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Children's health

18m with low temperature.

20 replies

Bagofmashings · 27/12/2016 22:06

Not sure what to do here.
DS has been ill off and on for around a week. I wouldn't say very ill but a bit of a cough, temperature spiking at around 40 but coming down with calpol.
Last night he was inconsolable (v out of character) and when I took his temperature it ranged from 34.8 - 35.2 degrees. Phoned 111, who said go to a & e immediately, which we did at 1am. Got him checked out, still low temp with ear thermometer but higher under the arm. It turns out there's not much wrong, prob viral infection and he perked up massively. He wasn't too bed during the day, temp spiked at times but ok in himself really.
And now the same thing's happened again! Temp is 35.3 and he's very upset.
Any idea what could be causing this? He feels freezing on his head and hands. Obviously not going back to a and e tonight but maybe gp in the morning? Or just wait it out if if's a virus??

OP posts:

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Finelinebetweenchaos · 27/12/2016 22:10

Sorry OP, no words of wisdom but I do remember being told by my GP that it's fluctuations in temperature that are dangerous rather than a high temperature (or, I guess, a low temperature in and of itself). That is pretty cold though so I would call 111 and be prepared for another trip to the hospital. It's a pain but, if it were my DS, I wouldn't want to risk not having a medical professional check him over.

Hope he feels better soon!

Doje · 27/12/2016 22:12

This happened to DS2 not long ago, he's 1yo.

I googled a lot and just came up with a few comments that said this can happen at the end of an illness. DS had had a cold at the time so just put it down to that. He was fine in the morning.

As a caveat, I will say the other option was sepsis / meningitis, so keep watch! It freaked me out a bit reading that, but DS had been fine all day so I knew in my sane head that it wasn't serious. I hope I haven't freaked you out now too as I really don't mean to!

RockStonePebble · 27/12/2016 22:18

I would phone 111 again TBH. That's pretty low and given that he's very distressed, I would be concerned. There's been a lot of publicity about sepsis recently and that would be my fear. I think you need him seen again to make sure it's nothing serious.

Bagofmashings · 27/12/2016 22:23

Thanks for the replies. I think if I ring 111 they will say go back to a and e, which will be tricky tonight as she not here and will need someone to look after ds1. Obviously I'd sort that out if I thought really necessary but I suspect it would be a repeat of last night (felt like a waste of time for us all)

I think they were concerns about menhirs or
Sepsis last night Doije but was ruled out as he suddenly peeked up & started running around the waiting room and his temperature under his arm was normal.
I'm assuming if it was something v serious he would have been very ill all day wouldn't he?

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stillwantrachelshair · 27/12/2016 22:26

It sounds as though he is unwell & I would get him checked out. However, what is his normal temperature? DS' is between 35.5 & 35.8 with an in ear thermometer. No one knows why but, apparently, it can happen. I had to alert nursery & now school of this as him running a temp of, say 38.5 is much more of a spike for him than it would be for most other children.

Finelinebetweenchaos · 27/12/2016 22:26

Hmmm. It is tricky. It I think you need to go with your instincts OP. We can't tell you to ignore it and that he will be fine because we, obviously, can't know that - I think you are still concerned and given the severity of some of the conditions being mentioned I think you should call 111 and see what they say. Most likely it will be nothing but, if it were me, I wouldn't be able to sleep if I were worried.

Doje · 27/12/2016 22:29

Yeah, 111 are a bit trigger happy sending to A&E for the little ones.

Trust your instinct. He's been fine all day, and was checked out last night.

If it was me, I'd check in on him a couple of times in the night. If you start to get worried, phone 111 / go straight to A&E then.

Randonneur · 27/12/2016 22:30

Does his skin seem at all mottled or pale? That would be a red flag.

SoWorried2000 · 27/12/2016 22:35

My sister was very off colour with a low temp. Her skin went very mottled. She ended up having sepsis so please don't take any chances.

Bagofmashings · 27/12/2016 22:36

No, his skin looks normal to me. He's now asleep on me. I'll keep him here &'check his temp every so often. DH is going to try to get back asap in case I need to take him to a& e again. Thanks.

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Doje · 27/12/2016 23:00

Good luck Bag. Hope you both have a good night.

Also, you probably are doing already, but I'd stay away from the Calpol. You don't want his temp to fall any more.

bumpertobumper · 28/12/2016 01:13

Ds1 had this when he was that age, like you went to hospital where he recovered and sent home. It did happen again.
We were told that the body 'thermostat' can over correct when there has been a fever. Keep him warm, plenty of body heat as you are doing.
Good luck, hope he is all better soon!

bumpertobumper · 28/12/2016 01:17

Meant to say, it is alarming when they go cold like this. Fever is such a common thing that we are all used to and familiar with, feel comfortable treating, reading etc.
But no-one tells you that low temperature is a thing too, what it means etc.

RockStonePebble · 28/12/2016 10:19

How is he today OP?

Bagofmashings · 28/12/2016 22:18

Sorry for the delay on updating this.

He had a very restless night, wouldn't settle in his cot and he's never been good at sleeping in bed with me. His temperature at one point went down to 34.5 😱 and at that point he was really clammy and sweaty.
But it didn't last long and today he's been pretty much fine.
I'be been doing a lot of googling and am wondering if maybe he just gets cold at night. I've wrapped him up more than usual tonight and am hoping for the best.
Thanks for all the advice 😀

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jimijack · 28/12/2016 22:23

Just a thought but have you tried the thermometer on yourself? Just to make sure it is accurate.

Fair enough if the child feels that cold to touch, kids worry the life out of you don't they!
Glad he is better today

Bagofmashings · 28/12/2016 22:27

That was actually what 111 said to me Jimjack so obviously inaccurate thermometers are quite common but me and dh were normal temperature.

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ChristmasPeace · 28/12/2016 22:37

I had a similar problem with my 7 month old. He's been born prematurely and although was able to sleep alone now, I instinctively couldn't bring myself to leave his side. DH was having none of it so I lived on a camp bed for ages.

When he cried at night I felt his neck, chest and back, then stomach. All were cold to touch. I gave a feed then did skin-to-skin and wrapped us both in lots of blankets, and no word of a lie, it took an hour to warm him.

So I think you sleeping with him on you is a really good idea.

Witchend · 30/12/2016 21:31

Ds' temperature drops violently after he's had a fever regularly. The GP said this is obviously the way he reacts and not to worry unless he's showing other symptoms.

user1471538275 · 31/12/2016 15:29

Has he got waxy ears? The tympanic thermometers work by detecting heat from the ear drum - if they are blocked with wax (or pus from infection) then you get low temps. Try both ears to see if any variation.

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