Fever 40.1

[Wedonttalk]

Five year old has fever of 40.1. She was assessed earlier this morning. Viral cough apparently. Given her some Calpol but she coughed a lot back up. Do I phone 111 or leave her? She's asleep.

I'd call 111 back and advise of the change but I'd also wake her first and see if she'll have a drink and maybe some meds if she's unhappy

Did the ambulance arrive OP? How is she?

Why wait for an ambulance? What’s stopping you taking her by car or taxi? the ambulance service has you waiting 4 hours, it’s hardly a dire emergency that requires paramedics and ambulance equipment

My best friend is a pediatrician and her advice is always if there aren't signs of meningitis and kiddo isn’t lethargic (totally unable to be roused) then fevers are uncomfortable but dangerous until you get into 41.5 territory.

Sorry but NOT dangerous!

Please take her to A&E yourself, if you feel it's warranted but cancel the ambulance. If you're willing to wait 4 hours for one- you don't need it. If the wait is that long, then maybe let it get to an emergency quicker by cancelling?!

How is she now OP? Why the panic about an ambulance and a&e without further knowledge of the child's condition. I guess it depends on the cause of the 'purring' as only op knows what that is but could be a partially blocked nose or phlegm in chest, alternatively could be a wheeze or effort to breathe where I'd agree in this circumstance better to get her seen. If she'd coughed up some calpol I'd work out roughly how much and replace it and give a dose of ibuprofen too. A temp of 40 that reduces with meds wouldn't worry my if my child was otherwise ok (ie rouse able, not confused, no rash)

I know ambulance services are stretched so I don't blame them but it's all a bit odd really that they sent an ambulance but not urgently. If a child has a fever then generally they're either ok and fine to wait a few hours and therefore you can get her to a hospital yourself or we're thinking sepsis which is a time critical emergency and needs treatment within the hour and can otherwise lead to death/limb loss. None of this can be predicted by temp alone it's more about the condition of the child. Lesson here is that if 111 is worried enough to send you an ambulance but can't get one there faster than you can get them there then it's probably safest just to take them yourself and then at least a professional can look at them urgently and decide whether it's sepsis. Glad your LO sounds to be ok the mend OP but plz just take her to hospital if you're worried. They'd rather see the 99% of children who are fine than miss the 1% who needs life saving help xx

Not a criticism of OP but the irony of 111 sending an ambulance to a child with a temperature, and then there being a four hour delay as the ambulance service is so busy. Correlation is clear! 111 is a joke and not fit for purpose (a view shared by most healthcare professionals). Sends ambulances for minor issues, yet dodgy advice re more serious conditions in my experience.

@Jannt86 if you tell the 111 that you cant get to hospital yourself and they think you need to be seen they will order an ambulance for you but you may have to wait. Tbh you can wait a long time even if urgent.

FOUR hours.....wow.

So update, ambulance never turned up. I fell asleep on floor of daughter's bedroom. Mobile rang at 5am and it was the ambulance service saying they'd been very busy. No shit?! Paramedic advised me to take her to a and e but by the morning she was drinking, weeing and temp was being controlled by Calpol. absolutely knackered today as set alarm on phone to check her every half hour. Tried to cancel ambulance but could t.

Good news op. Pleased she's on the mend.

I rang 999 last week for my teenage dc, they advised a&e but a 3 hour wait for ambulance. If I'd been on my own I would have had to wait for the ambulance as I could not have got them into the car or taxi as they were struggling to walk after losing consciousness. Thankfully my dh was on hand to carry them and we got to a&e within 30 minutes. Scary to think what might happen though.

And sadly 111 is the reason there are no ambulances.

I'm sorry, it's shit that there aren't enough ambulances it really is but this is the reality. Even if you're alone you have the option of getting a taxi so to reitterate again if you/your child is poorly enough to need an ambulance and you're being told it will take a long time then just get to ED yourself. Sure you could wait for the ambulance and if your child gets seriously sick or even dies as a result of this you could complain to the ambulance service and even sue/get your story in the papers but it's hardly any consolation if your child is dead/seriously ill. You shouldn't have to do it but please please please just use your common sense and get your kid to hospital. X

*get your kid to hospital rather than delaying their care should be what I wrote. I realise the child in the OP is better now

If partner had followed advice of 111 i would of been dead.
Let her sleep, a doctor will ring back soon
2 hours later
Let her sleep, ring the gp tomorrow

Partner picked me up and carried me to the car
Hospital said if i had stayed asleep, i would of been dead !

111 either sends an ambulance for stupid things or doesnt send an ambulance when someone is in desperate need of one