Toddler has a temp off 40.4

[pandowo]

She’s never had a temp so high, even with tonsillitis it hit 39. This one seems like a little cold ? A little snotty with a cough, so why is her temp so high? I’ve given calpol just now and will give nurofen in a hour if it hasn’t done much in just worried sick it’s something scary

Make sure she isn't wearing too much. I would take her to a&e or urgent care immediately. As would medic DH.

I would go to A&E with a temperature that high.

A and E.

Just checked the calpol has brought it down to 39.6

I wouldn’t go to A&E with that, unless there were other concerning symptoms, which is what the NHS website says.

Have you phoned 111?

We’ve had similar here last night and haven’t as yet gone to A&E as Calpol has been bringing it down and no breathing issues (which is what NHS website said as PP said.)

It’s important to look at all the other factors too not just a temperature in isolation , is she playing and her usual self , how’s eating , drinking and weeing / pooing , is there an obvious cause . If any of the other things are a concern apply call 111 and seek medical advice. The people who suggest A&E immediately without consideration for anything else are the people who clog up A&E for no reason .

Please call 111. Her general condition is more important than the temperature alone. You tend to get higher fevers with viruses than bacterial infections.

.

I would wait a few hours. Keep an eye on it and her behaviour. If it doesn’t come down with medicine and she is floppy, lethargic or is breathing funny then I’d ask 111 for advice. I wouldn’t take a small poorly child to a&e unless it was an actual emergency.

She is quieter than usual, but very much responsive, she is passing urine, and asking for drinks. I don’t think she needs to go to a&e on that basis. Obviously if that changes then it’s different. I’m more just concerned that a seemingly little cold could cause such a spike in temperature

NOT A MEDIC / NOT MEDICAL ADVICE

Last time similar happened with 15 month old GP said even v high temp on its own not a major concern. If floppy and otherwise strange it is.

Also have been to A&E with similar and while sympathetic they were also very “have you given Calpol and watched and waited a couple of hours”

DD aged 2 had the same yesterday, I had a minor panic too and nearly took off to A&E. It’s scary when it happens but she was ‘ok’ otherwise and we suspected she was coming down with a cold or something.

Given the time had she just woken up? My kids have huge temperature spikes when they sleep/nap. Takes a couple of hours for it to come back down with calpol. She’s still at 38 this morning and full of a cold. Keeping an eye out for spikes as from personal experience these often accompany (frequent in this house) tonsillitis/ear infections, but suspect it is ‘just’ a cold. Minor viruses for us are always more dramatic for toddlers, their immune system is still developing.

hope she feels better soon

There's obviously something going around because my 3 year old is exactly the same. Seems like a cold but with a really high temperature. Nurofen has been bringing it down so hoping it passes fast

Treat the patient not the number.

Whilst seeing that number on the thermometer is scary it’s not in itself dangerous. Febrile convulsions which are a worry with high temps are usually caused by very rapid rises in temperature as opposed to just a high number.

Keep on top of pain meds, keep her drinking and obviously get proper medical advice if you are worried.

There is a lot of flu around which can produce very high temperatures.

Hope she feels better

Just an update.
This was DD’s wee earlier ! Dh on the way back from the drs with her, uti and has prescribed antibiotics

How is she in herself? As a nurse the actual temperature doesn’t equate to how poorly the child is. If the child is unwell, not being their usual self, not recovering between doses of paracetamol and ibuprofen.
Are they drinking? Eating a little? Working harder on breathing?
Peeing and pooing? No rash?

No poo yesterday, no rash. Weeing but not as often as usual and not as much urine as usual despite drinking.
She is okay in herself once she’s had either calpol or nurofen, she is quite a strong little girl and doesn’t tend to act very poorly off a fever unless it’s very high. Shes just woken up with a fever off 39.6 so I’ve given nurofen.

I’d give her a little bit of milk so the ibuprofen doesn’t upset her tummy

Would it milk work the same ? She has a milk allergy and I think full milk would give her the poos !

Just a little something to coat her tummy, it’s not recommended to give ibuprofen on an empty stomach it can cause sickness that’s all x