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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU? 4 day Fever and I’m panicking

117 replies

CaffeineChaosandCuddles · 20/12/2025 14:32

My daughter is on day 4 of a fever. It’s been anywhere from 37.6-39.5. Calpol / nurofen ALWAYS brings it down ( not to normal, but it reduces )

she’s negative for Flu A, B & Covid

Today she’s only needed one lot of Calpol which brought a temp of 38.0 to around the 37.5 mark, which I’m happy with, but yesterday afternoon it snot up again to 39.5 so I feel incredibly anxious and on edge.

shes seen a GP, said her chest was clear and said tonsillitis immediately after looking in her throat, and gave her antibiotics - but stated it could be viral, but antibiotics are to be taken incase it’s bacterial.

her symptoms are/have been:

• coughing
• snotty ( more today )
• headaches ( gone today )
• lack of appetite ( which seems to be back today, ate a fruit salad for breakfast, pizza at lunch and is now asking for a hot chocolate )

I suffer with terrible health anxiety since my son was born extremely premature and was on life support 18 months ago.

my eldest is very rarely sick, so to see her ill- my mind races to like a child hood cancer, like leuk because of the temps going up for 4 days now.

I spoke to the doctor last night and he didn’t really seem concerned. Can 4 days of temp simply be normal for a virus?! ( or bacterial, but me and husband are swaying towards virus because she’s been on the antibiotics for 72 hours now and other symptoms improving, the temp isn’t )

AIBU to catastrophise? thank you. X

OP posts:
Original poster
CaffeineChaosandCuddles · 20/12/2025 16:30

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 20/12/2025 16:28

• lack of appetite ( which seems to be back today, ate a fruit salad for breakfast, pizza at lunch and is now asking for a hot chocolate )

So eating and drinking normally, then.

I sad it ‘seems to be back today’ so unsure of sarcasm when I’m worried about my child.

her temp has raised to 38.4 again.. we are on the 4th day and she’s done well to not get a temp like this before, but I’m not sure if it’s normal to last 4 days +!

OP posts:
Zanatdy · 20/12/2025 16:30

I have had 3 kids, all adults now and I wouldn’t be concerned at all. Quite normal for kids to be sick for several days. My middle chid used to spike very high fevers, up to 40. I took him to out of docs once as his lips turned blue, otherwise I managed the symptoms.

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 20/12/2025 16:28

• lack of appetite ( which seems to be back today, ate a fruit salad for breakfast, pizza at lunch and is now asking for a hot chocolate )

So eating and drinking normally, then.

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 20/12/2025 16:25

CaffeineChaosandCuddles · 20/12/2025 15:32

Does several days include 4?

Show quote history

Yes of course it does.

Just treat it as a bad cold, which it is.

gamerchick · 20/12/2025 16:21

Nothing you've said would overly worry me OP. A temp 40 and over and won't come down I'd get concerned. Stop checking the temp so much.

This is your anxiety. The bairn will get better, you know what the issue is. It'll pass.

Applespearsandpeaches · 20/12/2025 16:21

Sounds like a totally normal winter illness, with which a fever is normal and actually helpful in fighting the virus - my own child wouldn’t have seen a doctor at all at this point from the symptoms you describe and would only have had calpol if they were distressed or in pain. Your child has been seen by a doctor who has made a perfectly reasonable diagnosis and is unconcerned. You’re making one hell of a big leap to be even thinking about leukaemia or childhood cancer.

For your sake and for that of your child please seek medical help in the new year for your health anxiety.

Hankunamatata · 20/12/2025 16:16

GP has told you tonsillitis. That will take a week to clear at the minimum. Chuck the thermometer out.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 20/12/2025 16:10

My child had a 9 day temperature as a child. It just went on the 10th day.

I'd only be very concerned if she didn't seem herself eg was lethargic, not drinking or eating anything, can't muster up a smile. If she is ok after calpol and still wanting to play a bit (albeit more grouchy than normal) I'd be less worried

Catza · 20/12/2025 15:44

You are posting every day about the same issue. The problem with health anxiety is that reassurance is not helpful. It makes things worse. You feel temporary relief and then the cycle starts again, so you need even more reassurance.

Learn to sit with the discomfort.

Nineandahalf · 20/12/2025 15:36

Whenever my son is ill he always has a temp for around 5-6 days on and off.
I am never worried unless he's refusing any liquids.

ifeelsounwell · 20/12/2025 15:33

She has a cold.

She is eating and drinking.

Original poster
CaffeineChaosandCuddles · 20/12/2025 15:32

Pranksters · 20/12/2025 14:39

You don’t have to treat a temperature, treat the child not the number.

Yes viruses can last several days with temperatures. Are you getting help for your anxiety?

Edited

Does several days include 4?

OP posts:
Pranksters · 20/12/2025 14:39

You don’t have to treat a temperature, treat the child not the number.

Yes viruses can last several days with temperatures. Are you getting help for your anxiety?

BrewDawgg · 20/12/2025 14:38

Yes perfectly normal. Treat the child in front of you not the number on the thermometer

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 20/12/2025 14:36

That sounds completely normal for a viral illness.

Tryingtoconceivenumber2 · 20/12/2025 14:36

My 5 year old was like this a few weeks ago. It last for a week altogether and the temp went up and down over the days from just over 39 to about 37.8 ISH.

She had headaches for 5 days which worried me but i think it was her sinuses as once her nose was more runny she improved. She had a sore throat and cough lasted a week. Also had viral rash. It wasn't COVID but it was nasty x

AutumnClouds · 20/12/2025 14:34

It sounds like she has a horrible cold, it’s great that she’s managing to eat a bit and that the medicine works to bring her temp down. Thousands of children with the same symptoms at the moment, let yourself relax! Hope she feels better soon.

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