Can’t get temp below 39.

[annie987]

My son (12) has had cold like symptoms today. Thought nothing of it really. This evening he’s got worse. Temperature won’t come below 39 on full doses of Calpol and ibuprofen every 2 hours.
He’s sleeping fitfully, sweating lots and shivering.
Breathing is a little fast but not massively so.
What do I do for the best?
Wake him at 11 for his next dose? Leave him be?
Thanks

Fever is your body’s way of fighting infection, unless he’s showing signs of anything nasty I would leave him be

I'd ring 111 if the fever won't come down- he may need to be checked out but they would be better placed to advise than mumsnet.

Try ringing 111 for advice. Does he have a rash? Are his hands and feet cold?

If his fever wont go below 39 with a combination of calpol and ibuprofen then he needs to see a dr tonight....

What is his reps rate?
Has he done many wee's today?

Please can people NOT tell someone on the internet to leave a child in bed with a temperature that is not under control !

Respiration rate is 36 so not too bad. He did lots of wees today but nothing since 5 ish.
Will take his temp again in ten mins and if still the same will ring 111. Didn’t want to bother anyone unnecessarily. Thank you

Please do not think you are "bothing anyone" this is what they are here for....

36 is higher than it should be

36 is a little bit on the high side for a 12 year old. Have you managed to check his pulse too? I’d give 111 a call. I hope your DS is on the mend soon

I would call 111 for sure with that fever and a respiratory rate of 36 - in a child that age it should be 15-20 so it is almost double the normal rate. Please seek advice from them, I suspect they will want to see him to rule out anything serious

yes ring 111 a temperature you cant bring down needs some advice

What is he like when he is awake?

I agree , call 111. Hope he is on the mend soon, sounds like possibly flu ?

Hi! I work in A+E. A child with a resp rate of 36 and a temp thats as high as that would be treated as sepsis. Either call 111 or go to A+E.

DS had very similar symptoms as a toddler, started as a chest infection but developed into pneumonia. I think I’d get him curcked our tonight at the OOH.

checked

If he was mine I'd be heading to A&E. Might just be a virus but he sounds quite ill and he needs checking out.

My first thoughts were sepsis too!

High resp rate and a temperature that wont come down with medicine are two symptoms

I hope his temp has come down a bit, please give 111 a call if not.

Forget 111 and take him straight to a&e

Ring them NOW! or Attend A&E

You've stated his symptoms are worsening as day goes on.
He has an uncontrolled high temperature despite medication.
Hes sweating
He's rigoring (shivering when temp is high)
He's drowsy and not sleeping normally "fitfully"
His respiration rate at rest is too high for a child his age.
Initially he was urinating often but not anything for 4 hours.

Your child sounds quite unwell you need official medical advice & not randoms off the internet.

As already stated he would be triaged for sepsis if he presented in A&E with those symptoms.

I’m EXTREMELY chilled about temps and sickness and I’d have that child at the dr or A&E if the ten wouldn’t come down on full neurofen and calpol!

Temp still 39. Pulse is 100. Resp rate 34.
Going to ring 111

My dd had a high temp with shakes and funny breathing last week. I called 111 and they advised a&e.

Whilst there I asked what I should do in future for high temp. She told me to try and control it at home for 6 hours, if I can’t bring it to down then to seek medical help. (If any other symptoms occur that are worrying, seek medical help more urgently).

I think your son should be seen, even if just to put your mind at rest. Without trying to scare, a close relative of mine had sepsis recently that only presented with a high temp. It’s made me really worried.

To be honest I wouldn't waste time phoning them, would just head straight to the hospital.

Hope he is ok OP.