To be worried about my 4 year olds temperature?

[OneMamaAndHerGirl]

Posting for traffic.

My 4 year old woke up last Saturday morning with a temp of 39.3 and vomited 5 times. She also developed a very chesty cough and snotty nose, called 111 and they made her an appointment with GP out of hours. He couldn’t see if there was any infection but prescribed her antibiotics anyway just incase. When we left there she was back to her normal self begging to go to the zoo (we didn’t go). So I waited until Monday to give her the antibiotics as her temperature didn’t return and I wanted a second opinion from her own GP. Monday morning her temperature returned so I spoke with the GP (phone consultation) and she said it was sensible to let her fight whatever this was without antibiotics as she was eating, drinking and has full energy. I was happy with that decision. She was fine all week doing all her activities, she did have a chesty cough and snotty nose still. But so did most of the other kids we saw out so thought nothing of it.
However, this morning at 5.30 she woke up and vomited once and had a temp of 39.9. I’m sick to my stomach with worry that something is seriously wrong with her. She has another appointment at 9am to be seen by a GP. I suffered with terrible health anxiety in the past regarding my daughter I almost had a breakdown and I’ve been A LOT better lately but this has triggered it. In my mind I’m trying to tell myself that it’s just the infection she never fought off and now needs antibiotics. Could this be possible? Or does anyone have similar experiences? She was absolutely fine yesterday putting on dance shows for us, eating like a horse and swimming in the paddling pool!
Please be kind, I feel riddled with anxiety.

@Chiwi

You're not overreacting. A temp that high, lethargy, distress they're all things that together need checking out. You're doing the right thing to get her seen. (A HCP)

Thank you, that honestly feels like music to my ears. Her appointment is in half an hour!

@Fitforforty

Has she had a covid PCR test? She will only need antibiotics if the infection is bacterial. A temperature in an ill child shows her body is fight the infection, it’s not a bad a sign.

Also I know it’s not so much a bad sign it’s the fact it’s come back after 1 week that makes me believe she may need a bit of help. That’s why I didn’t give them her in the first place I wanted her to fight it and also if it was viral it wouldn’t help anyway x

@ChairOnToast

Having covid two months ago doesn’t mean she doesn’t have it again. She could have the new variant. With a raised temperature your doctor should have recommended a covid test. The NHS website is very clear that you should have a test if you have a raised temperature.

She hasn’t got covid, just because she’s got a temperature doesn’t mean she has it okay? Please show me where it states the rest of her symptoms are symptoms of covid?

Actually GPs are saying we should not be ignoring high temps in children assuming it's covid. This is really dangerous, not saying your child is gravely ill OP but a child with a very high not reducing temp needs to be checked for a number of very scary conditions. This was a mistake that was made in the first lockdown and many children suffered because they would not be seen until a covid test was done. Children become ill very rapidly.

Actually in kids vomiting can be a sign of Covid. That's why our local authority have stated that children who have vomiting, diarrhea, stomach ache etc must get a negative PCR test before returning to school.

It's a mistake to think that those symptoms are not indicative of Covid. Covid has a broad range of symptoms beyond the main three.

I'm not sure why you are so defensive about the possibility that it could be Covid.

If Calpol isn't affecting her temperature at all then you need to seek medical advice. But I would also reconsider getting her tested for Covid.

You didn’t need to be so snippy in your reply.

Where I am with those symptoms a doctor wouldn’t even see you without a negative test and schools etc wouldn’t let you back without a negative test. So was just asking the question.

Just for information, not aimed at the OP, I was told this week by a matron that D&V seems to be emerging as a symptom of the new Covid variant.

Regardless of having had covid she should have a covid test. It's amazing go will see her unless going to a covid centre?
My ds 3 had a temp last weekend 38.1 was the highest and it came down with calpol. I was fairly certain it was his throat as he was chewing his hands which he only does with a sore throat but he still needed and got the covid test. He then came out in a rash and out of hours gp said even with the negative covid result he would have to go to a covid centre to be seen. He had tonsillitis and was given antibiotics and is much much better touch wood now.
With regards to can a sore throat cause vomiting absolutely especially in young kids..as it can present as stomach pain instead. Apparently it's not all that unusual in kids but not particularly common either. But it could also be the temp making her vomit.

@Chiwi

Actually GPs are saying we should not be ignoring high temps in children assuming it's covid. This is really dangerous, not saying your child is gravely ill OP but a child with a very high not reducing temp needs to be checked for a number of very scary conditions. This was a mistake that was made in the first lockdown and many children suffered because they would not be seen until a covid test was done. Children become ill very rapidly.

Exactly I had this issue last year. I think people seem to assume that covid has wiped out every other illness

If she tested positive for Covid 2 months ago, these can be the symptoms of long Covid, sickness , high temp, sore throat and coughing

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/long-term-effects-of-coronavirus-long-covid/

Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea is actually more predictive of covid in children than a cough.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s probably not covid of course, but protocol is to test with high temp or cough to protect others and I don’t understand why that’s not been followed here.

Anyway- hope she’s feeling much better soon OP and you’re given the right treatment. Most viral or bacterial infections can cause vomiting in children, as can a high temperature.

Tonsillitis absolutely can cause vomiting and headache. But since you’re seeing a GP probably best to see what they say. Sounds like she got better during the week? So this could be another/separate illness.

Still seek help if your child has a non reducing temp. Especially babies and infants. Don't assume it is covid and wait for a PCR. This is really dangerous, most children do not get very ill from covid (please note the most). They do get very ill from sepsis, meningitis and other infections though.

@Springchickpea

Tonsillitis absolutely can cause vomiting and headache. But since you’re seeing a GP probably best to see what they say. Sounds like she got better during the week? So this could be another/separate illness.

I think I was panicking this morning I do think she’s got another illness. On the way now x

I’m glad she’s being seen soon. I would have reacted the same way as you, and I don’t have underlying health anxiety.

It sounds to me like tonsillitis which will probably clear up if the gp you’re seeing this morning gives her antibiotics.

Try and keep her cool. Check with the GP if you can start giving ibuprofen. I always found calpol was completely useless at lowering temperatures, but with ibuprofen they would come straight down. I suspect the 111 call handler wanted to make sure chicken pox is ruled out because ibuprofen can cause complications.

@Chiwi

Still seek help if your child has a non reducing temp. Especially babies and infants. Don't assume it is covid and wait for a PCR. This is really dangerous, most children do not get very ill from covid (please note the most). They do get very ill from sepsis, meningitis and other infections though.

I think this is the point others are missing. I won’t be waiting and hanging around days whilst my daughter is like this. When she had covid all she had was a high temp she was absolutely fine thank you for the advice

Every time I’ve had tonsillitis I’ve vomited, which is bloody painful with infected tonsils. A high temp is also a symptom and I was in a lot of pain with it every time, it hurts to even swallow. If you can see white spots on her tonsils I’d start her on the antibiotics, it’s likely tonsillitis. But still keep the GP appointment.

@AFS1

I’m glad she’s being seen soon. I would have reacted the same way as you, and I don’t have underlying health anxiety.

It sounds to me like tonsillitis which will probably clear up if the gp you’re seeing this morning gives her antibiotics.

Try and keep her cool. Check with the GP if you can start giving ibuprofen. I always found calpol was completely useless at lowering temperatures, but with ibuprofen they would come straight down. I suspect the 111 call handler wanted to make sure chicken pox is ruled out because ibuprofen can cause complications.

Ah right that makes sense I’m here now so will post an update

Tonsillitis also sometimes has a particular smell - putrid. And when I get tonsillitis paracetamol does absolutely nothing. It’s ibuprofen that makes the difference

I don’t think people are saying you should wait for a covid test before treating, absolutely not and that’s not the protocol. But it is/should be mandatory for the symptoms she’s presenting with.

Of course she should receive immediate treatment too - an examination and prescription if medically indicated.

Surely if you visit a doctor then you take that advice. Likelihood is by not giving the antibiotics the illness will last for longer and you've taken up more NHS time by needing another consultation.

@OneMamaAndHerGirl

Ah just checked the NHS website and it says it can cause nausea which I’m guessing can lead to vomiting?

Yes, I think when DS had it bad it was mainly then on dropping temperature but hopefully doc can sort her out poor thing x

Hoping all goes well for your DD and it's just tonsillitis
I know how worrying it can be when your little ones ( and bigger ones - you never stop worrying ) are poorly.

@Star81

You didn’t need to be so snippy in your reply.

Where I am with those symptoms a doctor wouldn’t even see you without a negative test and schools etc wouldn’t let you back without a negative test. So was just asking the question.

I'm sure you're mistaken if you think hcps in your area wouldn't see a sick child without a covid test having been done. Children can get very sick very quickly and there is no way an hcp would refuse to see a sick child.

Parents should be encouraged to use their instincts and seek medical help ASAP if they are concerned. Hcps would rather see hundreds of children that are ok than miss the one who dies due to lack of treatment. It is not possible to clearly distinguish between the two and I would always err on the side of caution.

Hope your dd improves soon op.