Just been made to feel like a neurotic mother

[viiswi]

Hi

My son 8 came out of school with a headache and temperature of 38.2.

He was very drowsy. SHivering, etc.

I made him an emergency GP appointment.

There was a fan blowing in the waiting room. My son really pearked up before we went in to see the GP.

GP said how well he looks. I told him how bad he as before.

GP took temperature, it was 37.

We got home 10 minutes later and its 38.5!!

What on earth is going on? SO fed up!

[Pannacott]

In the nicest possible way, you should read NHS guidelines about what to do when you have a health concern. The guidance is not to see a GP for a child under 5 unless the fever is over 39 degrees or you have other concerns (or it's lasted over 5 days).

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/treating-high-temperature-children/

[qwertyuiopy]

OMG I’m so glad I have private health insurance!

OP you did the right thing as you were worried. Ignore the nhs nazis. Hope your son’s temperature settles down, get him under a fan if you have one.

[laptopdisaster]

@qwertyuiopy health insurance in the UK doesn't cover primary care

[qwertyuiopy]

laptopdisaster I just walk into the doctors and they sort it later.

[Sirzy]

Going to the drs at the first sign of a slight temp does seem over the top.

Lots of fluid and rest, keep the air around him cool, if uncomfy give some calpol.

[DrWhy]

At 38.5 I’d give him paracetamol every 3 to 4 hours (check for the max dose in 24 hours) or alternate with ibuprofen. Give cuddles and lots of fluids and hope you don’t get puked on!

[MiniAlphaBravo]

That’s really not that high at all. Just keep an eye on him and give calpol if needed. Sorry but making an emergency appointment for that is ridiculous.

[182yellowsnails]

I agree with others I'm afraid there was no need to rush off to the doctors with these symptoms.

[bargainbin]

That's why I don't understand why people think the NHS is so amazing, if you think your kid needs medical attention you should be able to seek it without feeling guilty or like you're a time waster. Where I live you pay for the doctor or if you can't afford to you're assessed and means tested for a medical card which gives you free GP care.

[SoddingUnicorns]

Dampen his hair, and give calpol if his fever spikes again.

I put off going to the docs this week, and I wish I fucking hadn’t.

[Isadora2007]

A fever doesn’t even need treated. Stop trying to fight his natural immune response- a fever should only be treated when it is causing distress to the child and an 8 year old can easily describe their symptoms to you. So you were unreasonable to even take up a GP appt with an 8 year old who was a bit hot. 🙄

[SoddingUnicorns]

A fever doesn’t even need treated

That is a profoundly dangerous and false statement to make. Fevers can cause febrile convulsions, hyperthermia and other problems.

Stop telling OP she did the wrong thing!

[Sirzy]

Sodding, I suggest you check nice guidelines for fever.

[pastabest]

Sorry, I wouldn't even take my toddler to the GP with a temp of 38.2 unless it had been going on for some time (like days, not hours).

Surely if he was that unwell the school would have rung you long before school pick up time?

Given the time you posted you must have pretty much rung the GP as soon as he came out of school to get an appointment that fast?

Perhaps your thermometer isn't working?

[BrutusMcDogface]

Yup, very ott. That temperature is not even that high.

[PeterPiperPickedSeaShells]

What measures had you taken to care for him yourself? Calpol, neurofen etc...?
I see this sort of thing everyday in the Urgent Care Centre I work in, so I'm not actually surprised

[PattiStanger]

Tbh I think it is a bit neurotic to take up a GPs time with a slight temperature

[Thewheelshavefallenoffthebus]

That temp can cause febrile convulsions. Check your facts people.

Op, you were worried, you know your child best. Ignore everyone else.

Definitely calpol to keep it under control

[harridan50]

If you are worried about a child please see your gp they would rather reassure you than miss a sick child.

[AssassinatedBeauty]

I don't understand why you went straight to an emergency GP appointment, before trying the usual things to treat his symptoms. Are there other health issues that might complicate things?

[LemonBreeland]

Do 8 year olds get febrile convulsions Thewheelshavefallenoffthebus?

It does seem a bit OTT OP to go to the GP without trying to treat it at home first. If he managed school okay and didn't get sent home then I don't see the reason for the GP.

[MynameisJune]

Actually it isn’t the temp that causes the convulsion it’s how quickly it climbs. That’s why some kids have them at 38 and some don’t have them despite temps of 40/41.

Generally fevers don’t need to be seen straight away, if it doesn’t come down with meds then that might be a cause for concern.

[Theknacktoflying]

The boy is 8 - febrile conculsions occur in children younger than 6 because they are unable to control their temp.
A temp is a sign that the ody is fighting an infection and at 1st instance can be treated with OTC stuff.
Deep breath, do what you feel is needed and hope your son feels etter soon

[pastabest]

That temp can cause febrile convulsions. Check your facts people.

In an 8 year old who was fine once they had some cool air circulated round them and had a normal temperature taken by the GP?

I was being serious when I suggested the OP needs to check her thermometer is working properly if 10 minutes after the GP has taken a normal temperature hers is showing a high temperature again.

[MiniAlphaBravo]

Febrile convulsions in an 8 year old that’s been at school all day and has a temp of 38.2?!? About as likely as I am to win euro millions!