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Original poster

What would you do-i am starting to really worried now

33 replies

WaltzingTilda · 25/10/2021 18:40

My DD (nearly 4) started having a temperature Thursday night. It was about 38.6 I gave her calpol and she went to sleep. Since then Friday and Saturday shes been having temperatures and 39.8 has been the highest yet. Sunday morning she was having a temperature (again 39.something) which I kept bringing down with calpol but by evening it was getting better. When she went to bed last night she didn't have a temperature at all but I gave her calpol anyway. All this morning and afternoon she was fine but from around 4 her temperature has been climbing up. She went for a nap as feeling unwell and feels hot to the touch but she got annoyed with my trying to check her temperature right now so I don't know what it is . Before she went for the nap her temp was 38.6 and I gave her calpol but it doesn't seem to have worked about 2 hours later as still hot to the touch. On Saturday I called nhs111 and they referred me to my closest pharmacy like they were doing me a big favour. The pharmacist said to give calpol and neurofen and Tixylix for her cough. I gave her Neurofen on Saturday and it didn't bring her temp down at all. It was creeping up and an hour later she was a 39.8 . I stopped giving her neurofrn as it didn't help at all. I was thinking of booking an appointment with the gp this morning , but last night and this morning she was well so didn't have a reason to call them at the time. Now her temperature is back. The pharmacist was very helpful on Saturday (during telephone conversation) but said that this might continue into early this week but also mentioned that I may have to speak to someone re.this later. It seemed like he was suggesting to just manage to keep her temp down until maybe we can get an appointment with gp? But I am not sure. If her temp continues should I book an appointment to see a gp or wait and see? Also if she doesn't have a temp in the morning should I try and book an appointment anyway because it seems like she temp mostly increases in the night? We've done a covid test and it's negative. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Please be kind , I am very worried right now and I am not feeling too well either. Sorry if my post is confusing. Happy to clarify anything.

OP posts:
Boscoforever · 25/10/2021 18:47

Recurrent temperature above 39 is a good enough reason to seek medical advice and ask to see a GP or at least have a chat with one.
I wouldn't focus only on the temp though. Is she eating and drinking? Is she going to the loo ok? Does she seem well in herself? Any rash/pain/unusual for her type stuff?
I am a nurse, but sometimes we are a bit 'if your head hasn't fallen off you'll be fine,' with our own loved ones Grin. Personally, I wouldn't go to A&E with this, but I would ring the GP tomorrow if the temp continues.
Obviously, if you are really worried or she becomes worse, please do seek medical advice asap.

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 25/10/2021 18:50

is it just fever?
any other symptoms?

I'd call 111 to get medical help because nobody here can really give sound advice based on such little information anyway, it could be a variety of things.

Terminallysleepdeprived · 25/10/2021 18:51

There are lots of viruses that cause a temp.

Does she have any other symptoms?

Is she eating and drinking normally?

Is she drowsy or slow to respond when awake?

If not then chances are it's nothing serious, but you need to give calpol reliably ever 4 hours and nurofen should be given 2 hours after the first dose of calpol and then every 4 hours so that she is never going more than 2 hours without meds.

If even following the above she is still spiking a temp after 48 hours then you should see your gp

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1fluffydoodle · 25/10/2021 18:52

Can I ask if you did a PCR or lateral flow test?

Original poster
WaltzingTilda · 25/10/2021 18:54

Thank you so much for replying. She drinks water okay and does wees. She hasn't been eating much, just a cracker, or a tiny bit of bread a little bit if plain boiled rice and last evening she had a little bit of a pear, a satsuma and a tiny piece of toast. As soon as she starts eating bread she gets a nasty cough which puts her off her food. On Saturday she kept asking for plain rice and I gave her some and she started coughing and threw it up. She asks for food but then doesn't want to have it, poor little girl. The wait in a&e is horrendous so I don't really want to subject her to that torture unless I really have to. I think I will call the gp tomorrow in any case. I was hoping we were through the worst of it but maybe we are not 🥺

OP posts:
Froglette16 · 25/10/2021 18:55

When my DD was about 18 months she had a temp like your DC’s that couldn’t be controlled at home. Our GP told us to take her to A&E. they’re able to test and give higher but still controlled doses of meds there. I’d give it a go in case it’s a sign of something more serious than a cold etc. Ours was a urinary tract infection and she needed antibiotics. 😘

Original poster
WaltzingTilda · 25/10/2021 18:56

She usually does a poo at least once a day, she hasn't done a poo yesterday or today which is worrying me as she is prone to constipation. That said if she's not eaten anything she probably wouldn't have much to poo. She's been having weetabix in the mornings though and managed to keep it down.

OP posts:
mamaoffourdc · 25/10/2021 18:59

Have you done a lft or pcr?

Wagsandclaws · 25/10/2021 19:02

My ds had a temp of 40.5 at the beginning of covid a couple of weeks ago. Have you tested her at all?

rrhuth · 25/10/2021 19:02

When I am worried, I check my reactions against the NHS advice. This helps me as usually my instincts are quite close to what the advice tells me.

On the 'fever in children' page it says you should ring 111 or your GP now for these things, amongst others:

  • has a high temperature that's lasted for 5 days or more
  • does not want to eat, or is not their usual self and you're worried
  • has a high temperature that does not come down with paracetamol

The page is here: www.nhs.uk/conditions/fever-in-children/ - check the two boxes, one for 111 and one for A&E to see if your situation falls into either of those. Not eating is a cause for concern in addition to the temperature.

Original poster
WaltzingTilda · 25/10/2021 19:02

Thank you all for your replies.
@1fluffydoodle we got a pcr at a drive through centre. She didn't have a temp yesterday afternoon so we went out and had a test done. A short while after we got back her temp started increasing and I gave calpol.

She is not slow to respond but when she has a high temperature she just curls up on the sofa or on me and rests and is very quiet .

Drinks okay but doesn't eat much. Asks for food saying she is hungry but then she gets a cough and says she doesn't want it anymore

OP posts:
MushMonster · 25/10/2021 19:02

Children of this aged do not wait for long in A&E.
You need to get medical help.
Try 111, GP if they advice to wait till tomorrow. But they may send you to A&E. Just call them.

Original poster
WaltzingTilda · 25/10/2021 19:05

I don't trust 111 tbh. They seem to be having some sort of tick box system there where they seem to be asking only questions that appear on their screen but don't seem to take everything into account

OP posts:
RestingPandaFace · 25/10/2021 19:08

Sounds like you’ve offered it lain food, but what about soft foods, soup, beans, scrambled egg, ice-cream etc? Maybe she’s got a sore or scratchy throat.

Original poster
WaltzingTilda · 25/10/2021 19:09

Her temp is 38

OP posts:
Original poster
WaltzingTilda · 25/10/2021 19:11

@RestingPandaFace I gave her soups, but she is saying she doesn't want it. Maybe I'll give her some tonight. She doesn't like scrambled egg and as she has a nut allergy I haven't given her ice cream yet.

OP posts:
Original poster
WaltzingTilda · 25/10/2021 19:11

I'll offer her some boiled beans too.

OP posts:
makelovenotpetrol · 25/10/2021 19:13

I find in general, on the occasions I've been to out of hours GPs or a&e with my children they've been really lovely and understanding. Its likely just a virus which is taking it's time to go, but you've sought help a few times and you're still worried - so I always think it's best to trust your gut. No one on here can see your daughter and MN isn't qualified to help anyway, so, you're obviously concerned, I'd take her to get checked out.

rrhuth · 25/10/2021 19:18

@WaltzingTilda

I don't trust 111 tbh. They seem to be having some sort of tick box system there where they seem to be asking only questions that appear on their screen but don't seem to take everything into account
It absolutely is a tick box system, they work through a flowchart - but they can then book you an out of hours GP appointment if the info you give suggests you need one. I don't think you should shun 111 if you are worried enough to be posting on here tbh?

What do you want them to take into account?

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 25/10/2021 19:20

@WaltzingTilda

I don't trust 111 tbh. They seem to be having some sort of tick box system there where they seem to be asking only questions that appear on their screen but don't seem to take everything into account
That's not been my experience at all.

I have 7 kids (aged 20 to 7) and have called 111 dozens of times over the years and most of the time I was given brilliant advice.
I really couldn't possibly list the range of issues but we had accident medicine overdose, tracking cellulitis, 3kg weight falling on someone's head, meningitis scare, boxer's fracture, dehydration, burst eardrums etc etc.

They will definitely be more equipped to give you professional advice based on the detailed info & medical history they get from you then a bunch of randoms on the Internet.
If you are worried about a prolonged fever then short of going to A&E calling 111 is the best thing to do out of hours.

You asked for advice, this is mine.
Best of luck

IAAP · 25/10/2021 19:22

Out of hours gp a temp of 38 - is it going down with calpol ? If so I’d take her via 111 to out of hour gp if it didn’t go down I’d go to a and e. Or else until morning and go to GP.

My son was like this but spiked 40/41 often and we just took him straight to a and e - he always had an ear infection and needed antibiotics

rrhuth · 25/10/2021 19:24

3kg weight falling on someone's head Shock

Heyheyitsanotherday · 25/10/2021 19:25

My daughter is similar to this when ever she has tonsillitis. Crazy temps, coughs and is sick randomly. Would she let you check her throat? I know 111 can differ greatly in each region but when I finally got through and explained the temps and white pus on her red raw tonsils they got a prescription for some antibiotics sent to a late night pharmacy and by dose 3 she had bounced back. Hope she ok, it’s horrible when they’re poorly x

Original poster
WaltzingTilda · 25/10/2021 19:29

Thank you so much for you replies. Her temp has just gone down...I am definitely going to speak to gp tomorrow regardless of whether she has a temp tomorrow morning or not. If her temp comes back again I will call 111 . If they don't refer me to an out of hours gp then I will take her to a&e.

OP posts:
ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 25/10/2021 19:41

@rrhuth

3kg weight falling on someone's head Shock
yup

my daughter built a tent by putting a blanket on her brother's desk and used some books and a dumbell to weigh it down.
as she climbed under she was pulling the blanket in (like you might walk into your skirt going upstairs) so the dumbell fell on her head.
ffs🙄

111 discussion was utterly thorough and she was incredibly sweet by keeping me calm (I did end up crying) and explaining things I had to check & how.
She explained immediate & short term plan of care, checklist of what to watch out for and when to go to A&E or call an ambulance.
She was magnificent.

And DD was fine.
She is so accident prone.
We have 6 boys but of course who else needed emergency surgery under GA after stepping in broken glass? My only daughter, of course!🤷‍♀️🥴

Yes, I have a lot of grey hairs🤣