WWYD - toddler has 40.3 temp

[Nosleepingclub]

Posting here for traffic please be kind I’m so worried

2 year old has had high temp for two days, put some of it down to the heatwave but today it was still 39.6

called 111 had a doctors appointment this morning and they diagnosed tonsillitis and gave antibiotics

however even with continuing pain relief his temp is still on the up and is now at 40.3

he won’t eat (obviously the throat is sore) and is clearly very unwell, is lethargic and not himself

i’m back on the phone to 111 but I just feel like am I being OTT because he’s already been diagnosed

hes such a trooper usually (can genuinely be quite unweel and still be himself) but today he’s been so poorly

Am I being dramatic?

Whist you’re waiting u would be packing an overnight bag for you and him/power bank or phone charger and for/comfort stuff in the assumption that you might be going in. And then when you’re packed and no call back I would probably be heading in for him to be reviewed with the temp and 3 seizures and rash

New seizures and new rash combined with a very high temperature barely responding to calpol- please take him to A&E!

I understand your worry about the general chaos etc there - would he sleep or snooze in the pram with the hood up?

If the hospital has a designated paeds a&e the wait should be less. Likewise if they are v concerned at triage.

Take him to A&E - I imagine this is what 111 will advise anyway but in about 4 hours when you are all even more knackered.

Another one saying A&E. they will triage, the wait may not be as long as you think. 111 will send you there anyway. I would be very concerned with the combination of rash, temp and seizures. The pharmacist needs sacking quite honestly.

Rash doesn't sound good
Please take him to A&E

Do Not try and feed him give him ice lollys first to numb and sooth his throat then only soft food if he wants it liquids is more important, my ds had regular fevers at that age keep him cool as possible this weather won't help cold flannel of back of neck and alternate meds every 2 hours

Go to a&e. No one can see your child. Rash and seizures and temp I wouldnt risk it

GP here, OP. Changing the environmental temperature has no effect on a fever, because the brain has reset the body’s thermostat to a higher point and will keep it at that level regardless of any external cooling. Advice on stripping down, cold compresses etc is outdated (I’ve no doubt there are some health professionals still giving it, but it’s incorrect).

Theres certainly enough in what you’ve said to warrant a visit to A&E. I suspect that he was having rigors rather than febrile seizures - with a seizure he would have lost consciousness and it would have been very unpleasant and scary to watch if it hasn’t happened before - I don’t think you would have been unsure what was happening, and if the pharmacist witnessed a true seizure it’s unlikely they would have been blasé about it. Rigors are uncontrollable shivers/shakes due to high temperature and can look very dramatic, but the child is awake and alert throughout.

Either way, he is unwell with a very high temp and a new rash, and has had some sort of shaking episode - this warrants medical attention. Please do get him checked out ASAP.

The only time one of mine had serious rigors she had a major kidney infection and her heart rate was through the roof, turning blue etc. Please take him in.

id also say we’ve had a number of A&E visits with high fever and other flagged symptoms. The only time the paediatricians in A&E we’re concerned about the height of the temp was when it was nearing 41 and not responding to meds. They were actively treating the fever that time rather than the other symptoms of illness if that makes sense.

Also this chart from Nice is very helpful

nunobento.co.uk/2017/09/06/traffic-light-system-for-identifying-risk-of-serious-illness/

You need to go to A&E, stop faffing around phoning 111 and go there.

I agree with the GP posting above

(I am an emergency medicine matron)

Jesus Christ OP... GO TO A&E.

YOUR SON HAS ALREADY HAD SEVERAL FITS TODAY.

So what if it's an 8hr wait?! And for a fitting child with a temp that wont go down he will be triaged almost immediately and will go to an observation bed pretty rapidly.

For any childs first febrile convulsions you should've gone straight there. And the advice is to actually have called 999.

Honestly hoping this is a total wind up of some sort, otherwise you're being massively negligent OP!!

Your child could end up with brain damage or may even have sepsis for gods sake.

GO TO A&E. NOW.

A child having a seizure (without a known diagnosis) is a medical emergency which absolutely warrants going to A&E. You need to take him. He does not have to be fully dressed in A&E if that’s one of your worries, honestly nobody is going to look twice at a poorly toddler in just a nappy in A&E on a hot summer evening.

I usually think posters are being OTT when they say go to A&E but honestly in this case I would, no point waiting for a call back for them to tell you the same thing when you could get there and start waiting. Rash + temperature + first time having a fit = A&E

How is he doing OP?

Also voting for A&E. They’ll never think you’re overreacting with a temp that high and a toddler that is so out of sorts. The shaking could have been rigours rather than febrile seizures but definitely worth checking if you’re concerned or unsure and it wasn’t fair for the pharmacist to fob you off like that.

I always alternate Calpol and nurofen every 3 hours when mine have a high temp because Calpol alone doesn’t seem to make much difference. I hope he’s on the mend soon and you get some peace of mind either from 111 or A&E if nothing else.

If you're local to me which i suspect you are - I've seen online my local A&E has an 8 hour wait this evening. Take your son, he will be seen as a priority and I'm pretty sure the wait doesn't extend to child's A&E. He needs checking over especially now a rash has developed.

Please go to A&E. Specifically say the phrase 'could this be sepsis?'. Really hope he is on the mend soon.

So we don't know for sure if he's having rigors or febrile convulsions. But he's never had a febrile convulsion before, and how he may have had multiple ones in 24 hours? That's definitely A&E. If their assessment is that they are febrile convulsions, then expect him to be admitted to paeds.

Definitely go to a+e especially with a temp lasting that long that hasnt broke yet. He may need iv antibiotics oral may not be strong enough i would have expected some sort of improvement a while after the oral. Could the rash be some sort of drug reaction could be allergic to the antibiotics or also heat rash/ possible sepsis. Always be safe. The general wait may be 8 hours but you will be triaged in order of priority and a child present with septic symtpoms will get seen much quicker - treatment has to start within the hour.

Christ, as an adult with a temp like that and rigors like you describe I was seen immediately in A&E. I had sepsis. Your son will be seen very quickly. Please go now and stop fucking about.

A high temperature is the body's natural response to fighting infections like coughs and colds. Should subside in 3-4 days. HOWEVER as others have said because he's had seizures and the rash especially .. take him straight to hospital!! A rash should always be checked out. Worst case which I'm sure it wont be but I wouldnt want you risking your child could be sepsis, this needs acting on FAST!! Children can seem ok 1 minute and crash very quickly the next. You arent dramatic, your a mum worried for her child! I hope all gets sorted!

Please go to a and e. My daughter had a fit after having a very high temperature at 2 years old and it was scary. We had to alternate between calpol and ibuprofen every 3 hours to get it down. Give some medicine and go to a and e.

A&E admitted my son when he had rigors and that was a bad case of hand foot and mouth - your child sounds quite a bit more poorly. I understand why you're hesitant to go when he seems to be perking up, and none of us like to be that dramatic parent but you need to get that rash and the temperature and seizures checked out.

How is he @Nosleepingclub ?