My son's temperature is 39.5°C

[Jordancairns]

I really need some advice. I took my son to a&e today with a high fever of 38.5°C, fast breathing and shivering. The doctor seen him and sent us home, just telling us he had a viral infections. We've given him Calpol and steipped him down to his nappy but put a thin sheet over him. His temperature is 39.5°C at the moment and I don't know whether to take him back to the hospital. The only thing that seems wrong with him is his temperature which I've been told is fine as a fever is a good sign he's fighting the viral infection. When should I start to worry? Thank you in advance for any help you give.

Temps are fine as long as he’s coping. By that I mean not drowsy or difficult to wake, still weeing etc.

Does his temp reduce after the calpol? Did the hospital give any advice on alternating calpol and ibuprofen?

I took ds2 to the dcotors over the weekend.

I was told to give nurofen, wait half an hour and if the temp was still over 38 to give a dose of calpol.

I was also told that they can't do anything for a virus obviously, but because of fitting they really would like the temp to stay below 38.

If ds temp stayed above 38 they wanted me to bring him back in. Hope that helps (have you called 111?)

I’d expect his temp to come down within 30 mins with neurofen and/or calpol (given at the right intervals). I’d go back to gp or call 111 if that didn’t happen. But to be honest I think as long as it’s not over 40 and he doesn’t have any other symptoms then don’t panic. Keep him hydrated even if it’s just little sips. I give mine ice pops and jelly if they won’t drink.

If in doubt call 111. A&E isn’t the right place to start unless there are other serious symptoms.

Ds is 3.5 with a temperature. The doctor told me to give him plenty of fluids, really cold drinks, ice cream, ice lollies etc but if you are worried, trust your instincts.

Calpol doesn’t reduce temperature anywhere near as much as Ibuprofen so give that a go

Could be flu. My dds had a temp higher than that for days on end when they had swine flu. Very scary. The GP visited us at home that Christmas Eve, which i was very grateful for.
I would get advice if he seems any worse, particularly if his breathing changes. Have him in with you if he isn’t already, maybe do shifts through the night to keep a close eye. Flu can last a week, so his temp might not come down for a few days.
Hope he is better soon.

Just reread and saw you took him to A and E today! Why? GP should have been your first call. Even then, I wouldn’t have taken mine but I accept I’m a few more years down the line with parenting and have seen it all before.

If he seems fine I would not worry.

Dd2 used to run temperatures over 40, occasionally over 41, and I was told to look how she was rather than the temperature. She often seemed less ill at those temperatures than Ds did at 37.7.

Her temperatures typically stuck there, never going below 39, for three days and she'd then be fine

How old is he OP?

A and e isn’t really the place for high temperatures unless there are other things going on? Keep a close eye, keep child stripped off, lots of drinks, regular medicine (as on the bottle instructions). If they want a bath a nice, normal temperature bath (NOT a cold one), I’ve sometimes found that helpful for sorting temperatures.
Can you put your dc in your bed with you tonight so you can be closer to them, hear if they are very restless and check them more often?

Dd had temp of 38. Had been ill for a week. Took her to 0oh. Doc there said to take to hospital with temp over 38. She had pneumonia and three nights in hospital

Did your DD have other symptoms along with the temp though goposie?

You need to alternate calpol and neurophen. So that she’s havibg meds every two hours or so. If this doesn’t bring her temperature down then ring out of hours GP

Why don't you call 111 for proper medical advise, poor little soul, how old is he.

I would second the advice of a PP to give nurofen first and then a dose of calpol after 30 mins or so if there is no improvement in temperature (of course keeping within the recommended limits). I have had to do this a couple of times with DS when his temperature went over 40, and other methods weren’t working (I don’t think that having both calpol and nurofen together is normal practice, so it is a last line of defence I use). Strip down to nappy and keep the room cool-ish.

If you feel like the fast breathing is still concerning you or there is something that doesn’t feel right (listlessness, etc) don’t hesitate to call 111. They willl arrange for a doctor to call you back and they are usually quite thorough from my experience.

Agree with the PP that having him in bed with you may help you keep an eye on him.

Good luck with tonight - I hope that he feels better quickly

Age is important here as if he is under 3 months you should definitely get him seen again

My one year old has had 39.5 fever on and off for a week now. I just alternate calpol and ibuprofen. She's slowly getting better.

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

NHS guidance. I'd give 111 a call anyway if the temp isn't coming down with ibuprofen/Calpol if he is over 6months and call them regardless if he is under 6months.

A&e isn’t the appropriate place. Call 111 if you want advice - did they test his urine?

Please make sure you know the signs of sepsis in children before discounting taking your DC to A & E.

I wouldn't personally be bothered by that temp. Kids get much higher temps than adults- just do calpol/profen every two hours alternately.

My DD has been exactly the same today and she is prone to feberal convulsions..
We find nurofen brings hers down more effectively than calpol.

Nurofen and calpol should keep temp down.

We got an urgent appointment in hospital with a similar temp. It was tomsilutis so cdlpol and ibuprofen. I would definitely be ringing nhs