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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

My 2 year old has a temp of 38.6, please advise

175 replies

Osiras · 20/04/2020 20:54

I cannot for want of trying get through on 111 for advice. Doctors closed.

I may be overreacting, if so then please do say.

He's 2 and autistic, he can't communicate how he feels but has been a bit grumpy and been off his food for the past 2 days (very unlike him). He has eaten very small amounts.

He came and laid on my lap on the sofa and he is burning hot to touch. I stripped him down, tried to give him Calpol (which he spat out) and offered him juice which he refused.

He isn't drowsy and seems ok in himself other than being off his food. He's currently playing on his tablet babbling away.

There may have been covid in the house last month (I was unwell) but no test so no confirmation.

He's never had a temperature like this before so I'm panicking.

OP posts:

ChazP · 20/04/2020 21:18

38.6 really isn’t that high and he sounds as if he’s ok in himself. It sounds like a bit of a bug, or maybe some back teeth cutting through. Keep persevering with the calpol. I would say avoid ibuprofen just in case it’s Covid. Don’t sponge him with cold water. A cool flannel on his forehead is fine but don’t cool the rest of his body down too quickly. Keep an eye on the temperature in case it goes up, but I really don’t think you need 111 on what you’ve currently described.

Ollivander · 20/04/2020 21:18

Something I saw about getting medicine into unwilling children - measure it into a spoon and add sprinkles (100s and 1000s), call it unicorn/dinosaur/teddy bear medicine. Maybe worth a try.

Emmacb82 · 20/04/2020 21:18

Try not to panic. People see temperature as a bad thing, but it’s actually a good thing. It’s the body’s natural defence against some kind of bug. We don’t rush to give children paracetamol for a temperature unless they are particularly grumpy. Just keep up with plenty of fluids and see how he goes overnight. It’s most probably just a viral illness and will get better on its own. Obviously if he worsens or you’re concerned then you need to get him seen, but carry on doing what you’re doing for now x

Cremebrule · 20/04/2020 21:22

Have a look at the nice under 5 traffic light tool. I always look at it when my children are poorly.

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng143/resources/support-for-education-and-learning-educational-resource-traffic-light-table-pdf-6960664333

wintertime6 · 20/04/2020 21:26

One thing which I learnt the hard way recently is that if they're not eating, then you really need to be getting some sugar/salt into them in their fluids, not just water. Dioralyte is great if you have it and they'll take it, otherwise juice or lucozade.

My 2 year old ended up very unwell after an infection/high temps which resulted in him not eating for a couple of days. I had been a bit reassured by the fact he was drinking loads of water, but he then ended up with electrolyte disturbances which were quite serious in the end and needed urgent treatment, so it's made me very cautious now.

KittenVsBox · 20/04/2020 21:26

Down near the bottom of this NHS link the ibuprofen concern with Covid hasnt withstood further investigation.

Lazypuppy · 20/04/2020 21:28

I wouldn't worry about 38.6 if he is fine in himself.

When you are trying to squirt the calpol in, squeeze his cheeks together it makes them swallow (nurse told me that when dd was little).
High temps just keep him dosed up

stophuggingme · 20/04/2020 21:28

@wintertime6 very good point
I have had to give mine warm full sugar lemonade and salted crisps crushed up which they eat as you are right this can be serious

And no to ibuprofen with the current Covid situation

Pollaidh · 20/04/2020 21:29

Don't panic, though if this is the first time he's had a temp I can see it might be worrying you. That's really not that high a temp, and as a PP says a fever is actually a good thing, it's a sign of the body's response to a virus or infection. If he's happy and as alert as you'd expect at this time, that's a really good sign.

If he starts appearing more poorly then you can try calpol. Give plenty of fluids, that can be water mixed with juice, milk, frozen yoghurt etc. Do not sponge him down, that is no longer advised. Instead get him down to a nappy and vest, or just a nappy if your house is overly hot.

I wouldn't bother the doctor with this unless something seriously changes. Obviously watch out for danger signals like stiff neck, headache (if he's able to communicate that), dislike of lights, floppiness, rash, very rapid breathing, unresponsiveness, dry lips, no wet nappies, but otherwise just keep an eye on him. And try not to panic as it might upset him, especially if he's not used to being ill.

TomTomRunner · 20/04/2020 21:32

Try the calpol in a yoghurt or some ice cream?

Echobelly · 20/04/2020 21:33

Yes, Calpol or similar - try not to worry too much, little ones really get boiling hot sometimes but they get over it quickly. Hope he's feeling better soon.

percentageshelp · 20/04/2020 21:34

He doesn't sound worryingly ill, it's normal for children to get high temperatures for really quite mild illnesses. DS had one that was almost up at 40 not long ago with tonsillitis, he wouldn't drink and stopped peeing which is the only reason I took him to the doctor.
As long as he's drinking, weeing and you can easily rouse him then I really wouldn't take him to the doctors.

percentageshelp · 20/04/2020 21:35

DS takes paracetamol fine but when I've had to give him antibiotics I mixed it in with icecream or yoghurt and that worked.

Quartz2208 · 20/04/2020 21:36

Yes that is not a high temp particularly at all - 39-40+ is concerning

Temps in that age are relatively normal I am surprised that you have come this long without one

I would take CV out of it for now it could be any one of a huge number of things.

The fact is he is not sleepy and is playing happily. That is a good sign. Monitor his temp and his behaviour

watch out for the danger signs if not it can be managed

Greenmarmalade · 20/04/2020 21:38

I wouldn’t worry about the temperature. My ds had possible covid and an on-off fever for 8 days. It went up to 40, but 111 doctors weren’t concerned.

I give my dc ice pops/lollies if they’re reluctant to drink.

Honestly, mine have had a lot of viruses with fevers. It’s not a high temp that causes febrile convulsions, it’s a fast escalation of temp, I’ve heard. I don’t overdo calpol unless they’re feeling awful/in pain, as the fever can treat the illness.

Could he be teething? Molars?

CaroleFuckinBaskin · 20/04/2020 21:39

I agree with others that that temp isn't particularly high and if he is playing and alert then it's probably nothing too concerning. I wouldn't even worry too much about getting the calpol in him with a slight temp like that as a fever is the body's way of fighting whatever it is that is going on (obviously if it goes higher or he were to become lethargic etc then you would need to take more action).

Hope he is better in the morning.

champagneandfromage50 · 20/04/2020 21:40

38.6 isnt super high, you said your DC seems alert and the main issue is getting calpol into him. As tough as it sounds your going to need your DH help to squirt a decent amount of calpol into your little ones mouth. He isn't going to like it but you have to ensure he is having enough to help manage his temperature. My DC have had high temps over the years due to virus, teething, tummy bug etc. dont assume because he has a temp he has corona ...to reassure my DS is older but has been ill for 4 weeks and is spiking temps of 40.8 . Managed with paracetamol. The GP has finally prescribed him antibiotics as whilst he has symptoms of corona, not tested, he is managing at home and has no breathing issues. The GP wants to ensure that he doesn't have a bacterial infection as a temp for 4 weeks isn't normal.

TwistyHair · 20/04/2020 21:47

My youngest gets high temps like that loads. She’s probably had about 10 episodes of it. She’s not always keen on the syringe but will sometimes take it off a spoon instead. Could that work. Don’t worry too much about bringing down temp. The NHS website says paracetamol is to treat discomfort rather than to reduce a temperature. If he’s happy enough then that’s good. Your husband sounds very unhelpful. It’s totally normal to be feeling anxious when your child is ill.

WafflesandPancakess · 20/04/2020 21:49

Hi I wanted to post to share what happened with my DD.

I have no doubt it was covid 19 as DH got symptoms 10 days later.

DD’s temperature for to 39.5 at its highest. It was very on and off but didn’t go below about 38.5 for around 4 days.

When she is teething for example she cries A LOT. With this she just wasn’t herself, and didn’t sleep.

Luckily, she had no other symptoms other than the temperature which was helped with calpol.

We called 111 and they were great. Referred us to GP and all fine. The main reason we did 111 was because her temp was nearing 40 and we panicked.

DH actually had it a lot worse than her but I do feel awful when I think about how unwell she must have felt.

Personally I’d calpol and monitor the situation. Try not to worry although that’s easier said than done.

Cremebrule · 20/04/2020 21:51

I’d also you have to look at the symptoms and not the fever itself. I’ve had times when my first was quite happy with 39 but my second has been in hospital when her fever was only 38. My second reacts badly to viral infections so I’ve become good at knowing what is likely to trigger triage. She tends to be ill enough that the GP will send her to hospital but not so Ill that she’s admitted. We’ve spent a lot of time in A&E with her.

TwerkForTeachers · 20/04/2020 21:53

Don't try more Calpol if the last attempt was within 4 hours. You have no way of knowing how much he swallowed and don't want to overdose him.

Original poster

Osiras · 20/04/2020 21:53

Thank you all, you've helped to bring me down from a tremendous panic

I won't bother the GP unless it gets higher and/or he exhibits the red flags mentioned.

He's laid on my chest making happy noises, he's very tired but I'd expect nothing less given the time of night.

Yes it's the first time this has ever happened, I'm surprised to see it's as common as it seems in toddlers. DH has a cracking immune system so he must get it from him.

I am prone to panic where the kids health is concerned because when I had DD last year we were kept in hospital for a fortnight because I had sepsis, she was on iv antibiotics as a precaution and the whole thing frightened me terribly.

I'll be keeping a close eye on him

OP posts:

Oakmaiden · 20/04/2020 21:54

Is that an under arm temperature?

HeadSpin5 · 20/04/2020 21:56

I thought the Covid - Ibrupofen potential issue had been debunked? Understand the need for caution of course though.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/coronavirus-paracetamol-ibuprofen-symptoms-nhs-advice-latest-a9404881.html%3famp

Original poster

Osiras · 20/04/2020 21:58

Waffles and green I'm sorry your children have had to deal with covid/possible covid

I've been dreading the possibility of my DC getting it.

I have my suspicions that I had it at the end of March but I didn't have the textbook symptoms so I can't be sure.

It would be unusual for him to only develop symptoms now wouldn't it? Given that if I did have it then it was a month ago?

Both DC had a very mild cough at the time so I figured if they did have it with me then it would be long gone by now, so when I took his temp this evening and he felt so hot I thought oh god here we go

OP posts:

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