39.4 temp in 5 year old

[imjusthavingaworrytime]

Sorry, truthfully I have anxiety and it's been a hard time lately and I figured it was just easier to ask mumsnet. I will book a PCR test (we are both negative on lateral flows)

DS 5yrs has developed a cold and now a temperature. He's sleepy but eating/drinking/watching telly fine.
The ear temperature says 39.4. He was warm to the touch but not hot. He's had a temp of 39.6 before when he was raging hot. I wonder if the thermometer isn't working that well (it says my temp is 38.7 but I feel completely fine - says DH is 37.1)

Do I need to be worried or trying to locate another thermometer?

How does he feel? If you put your hand on the skin of his chest, how does he feel?

If he is eating, drinking, peeing & pooing ok and isn’t in pain, it’s just every day simple stuff is t it.
Fluids, light clothing and monitor until he gets better from a cold on his own.

I don’t own a thermometer so only ever go by touch and symptoms to guide if I use calpol or not.

If you can, I would try and find another thermometer just to check.

If you're is 38.7 I'd say you would feel ill, so best find another thermometer.

Is it the temp that's worrying you? I'd say it's normal for an illness with fever. My DC regularly go to 40 when they're ill.

You know I usually trust my sense of touch with him, I've felt him with a high temperature and it doesn't feel like this. He's warm, he's not hot. He's fine in himself. I wouldn't be worried if the thermometer hadn't read so high.

His right ear is down to 39.1 with calpol. His left is at 38.8

Change the batteries?

But always treat the child not the temperature, if he's got input and output, not in pain, not overly lethargic, can communicate how he feels or if he's in discomfort hopefully rest and a good sleep will see him right.

@Adatwistscientist (we love that programme) it's the temp on the thermometer that's thrown me. I know 40 is bad and it seems close but I also feel like I can't trust it.

If I had woken in the night and felt his head or chest I would have assumed mild illness and wouldn't be that fazed

(Ps I ask because I can't easily get another thermometer- we live rurally so all shops are shut, I would have to call and ask our childminder)

He's picking up, he's eaten dinner and is drawing

I just couldn’t get excited over numbers, I’d go solely by symptoms and feel.

Don’t forget that a temperature is the bodies normal and natural defence against infection so it needs to do what it needs to do.

And over a cold, again I just couldn’t get excited or be worried.

But I’m a bad mother I suppose.

Is it ear or underarm? I find the ear ones are always higher, particularly if they have been lying down or against something. I agree it’s scary. Like others have said, clothes off, keep close to them, Calpol and sipping water. If Calpol brings it down that’s good, even if still high. A temperature itself is a sign of healing so not a bad thing. By age 5 also less scary than a newborn say, where they can’t actually handle them as well.

Are you taking the ear temp properly?

I ask because I didn't realise there's an actual way at first!

You pull down the ear lobe and out the thermometer at the ear canal entrance.

If you out it into the ear canal without creating the space it'll come up high!

AllYouCanEatBrestaurant - oh my god! Change the batteries!! Thank you!! It just didn't occur to me. Done and his temperature is now 38.7 which is how he actually feels.

Thank you so much everyone. I'm so grateful for the quick responses when my anxiety was triggered. You've helped so much and been so kind. I've read all the posts and feel much more able to rationalise now. I'm grateful to every response (and yes I'm getting therapy, in case anyone asks) Thank you again, I really do love mumsnet for this.

Just to let you know that my kids frequently feel very hot to the touch when they have a normal temperature. (Even the GP said, on feeling her forehead , DD had a fever, took her temp and she was fine.)

It's horrid when LOs have a fever. Anxiety inducing even if you aren't of an anxious disposition.

Hope they feel better soon.

@imjusthavingaworrytime

AllYouCanEatBrestaurant - oh my god! Change the batteries!! Thank you!! It just didn't occur to me. Done and his temperature is now 38.7 which is how he actually feels.

Thank you so much everyone. I'm so grateful for the quick responses when my anxiety was triggered. You've helped so much and been so kind. I've read all the posts and feel much more able to rationalise now. I'm grateful to every response (and yes I'm getting therapy, in case anyone asks) Thank you again, I really do love mumsnet for this.

we've been caught out by old batteries before. Glad you've got a bit of reassurance now and hopefully he's feeling better soon.

Thank you