Any GPs or doctors around? Very high temp in a child and no other symptoms

[dustiseverywhere]

My DS10 came down with a temp this evening of 39.7, which I tested after a couple of hours of him saying he was cold.

No other symptoms at all; No sore throat, no swollen tonsils or redness or spots in mouth or roof of mouth, no pain anywhere, he has what look very much like six insect bites on his bum, and they blanch with the glass test and remain so after several tests. We have had mozzies in the house this week and I was bitten too. He has No other spots or rash and no muscle pain. He ate a small dinner and had two large glasses of water.

I have tested his wee and the top one on the Reagant strips is purple and this apparently means signs of infection. Can anyone tell me does this mean an infection somewhere in the body, or a UTI? I have the strips for me (long term health issues) but am not medically trained.

I have given calpol and ibuprofen and his temp dropped over two hours to 37.9

I put him to bed, he said he felt horrible. And he fell straight asleep.

My plan is to check him a couple of times tonight.

Has anyone kids had any viruses this week that start with a high temp and nothing else, or is a UTI my prime suspect?

My DD spiked a temperature the other day of 38.5 (which is high for her, she's prone to convulsions if it gets ti 39 or higher). She was fine in herself, a little off food but nothing abnormal. She also kept shivering.

She was fine after a sleep. And temp was normal by following morning. Guessing it was a 24 hour viral bug.

Hi - it does vary according to different Urine testing strips. I'm going by the ones I use. It's usually stated on the jar how long they can be used once opened.

If there are no other symptoms it's not a cause for concern unless it fails to resolve in 72 hours. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen shouldn't generally be given together. I'd stick with ibuprofen. I'd stop treating it tomorrow and see if the fever returns.

I'm sorry he's feeling poorly.

I'm immunosuppressed (not from chemo though) and I completely understand you not wanting to get sent to A&E.

If it were me, my first choice would be to call 111 but I'd send DP to A&E if they wanted the child to go in.

Otherwise I'd keep and eye and try for an OOH or walk in tomorrow.

• I say this with zero medical background or knowledge.

I’m not medically trained but from experience from 3 dcs this would not concern me. I’d check on them during the night and see if there’s any other symptoms in the morning.

I know it’s hard when you start worrying though! It’s always at night too that they get unwell, isn’t it. Hope you can both get some rest and he’s ok in the morning x

DD(1) had a temp that peaked at 41° for a day and a night, was crying on and off but otherwise fine in herself. Then the spots started to appear and it developed into chicken pox. We just made sure she had plenty of fluids and she was fine after a week. If my PFB had had a temp that insanely high I would have rushed to A&E, but this being DD2, we knew that the height of the temp is not as important as the behaviour of the child. If they're floppy or dazed or listless, seek medical attention immediately. Otherwise, just wait it out.

Glad his temperature is back down OP. Try not to worry now and get some rest yourself.

Hope hes bstter in mor n

Let his body use the temperature to fight off whatever infection he is brewing. He is old enough to communicate how he feels so if he gets pain or feels worse you can medicate at that point.

I think it does sound like a uti

Id ring 111 first thing in the morning and get seen by a gp

If any other symptoms (vomiting etc) then ring 111 earlier

Given his temperature has come down I’d keep an eye on him overnight and see how he is in the morning.

Disclaimer: not a medic! The height of temperature not showing how serious things are applied here...DH routinely spikes a temperature just shy of 40 for colds. My MIL sighed when I asked and said he’d done that all his life and she’d had to learn not to panic.

I’m an HCP and here’s what I would do with my own children.

Calpol and neurofen, strip the child off and lay under a sheet, get them to go back to sleep and plenty of fluids when awake. If the temperature keeps coming back up, use the calpol and neurofen within the guidelines on the packet and get a GP appointment for tomorrow.

GP here. As others have said, there a lot of myths around fevers. At your sons age, fever is not dangerous and there is no need to bring the fever down if he’s feeling well. I usually advise to give Calpol or ibuprofen on the basis of misery, not the basis of the number on the thermometer. The number is not important.

We have evolved to develop a fever because viruses and bacteria live at body temperature. Fever is the body’s natural way to try to kill the virus or bacteria .

UTI is rate in boys his age, I wouldn’t normally test a sample at this stage if he has no ultimatum symptoms.

I hope he’d feeling better today.

Oh dear, typos. Urinary symptoms, not ultimatum!

Thanks all, he was pretty miserable today with fever and lower back pain. Got a GP appt who says dipstick is normal, tho he's sending it off for MSU. He thinks that as DS's neck glands are up, it's the start of a virus. Thanks for all yr reassurances