Worried about toddler with tonsillitis

[CarryOnNurse20]

DS has had a temp and cough for 3 days. Since this morning his glands in his neck are raised, I can see his tonsils are a bit swollen when he opens his mouth and he asks for food but won’t eat anything other than yogurt or ice lolly which makes me think his throat hurts. His cry is also hoarse and different to normal.
I’ve given calpol/nurofen as often as possible. He’s v hot (38.5ish) which comes down after medicine. He’s more himself (playing, smiling) then as it wears off gets v hot and just lays down wanting to sleep/cry.
I rang the GP and they’ve given me an appointment for 8:30am (wouldn’t see today). I just feel nervous- the sensible part of me knows he will be ok but I’m scared of him getting septic/airway closing in the night. He’s next to me in a travel cot.
I’m a MH adult trained nurse so panic when I do his obs (pulse 130, resps 44) but I know kids are faster anyway and he’s clearly fighting something off.
Would you wait for tomorrow morning? Is there anything else I should be doing?

He’s 23 months old so his speech isn’t great- he can’t really communicate where the pain is v well!

Hi there, I think you are doing all the right things, you have a doctors appointment booked for the morning, so overnight I would just keep up the calpol/nurofen and keep and eye on him regularly. Try and get some sleep yourself I know how anxious it is when they are poorly...the doctor will be checking him out in less than 12 hours and I’m sure that if you need antibiotics you will get them.

Obviously if overnight you are increasingly concerned you must trust your gut instinct. But you are doing all you can at the moment and the calpol/nurofen is clearly helping and bringing down his temp so that’s a good sign, until you can get to doctors.

Is he drinking enough fluid ?

Thanks. He’s drinking water a bit yes!

That’s reassuring I don’t want to under react but I worry I will also under react when he’s really ill!

I think you can also speak to 111 overnight for reassurance - always OK to ask for help and to recognise you’re not sure!

With my own I sometimes use paediatric charts to check Obs. The Scottish ones are easily accessible, here is 12-23 months ihub.scot/media/2414/v2-pews-form-12-23-months-national-0-3.pdf

They may prescribe tomorrow but then it will take a couple of days to work as I'm sure you know. I think you are doing all the right things with alternating calpol and ibuprofen. They do get high temps with tonsillitis. My niece has been very susceptible to it over the years and often needs antibiotics for it. My sister encourages ice lollies for fluids and some energy. Just keep on top of the pain relief through the night for his temp. If you're worried you'll need to get him seen. My sister is a paediatric nurse and has often seen tonsillitis cases in a&e.

If he’s drinking and weeing I’m sure he will be fine.
He needs rest so his body can repair, so it’s good he’s sleeping.
Keep on with the painkillers and hang on until the morning.

Can you call 111 for an out of hours appointment?

Keep him topped up on painkillers Op, plenty of water at hand for through the night.
It's good your app is early.
My DS had tonsillitis and we didn't get an app till the next day either.
He got ABs and difflam spray (this is amazing stuff)
Something nice and cold like a yoghurt if he's up to it for breakfast.
Otherwise I would let him sleep but keep checking his temp.

Thanks for all the advice!
It’s a bad viral infection with sore ears and a sore throat so just sent home for rest cuddles and an inhaler as he’s wheezy too. Seems better today :)