do say something you can always get something from GP to clarify this is normal for him.

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Dennisreynoldsduster · 13/06/2021 12:20

@PlonkyPlink I don’t mean to offend. There is another Gp there who is great but this one is known for being dismissive

Forehead one reads a degree lower.

True I wouldn’t have been looking for it. It’s just making me so anxious that he might have something wrong and it be missed because nobody seems bothered about it

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Dennisreynoldsduster · 13/06/2021 12:20

I do the lobe pulling out and up thing as it says in the instructions

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nicknamehelp · 13/06/2021 12:20

if he's teething I would think it is that. If it was an infection he would be really unwell and not eating etc.

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Dennisreynoldsduster · 13/06/2021 12:25

He is definitely teething he has four teeth through. But he hasn't been teething the whole time it's been happening

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Teacupsandtoast · 13/06/2021 12:26

Put the thermometer down. There is absolutely no need to do a daily temp if he's fine in himself....it's summer, it's hot, he's going to feel warm.

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Soontobe60 · 13/06/2021 12:26

@Dennisreynoldsduster

The thermometer is fine, it's a Braun one, using the braun covers and new batteries. He's cooler with an under arm, but then under arm reading is cooler and if you add on a degree it's the same as the ear one.

Just everything I have read says 38 fever so I'm confused as to why it would keep happening. He's in the mid 37s normally as far as I can see (that's as far as it comes down during the day apart from at night when it comes right down)

Why are you taking his temperature in the middle of the night? I think you are worrying unnecessarily.
www.nhs.uk/conditions/fever-in-children/
This link says that you should contact your GP if your child has a temp over 38 for 5 days or more, or that does not go down even with paracetamol. It also says teething can cause high temperatures.

You say his temp fluctuates - if he had an untreated infection, it wouldn’t fluctuate and he would soon be very poorly, lethargic, signs of dehydration.
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Tinkywinkydinkydoo · 13/06/2021 12:27

I got advised not to use ear thermometers, they’re easy to get a wrong reading, if there’s a slight curved ear canal, ear wax or you don’t hold his ear in a certain position it won’t be an accurate reading. Also there’s no need to be checking his temp so much if he’s playing nice and happily , he might just be a warm child. You’re going to drive yourself and your dp and dr crazy checking all the time

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imaginethemdragons · 13/06/2021 12:27

Again, with kindness, why are you checking his temperature every day?

Can I ask, as I am curious, what do you mean by “treatment “? Do you want unnecessary antibiotics repeatedly? Do you want extra investigations that could be invasive, distressing, and again unnecessary?
If you do, then unfortunately you will be wanting these almost continuously until your child is an adult because he is going to have many many infections between now and then. Plus, no GP or DR will do any of this just to ease your anxieties.

Also just be aware of what you are teaching your child by being so anxious. He can see, hear and sense what you are doing and feeling, you could be setting him up for health anxiety mental health in his future.

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Tinkywinkydinkydoo · 13/06/2021 12:29

@Dennisreynoldsduster

He is definitely teething he has four teeth through. But he hasn't been teething the whole time it's been happening

Babies Teethe from about 2 months until all their teeth’s are through, just because you can’t see any breaking through the gums, the teeth are all still moving slowly up towards and hurting them
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