Low temperature and screaming hysterically

[Zone2mum]

DS (18 months) has been on antibiotics since yesterday after several days of high fever following the onset of a cold (chest was crackly apparently). This follows a bout of tonsillitis over Easter where he also had to have antibiotics.
He has been himself most of the time, other than the fever spikes, though a few times today has had a burst of inconsolable crying, especially after nap. Quite fierce, harsh crying, where I almost wondered if he was in pain, but then he would be ok again. However he also has done this when his brother either snatched a toy from him or wouldn't give him a toy he wanted (so its hard to tell sometime what may have prompted an outburst).
This evening he has cried out a number of times since he has been asleep, culminating in absolutely hysterical crying, bodily rigidity and a markedly low temperature, barely scraping 35 ( underarm) and the digital forehead reader not even registering a reading, just stating low. He wasn't grabbing at any body part but seemed in such distress and bucking in my arms, it was very alarming. We managed to give some calpol but decided to take him to a and e as he wasn't appearing terribly responsive to us once the screaming calmed down. dh took him as we couldn't both go as older ds is fast asleep and we couldn't ask anyone to come over in middle of night.
We thought it was better to be over cautious than under-react.


I was wondering if anyone had any idea what might be the problem and some reassurance that we've done the right thing. He's never behaved like that. Before, apart from when he had strangulated Inguinal hernia as a baby, when the screaming was similar (but also threw up too then)

[Kickarsequeen]

Hi, you've done the right thing! Clearly something is not right! A kidney infection in a child can occasionally present with temperature spikes and drops. If this continues please ask for this to be checked! Whatever is causing it, clearly he is struggling to maintain his body temp! Hope he's feeling better soon!

[Zone2mum]

Thank you. I am anxiously awaiting the outcome and wish I could be there too. So hard to know what's wrong when they can't tell you themselves. A and E seemed like only choice but conscious of wasting people's time.

[Ginformation]

Maybe it was a night terror? The low temperature could indicate deep sleep and this could be happening. Petrifying, when my ds had a night terror I thought I was going to have a heart attack!

[Ginformation]

And don't worry about wasting anybody's time, tis what they are there for

[Zone2mum]

Thanks. They didn't know what was wrong, ruled out intusucception but commented it could have been and gone, otherwise no ideas. He seems ok now so that's the main thing.

[LoveSewingBee]

Low temperature could be an immune response to a virus (like high temperature). Some children get low temperatures, especially during the night, after they have been fighting a virus with high fever - this period is then followed by several nights of low temperature. Low temperature can also follow night sweats.

It is dangerous if the temperature becomes too low. So it is important to monitor this (ear thermometers are good as they don't wake the child). If the temperature is below 35.5, wake the child, give it a luke warm drink (chamomile tea, milk, etc.) and something sweet to eat (instant energy) like a cookie. Lots of skin to skin contact, if necessary wrap a blanket around both of you to warm the child (no baths!). You can prepare a thermosflask with chamomile tea (not milk as may go off) and some biscuits in advance, so you don't need to get up during the night. You may want to consider to have him sleeping with you for a few nights to make checking his temperature less disruptive for yourself.

Given how distressed he was you did absolutely the right thing. Better safe than sorry.