39 degrees, chest infection?

[greentable]

Apologies but posting for traffic.

DS (8) had a heavy cold a couple of weeks ago, with a cough that lingered and I put it down to just a post-cold cough that can hang around for a while. The cough is not improving, I heard him coughing last night for example and this evening he is 39 degrees and has not eaten dinner. He's always really healthy so I have no experience of this before!

Do I take him to the out of hours doctor this evening? Take him to GP in the morning? Continue to wait it out? Any advice would be appreciated.

Have you given anything for the fever? Is it responding to neurofen /calpol?

Is he drinking fluids? Weeing as normal?

I would go to out of hours (I have no relevant training) but the sooner he's on antibiotics for an infection, the better.

Chest infections lead to nebulisors (sp?), bronchitis etc if not dealt with quickly, in my experience as a mother.

I gave calpol an hour ago when he was 38 degrees and he is now 39 degrees! He is drinking a bit and weeing as normal. He is quite contentedly watching cartoons and not complaining or anything but obviously listless and not his usual self.

He is probably going to need antibiotics I'm guessing. I just usually try to avoid them and google keeps saying all of this is stuff is usually viral so antibiotics aren't going to help so it's a bit confusing.

I've been to surgery to day. Temp 38 but brought down with paracetamol, persistent cough and feeling rough. I do, however, have asthma. I was given antibiotic and steroids. I'm 68, so the opposite end of the "vulnerable group from your son. My advice? See a doctor

my toddlerhad 39 temperature last week. It lasted about 4 nights. I saw GP on 3rd day and she said it was a virus.

if you have a bad feeling obviously contact someone tonight but even if it is a chest infection seeing the GP tomorrow will most likely be fine. He might be best to be tucked up in bed with some calpol and a warm drink and taken to GP tomorrow if he doesnt improve.

i am not a medical professional though, thats just what i would do given the symptoms you describe.

I gave calpol an hour ago when he was 38 degrees and he is now 39 degrees!

that does change things ( i saw your update after i had posted) The GP said to me to go back if her temp doent go down with calpol. Call out of hours they know what to look for to see whethers it's viral or not. If they dont give you antibiotics he doesnt need them.

Have you got any ibuprofen? Kids stuff obvs. Give that or get someone to get you some. Take off any blankets etc but you don't want him cold as you'll fuel the fever.
Get some cool drinks in to him

If his temp doesn't drop within an hour of ibuprofen I'd call 111 or out of hours

Thank you all. I will call out of hours and see what they say. He is sitting my the fire which probably doesn't help! But so am I and my temperature is completely normal (I just checked with same ear thermometer) so I don't think that's making a difference.

Normally I find Calpol takes a while to kick in. But I would expect it to have kicked in by now. I would try & give Ibuprofen after 2 hours as that works a lot faster to bring down temp.

I know when my DDs temp was still very high 45 mins after Nurofen (we were at GP for Tonsillitis) I got told if her temp was not down in next hour to phone 111 or got back to GPs.
I would always err on the side of caution and phone 111. It may be they will advise you to go to GP tomorrow but at least you have taken medical advice

I find sometimes with viral calpol doesn't touch it but ibuprofen will.
Also if he's 39 degrees he shouldn't be sat by the fire. It will raise your temperature a little and his is already high. Totally dif to you who is well and might be a little cool otherwise