Fever in young kids when do you worry

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My dc 2.5 has had a fever since Thursday. It went up to 39.3 yesterday and we have been giving ibuprofen and paracetamol for a couple of days. The fever goes down a bit but doesn't completely go. Called 111 and they didn't seem that worried. They seem to only be concerned about how he is at that point but obviously 37.5 after medication is different to 39.5. When do you worry? Do you call 111 at the point they are upset at a high temperature?

When it hits 40 and doesn't come down with calpol etc. Also more imporant than thr temp is how they are in thrmselves.

Remember a fever isn't bad, its their immune system working.

How are they other than the fever? Are they eating/drinking/urinating as normal?

Are they eating and drinking? Playing? If that’s effected then I’d be wanting to see someone after 3 days; that’s generally what happens with mine though is that their eating and drinking becomes a worry with a high temp and they don’t want to play. If they’re ok in themselves I wouldn’t worry so much

Take him to GP tomorrow morning since he's had it for a while now. Personally I'd only be worried if he wasn't drinking or struggling to stay awake in the daytime.

With my eldest, I worry if it goes above 41. With my youngest I worry just before it hits 40. But that's where their temperatures usually settle when they're unwell. Although I do make sure it goes down with medication to below 40.

Generally with a fever above 40 I'll pop them to the GP as I consider the possibility of an infection.

But this attitude is with both of my boys being prone to fevers even for a cold.

If it goes above 40 and doesn’t come down at all with medication and they’re listless with no interest in anything then you go to A&E.

If it’s a high temp and they’re eating and drinking, playing/watching tv and it comes down with medication you can just ride it out.

Thank you. They are playing etc but not really eating at all and drinking little bit bit too bad. If you see them and don't know them they look OK. Good to hear that others have a 40 and 41 cut off. So will leave it a bit longer and wait till tomorrow

Goggle the NICE traffic light system for kids with fevers. Can be a good guide.

Focus on getting fluids in, little and often if needed but staying well hydrated is important

For a child over a year I only give medication if they are unwell with other symptoms otherwise I leave the fever to do what it is designed to do, it is an immune response and leaving it be destroys the pathogen faster. General NHS advice is to go to the GP after 5 days and obviously keep an eye out for rashes and stiff neck.

I'd make up some ice lollies or ice cubes with fruit juice to get some liquid and vitamins in him and soothe any sore throats.

I can’t speak about numbers as I don’t own a thermometer but if my child/children are hot to touch, with symptoms such as drowsy, or really just not themselves or in pain after paracetamol and/or ibuprofen then I will seek a once over by a nurse at my GP practice.

I know that a temperature is the body’s normal and natural defence to infection so needs to do it’s job, so don’t suppress it unless there are other symptoms.

As a rule of thumb, if they are eating (a bit) drinking, peeing and pooing and not distressed or in pain then I don’t worry too much.
Ice lollies, water melon, fluids fluids fluids is my go to when warm to the touch.

Ps none of my kids have a history of febrile convulsions and I tend to know the origin of the infection (9 times out of 10 it’s tonsils ) so I am really relaxed about temperature.

I look at cognitive functions and general condition more than fever.
Is the child able to play (and want to).
Does child get some sleep.
Does the child drink/eat?
Is the child in pain?
Is nappy wet?

Paracetamol reduces fever by approximately 1 degree C. It can help the child to eat/drink/sleep and improve the general condition.

Don't dress child warm or with a thick blanket. Undress child as much as possible .

Above 40C I consult a doctor if paracetamol doesn't bring fever down.

Always consult a doctor with infants and todlers and any age child if you are in doubt.

My youngest would get extremely high temps. When she got a rash once and wouldn’t drink I took her to A&E and they got her to drink by syringing small amounts of squash into her mouth. The fluids and keeping up with both paracetamol and ibuprofen helped.

Can you look into throat to see if it’s red or has white spots on tonsils, to see if there’s an infection there, or is there any pain in ears. I would definitely try and see GP tomorrow if no better by 5 days.