When to worry about fever in 4 year old

[roseapothecary]

My 4 year old woke up early this morning with a temperature. He's spent most of the day sleeping on me, not eating anything or drinking much. He is also breathing more heavily and faster than normal. He is non verbal so cannot tell me how he is feeling.
I am feeling worried but my DH thinks I am overreacting and if we just leave him he will be fine in the morning.

Now! He needs medical attention. Potentially 999 depending on how fast his breathing his.

I’ve just checked NHS advice is to take to A and E or call an ambulance.

I counted and it was 45 breaths in a minute, I'm not sure if that is fast or not. I can just hear him breathe so it sounds faster maybe.

Is it coming down with medication? If not get him seen.
Are you confident he is hydrated? If not get him seen.

Trust your mother’s instinct.

If you do nip to a and e pack:
charger
money
cardigan for you
toothbrush
spare clothes and pads for him if needed
any comforter he has
drinks for both
snacks for both

With paracetamol he becomes more alert for about an hour then falls back asleep

I wouldn't wait around when his breathing isn't right.
Go get him seen.

What is his temp?

Can you see his ribs when he’s breathing in?

The fact that you are posting makes me inclined to get him checked over. They really won’t mind. The fact that he is non verbal makes him so much more vulnerable.

For info my DH would have missed numerous serious illnesses I was worried about- meningitis, sepsis, preumonia…so do what you think!

He isn't having difficulty breathing I don't think, just heavier and faster than normal

His temp before calpol was 38.7

45 breaths per minute in a 4 year old when it’s usually a maximum of 30 is more than enough reason to get him seen ASAP

Try ibuprofen - that brings temp down better than paracetamol. Check NHS website for breathing rate in 4 year old, there are a certain number of breaths per minute that is a straight to a and e job but not sure what it is at that age. X

www.webmd.com/children/child-breathing-too-fast

this suggests over 40 breaths per minute needs seeing urgently

Doesn't have to be difficulty.

There's a change in how he's breathing

I've called 111 and am waiting for a call back

His respiratory rate is quite high and I would expect 111 to suggest A&E based on previous experiences with my own DC.
It could just be that the high temperature is causing his respiratory rate to increase however he is non verbal and therefore it is harder to know if there is another cause for the breathing changes.
If 111 don't get back to you very soon I'd be inclined to take him on up to A&E.

Hope he is better soon

If paracetamol and ibuprofen isn’t breaking it. My son has sen and can’t tell us when he’s ill so would end up fitting at that age. I’d always be over cautious with a little one

We were told to combine

Resps and heart rate increase with a fever.
See what they are after nurofen/ calpol.

111 is a good call

Any update op?

I took him to a&e who said it was maybe tonsillitis. DS was very distraught and wouldn't let them examine him properly. They gave me some antibiotics for him. The trouble I have now is he refuses to take the antibiotic, and now is also refusing calpol so I'm actually worse off than when before taking him to the hospital.

Try mixing it with neat Ribena or Vimto.

Or mix it into some yogurt if he likes yogurts, it will soothe his throat too if it is tonsillitis. I had it recently and was miserable for days as an adult, I hope he feels better soon

How is his breathing this morning? Does he have a cough? Did they listen to his chest at A&E?

High temp, cough, rapid breathing (60bpm), lack of appetite, and constant sleeping were the symptoms my child had with a serious pneumonia infection. If he doesn't improve today, go back to A&E and push for a chest x-ray.

He has just been sleeping all morning. He seems the same as yday, no cough at all