If a temp doesn’t drop below 38C do you call the Dr?

[Readysetcake]

DS 18months has had a temp of 39.5/40 since Saturday night. Yesterday it was coming down to 37.5 ish with paracetamol and ibuprofen. But today paracetamol doesn’t touch it and ibuprofen has brought it down from 39.4 to 38.4. Advice is to call Dr if pain relief doesn’t bring temp down....But do they mean doesn’t bring it down at all or doesn’t bring it below 38 (the threshold for fever).

He’s very sad but alert and not showing concerning in symptoms listed on NHS.

Is he drinking fluids?
Cool bath if you can’t get temp down. I would phone the doctor though if it’s not dropping below 38 with meds. Ds had high temp last weekend, paracetamol and ibuprofen brought him down to 37/37.5

He’s drinking milk. Probably about 300mls today. I gave him a bath last night and he didn’t stop shivering for 10 mins, so too scared to do that again!
He’s just had a little nap and his temp is now 37.7 so that’s good.

Hi I would definitely get him checked over. If a temp is not responding to Calpol he should see a doctor. If you can't get an appointment (tell them his age and he needs seen today) then I would wait until six o'clock and take him to out of hours. Hope he feels better soon.