To think illnesses can't come on this quick

Flash fevers are extremely common. But i also think calling 111 or whatever is your first point of contact is always a good plan if you are anxious and they can monitor or guide you.

But check that it's not chickenpox before you decide to give ibuprofen. If she's not had it and not been vaccinated, it's probably best to stick with Calpol. Although having had it once, doesn't necessarily mean you can't get it again, as we found out when our child caught chickenpox for the 2nd time a few months ago.

Anyway, yes, illnesses can come on very quickly indeed. Flu is well known for it hitting hard and fast, much quicker than a cold. Likewise, I've caught a vomiting virus in under 24 hours of being exposed to someone with it.

Hope your daughter gets well soon x

I know that home schooled kids go out but may be sometimes you have few days you don't and she is rather sheltered. Not a problem, you will be fine

My GP recommends the Braun ear thermometer. I have the thermoscan 7 for my DD who is prone to febrile seizures, I’d highly recommend it.

Remember a fever is your body's way of burning off the virus. I know it can seem scary, but most fevers will not do your child any harm, and a normal fever is actually beneficial:

'Normal fevers between 100° and 104° F (37.8° - 40° C) are good for sick children. '

https://www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/a-z/fever-myths-versus-facts/

Hope your wee one feels better soon.

OP, I think there are two questions here: how long does it take for viruses to incubate (for symptoms to develop after exposure, so could she have picked this up on the trip); and could the symptoms come on very quickly, so could she go from well to sick within hours.

Most people are answering the second question, not the first, but I think @UnmentionedElephantDildo has answered the first and it sounds like they know what they're talking about and this could be a virus. I always thought Covid was about five days from exposure to symptoms, and colds were about three, but they sound much more knowledgeable.

Hope you are all feeling better soon - there is a lot of RSV going around and it is horrible.

Yes illnesses do come on quickly and are common, especially around this time of year. Try and stay calm and reassuring around your daughter and not let her see your internal panic. Keep her hydrated, let her rest and bring her temp down with calpol as you are already doing. Illnesses are going to be a common occurrence and are all part of growing up, I mean this kindly, it may be wise to seek help for your fear over this so you can handle it and so as not to pass this anxiety onto your daughter.

My memory is that you have to add one degree to underarm temperature, but I can’t remember whether that was C or F.

Go with the oral.

they do, I have only had flu once and it came on while I was out Christmas shopping. One minute I was happily browsing in a shop and the next I was shivering and faint and had to take a taxi home. I had only just recovered from being hospitalised with quinsy (that came on fast too, around 12 hours from first feeling a bit off to being unable to swallow) and I think my immune system was knackered.

Some years ago, I went into work feeling fine. By mid-morning, I was feeling a bit peaky, and by lunchtime, I was feeling very rough, so drove home.

Upshot was, I had chicken pox. I was floored for two weeks, off work for three in total, and in that one half-day when it all began, apparently infected several other people.

I honestly went from peachy to wiped out in hours, so I’d say yes, things can come seemingly out of nowhere and in next to no time.

Hope she - and you - are feeling much better soon.

Yes, there are rotten infections everywhere right now. Been floored for two days with one. Give electrolyte drinks if she doesn't want to eat.

I would add, just for info, Norovirus for example comes on literally within half an hour.
One minute you're hungry and eating, within half hour head is down the toilet (if lucky).
Not a case of the kid, just to be alert.
😳

Tonsillitis does that to me
I was working and felt fine, started shivering and my temp was 40c and by the evening my throat was full of gunk

Illnesses absolutely do come on that quickly.

There are really high rates of flu, covid and RSV about atm, and busy places are prime spots for being exposed to them.

Has she had her flu vaccine this year?

Do what’s needed to keep her comfortable, I don’t worry too much about what the thermometer says tbh but do use calpol and ibuprofen as needed to minimise their distress. Keep up her fluids and lots of cuddles. Hope she’s better soon and the rest of the family dodge it. Xx

Brace yourself OP. We had 41 c here all weekend!

You don't need to always seek medical advice for a fluctuating temperature especially not A&E. Consider all of the symptoms, do not fixate on the temperature alone.

Cross posted with @UnmentionedElephantDildo :-)

Do you mean that it's come on that quickly after being exposed to whatever random germ she has? If so, yes, definitely. But equally it could have been something that she's been brewing for a while, that you may have picked up ages ago and had asymptotically. E.g. the flu can be as little as a day but chicken pox can take 10-20 days between exposure and symptoms (which is why it's such a git in families as one child gets it after another and everyone goes stir crazy with cabin fever).

Covid's incubation period is typically 2-5 days, so she's bang on for that.

Flu is similar (1-5 days)

Less likely to be RSV (3-5 days)

Make sure she gets plenty of rest, ring 111 if you're worried she's not coping.

And as any/all of you could be brewing it up too, so keep away from other people as far as possible - no one wants this for Christmas (or indeed at all) - and if you have to go in to shared indoors space, wear a mask

Ibuprofen works better for a fever than paracetamol, if she can take it. Can you get some neurofen into her?

If she's home schooled she won't be mixing with the same amount of germs that school children do every day. So it stands to reason she probably won't be ill as much and her immune system will be less well-developed. She's been out mixing in London (THE place to pick something up if you ask me, its the concentration of people in small areas and many hands touching the same hand rail, tube button etc). She has most probably caught something from being out in public. That's totally normal.

It's most likely to be something viral. As others have said, you can alternative paracetamol and ibuprofen medicines.

Unfortunately there's a lot about at the moment. I went somewhere on a Saturday and by Monday afternoon I was very poorly with a very high temperature and the works.

Hope she feels better soon

They absolutely can come on that quickly!

I once sent my daughter into school at 8am in perfect health. On collecting her at 4:30pm she was clearly unwell with tonsillitis. By 8pm she was in hospital with her tonsils having completely swollen and near total blockage of her airways.

In 12 hours!

I hope your daughter feels better soon!

Yes they do OP.
you can give liquid ibuprofen and calpol when they’re poorly OP. I used to give both to mine a couple of hours apart. Just follow the dosage for each.