This is not AIBU, but I'm abroad and I'm worried about my baby

[SuperSlattern]

She has a temp, and a pin prick rash over her back and tummy.

We have been to see the doctor last night, who checked her over and gave her antibiotics as he wasnt sure if it was viral or measles.

Trouble is, I've had to wake her to feed her which is very unusual. Her temp is still quite high despite baby ibuprofen, although her mood is a lot better than last night.

How long should a fever last, and am I being a bit PFB?

I've even spoken to NHS Direct to make sure the advice he gave was the same we would of got at home. Which incidentally wasn't. He said to stop giving her ff and have water instead. NHS Direct said we shouldn't withhold her milk in these circumstances. Tbh we didn't feel right doing that anyway

Which country are you in? Can you get to an international hospital A&E? I would consult a pediatrician

Have you done the glass test on the rash? Roll a glass on it, if it disappears, it's not meningitis. Are you in a developing Country? It could be anything. Best to get her seen.

My boys have had roseala (sp?) recently which was a pinprick rash accompanied by fever. Once the rash came out they felt much better.

We are in Egypt, in Sharm

Yes, done the glass test and it's fine. I'm just concerned that she is hot still, although she has cooled down since having a bottle and another bit of ibuprofen.

How long do fevers last?

Sorry meant to add we've got air con so the room
is cool, and she is 9 mo

How old and what country?
I've had sicky fever babies here that last for three or four days, then it breaks. I do the ibuprofen too, it's the best I've tried. I wouldn't substitute water for feeds either, unless they are throwing it all up then I go with the baby re hydration fluid Pedialyte it's called here.
I strip them down to a onsie and use a damp facecloth, wipe back the hair and stroke the cheeks, wipe down the arms and legs, and in the heat we have, make sure the A/C is on, if they are toddlers I put them to play in a cool bath.

(am a HCP with a bit of experience of paeds). If the rash was there and hasn't changed since your saw the doctor last night, and her mood is better tonight, this is reassuring. However, if she still has a fever and is more sleepy than usual then any GP/OOH/a&e would want to have a look at her again to be sure. It can't be assessed over the phone or Internet. So don't panic, but take her to the nearest hospital to be checked. Don't worry about language, I think most medics in Sharm will have basic english and a sick child is easily identifiable in any language :)

Sorry when I said last night I meant Friday Evening, sorry for the confusion. It was about 7 hours ago when we saw the doctor.

He is based in the hotel here, not sure if he is here now but I'm sure the hotel could get in touch with someone, they have been excellent so far

Ask them to do that then, any doctor should be fine.

What is her temperature now? Have you given calpol (paracetamol)? You can alternate calpol and ibuprofen. Calpol can be more effective at lowering temperature so I've been told.

this was advice I was given -strip her down to nappy, give calpol then 2 hours later give baby iboprofen, if the temp comes down you can start adding layers - eg a vest or sleepsuit - if the temp goes back up you can give calpol 2 hours after the iboprofen but try and space out as much as poss and keep interchanging calpol and iboprofen. If you cannot level out the temp return to dr. Maintain fluids and milk. You don't want her to get cold as then her body will try and heat up.

what is her temp? She could feel hot to touch but still have a normal core temp.

My ds always gets a rash when he has a virus. Quite worrying sometimes but it's always viral. Follow everyone elses advice but if anything changes like she gets sick or floppy or seriously unwell then straight to hospital. Alternating calpol and nurofen is good idea. Hope she gets better soon.

Viral fevers can go up to 3 days. You can give paracetamol alternating with ibuprofen to keep the temperature down.

If she is taking food and can be lively, I wouldn't worry too much.

If your hotel room isn't air conditioned I would give her tepid (not cold) baths to help the Calpol along. The pinprick rash could be prickly heat?

Oh, you asked how long a fever lasts - the longest with DD was a week. I rang NHS Direct and the nurse said it was within the range for viruses. She got better a day or two later. But that's unusual I think, I'm sure your DD will pick up before that.

what is her core temperature -with a thermometer?

I immediatly thought prickly heat because your abroad. Prickly heat is a hives type reaction and antihistimines and claomile work on making it more comfortable. PH also feels hot to touch so can feel like a temperature.

I also wondered if you have AC on if your baby is trying to warm herself up and therefore not helping the temperature?

It's hard, very hard, when LO are poorly, especially abroad where there is a language barrier. If your concerned take her to the local A&E.

Hope she improves soon and you enjoy the rest of your holiday.

Oh I have so much sympathy for you :( ds had a horrible ear infection when we were in Portugal a couple of years ago. It was so difficult as he was miserable as sin and we couldn't get hold of any antibiotics. I hope she gets better soon

Hope she has picked up a bit today. As long as she is happy in herself and drinking plenty then she should be ok. Just make sure she keeps drinking, especially in the heat.

Alternating ibuprofen and Calpol isn't usually recommended unless its a very high temp that won't respond. The advice is to try one of them and if it isn't bringing the fever down then try the other and stick to the one that works. Try to remember that the fever is actually a good thing and is helping the body fight off the illness so unless it is making her uncomfortable then you don't need to bring it down.

Someone above suggested prickly heat as a possible explanation for the rash which would be my guess too especially as it is on her trunk. DD got it horribly in Norfolk of all places (and on her back and tummy!).

If it is hot skin to skin is good. If she isn't vomiting then I would have thought it is OK to give her whatever fluid/food she is happy to take.

Our GP did advise switching between ibuprofen and calpol when DD's temp was over 40, but only when that high. Otherwise it is safer and easier to stick to one. We have always found ibuprofen worked fastest.

Im in agreement with prickly heat, or perhaps a sweat rash. Could you dab her with a cool flannel?

To me she sounds fine (sick, but not dangerously so). The main thing is she is taking fluids (I agree milk unless she is vomitting it, then perhaps water only) and she is happy in herself - give or take grumpy mood. If she becomes lethargic, floppy or unresponsive definitely call the dr again.

Fevers can last for days, sounds like her body is doing a great job of fighting off these nasty germs (viral or bacterial who knows, but the antiobiotics will help with anything bacterial). The rash sounds like a common viral rash. Measles starts at head and spreads down the body - you mentioned trunk - which to me is classic viral rash.

It is awful when your bubba gets sick, but fluid, cuddles and antibiotics (and calpol) will see you through this.... hopefully quickly. They bounce back incredibly quickly after being sick, so fingers crossed she'll be better ASAP.

Thanks for everyone's advice. I'd got myself a bit worked up about it all.

Doc says its measles, and so do my DM and DMIL after speaking to them.

Her temp has come down but the rash has spread to her nappy area. She in a much better mood too

Measles is pretty uncommon.. Has she been vaccinated? Been in contact with it before you went on holiday? Also be aware if it is measles the you will not be able to fly until she is clear of it (2 weeks) and you will need a doctors certificate to fly. if you think it really is measles and she hasn't been vaccinated then you should see a paed as can cause compications if her temp isn't monitored properly. You probably also need to speak to your insurance company!

Hopefully it is a viral rash / german measles/ prickly heat and nothing to worry about!

To reassure you there is a very good international hospital in Sharm (modern pyramid shaped building on the main road near the centre) they speak very good English, are clean and modern. (Although is a strange experience compared to a uk hospital ( you have to pay a block amount in cash or debit card... Then at the end of treatment they refund any of this money left or bill you for anymore. You buy any medication/ food etc/ private room etc then claim it back from your travel insurance) but all in all it was fine.

Hope she makes a speedy recovery.