Toddler temp 40 - would you go to A & E?

[coffeeforone]

2YO is currently asleep in his cot with a high temp. Sent home early from nursery this afternoon with a temp of 40.3 that reduced to 38.5 with calpol.

He is generally unwell and has a cough. Temp shot back to 39.8 at 6.30pm, gave nurofen (couldn’t get full dose in but he took about 70% of syringe). Then temp dropped slightly then back 40.2 at 7.30pm so gave calpol (hidden in a bottle of milk which he drank). Temp dropped slightly but is now 39.8. He is asleep and breathing normally except the cough. WWYD???

Thanks all. Ringing 111 now.

That link from U2 says it all.

Have a read through then call 111 to talk it through.

Good luck, It is so worrying but often they bounce back so quickly when you least expect it!

You can count his breaths per minute and take his pulse. They may be higher than normal but google will give you NICE guidelines for what rates are considered worrying. If he is sleeping and breathing normally then he is best left to sleep I’d say- 111 will probably make you rouse him etc and he will be distressed.

Just out of interest, why would people take him to A&E for a fever?

Surely 111 would be better and they can make an appointment if needed? They may advise A&E, because they often do, but I don't think it is an automatic A&E visit?

If he was drinking his milk and alert, then I wouldn't take him for that alone.strip him down and look out for other symptoms

See an out of hours GP.

If temp isn't coming down then yes I would go to a & e. I'm sure he's fine but best to be safe. Let us know how he gets on.

If he’s drinking, breathing normally and isn’t listless,then I’d phone 111. Hope he’s ok.

Called 111. A doctor will call me back within an hour

I think that was the right call OP. For what it's worth, DD1 had a few occasions of similarly high temperatures, and usually it was just a viral thing, but she did on one occasion have a urine infection so it's worth getting it checked out.

DS had a temp of 40.something when he had an ear infection and it was really hard to bring down even with calpol/nurofen. I panicked when I saw the 40 on the thermometer but 111 weren't too concerned - they said he needed to be seen by an OOH doctor but it was quite common for older babies/toddlers to have temps that high. Hope you get it sorted

Temp is really high so definitely call 111

I'd have called 111 also.

Our doctor advised us to try giving calpol/neurophen at the same time for fevers like this OP. Hope he has a good sleep and wakes up feeling much happier.

Hope u hear soon

Keep checking for any rashes just in case every 15 mins or so and check if the cough is getting worse.

Is there any mucus coming up when he coughs?

I called 111 for this recently. DS had temp of 40.1 and it hadn't come down an hour after having Calpol. I wanted an out of hours appointment, but 111 sent an ambulance. The ambulance staff were fairly unimpressed but checked him out nonetheless. Then they said we had to go to A and E by car to be seen there. I wish I'd just taken him to A and E in the first place, to be honest.

I’d definitely see what the doctor says as you’ve given varying medications where his temperature is dropping then rising again, he may possible have an infection.

Hope he feels better soon

ps doc in a and e said every time his temperature didn't come down after calpol to bring him back to a and e. Every time. As it should be coming down 30-60 mins after dosing.

DGS had a temperature and rash a couple of weeks ago,. He was also lethargic and off his food.DD rang 111 and advised removing clothes down to vest and nappy. They also advised keeping an eye on him. This was Saturday by Monday he was eating his parents out of house and home,and back to his normal self. It's most likely to be a virus but if doctor doesn't call and he gets worse quickly go to A&E, otherwise you may just have to play the waiting game

Yes i did for my ds and was sent home. It was the same the next day so I went back to a&e and he had tonsillitis with puss coming out. Go and get him checked to be safe

What Kochab said. Very sensible advice.

DS has been ill on and off all winter and has had a fever of 39-40 during two separate bouts of illness. He was still breathing and feeding ok, wet nappies etc. The first time we called 111 and they sent us to out of hours (not A&E) to be on the safe side because of his age (9 months). They checked his breathing, oxygen levels etc and said he was fine to go home but to call/come back if we were concerned.

If there are no other concerning symptoms then a high fever is ok as long as paracetamol and ibuprofen are working to reduce it. We were told if it doesn’t reduce after giving medication to take him in.

You can give both together and should stagger them. We found ibuprofen more effective than paracetamol but I think it depends on the baby.

Hope everything is ok. You did the right thing by 111 x

I find 111 useless. Don't they always tell you to go to a&e anyway?

My DS ha she febrile convulsions when he gets a high temperature. I would 100% go to a&e in case it's an infection & needs antibiotics