To take baby to A&E

[ScaredFTM1]

My one year old has had a fever for 11 days straight, it often reaches 40.something, by which point I give Calpol or Nurofen which most of the time brings it down. Right now it’s at 40.2.

I saw the GP on Friday who gave antibiotics. Three days of antibiotics and his fever is still spiking. Last night, it continued to rise after we gave calpol so we also gave Nurofen which brought it down.

GP said if it’s not cleared by today, bring him back. But our practice is really annoying where any request has to be via Econsult. They refuse any requests over the phone and even if you don’t have access to the internet, they will do the econsult for you over the phone. I did an Econsult first thing this morning and it said they will come back to me by tomorrow. I called the practice to say it’s urgent and I was simply told it will be reviewed by end of tomorrow.

I don’t know what to do.

Call 111.

It’s much easier to keep on top of a fever then get on top of one so I would give calpol or nurofen regularly.

I'd call 111 too

Yep I would be going to a and e I think. Also once you baby is better I would make a complaint about your gp surgery and if possible change surgery. Not seeing a baby especially when the doctor has asked you to come back is not acceptable.

I'd call 111 but I think you need to be proactive not reactive.

Calpol every six hours (it's four doses a day) and neurofen every eight (think it's three doses a day). Dont wait for their temp to spike to medicate, you know it'll come up as soon as the meds are fully cleared so great what you know is coming

Yes 111.

My son had something similar and 111 ended up sending paramedics. I did feel a bit silly at the time but they agreed be needed to be seen and took him to the local children's A&E (which was much quicker than normal A&E if you have one near you). He had a bad chest infection, needed two courses of antibiotics to get on top and was kept in for 2 days for monitoring and oxygen as he was sucking in when breathing.

All this after being told by the GP it was nothing.

So basically trust your gut when it comes to babies. Honestly who cares if you go and it turns out to be nothing? You'd feel far worse if you didn't and it was something.

I would go to a&e. That’s far too long for a fever imo.

Thank you so much. I’ll call 111.

I’ve been worried about giving him too many drugs, which is why I’ve been reactive rather than proactive. Is that something I should be worried about? Just feels like I’m constantly dosing him up.

I would take baby to a&e (and have done twice). I’m surprised your go didn’t when temp is hitting 40. I don’t want to worry you, best bet is a&e, children get seen quicker

Obv don't do it for weeks but in my experience it'll help break the fever quicker. And then on day 3 I'd call the Dr's and say is it OK to keep giving this amount?

Still to the permitted doses, try to give food with the neurofen and if temp starts to drop, guit the neurofen first.

Absolutely, I always keep topped up, myself and the kids, just bear in mind the doses and time frames. Best to stagger between the two, and I always leave a dose free for after sleep time as kids temperatures always spike a few hours after they go to sleep at night.

It won't do any harm to continue giving calpol and nurofen, providing you're not going over the doses stated on the box. When my son was in hospital they were giving it to him regularly. Sometimes together if his temp was high and they went off his individual weight too so they actually gave him more than the box stated for his age.

He does need checking though.

If you’ve stayed in the guidelines, don’t worry about doing your baby harm, but have I got it right you’ve been treating this way for 11 days straight? I thought calpol was max 3 days continuous before seek other treatment? So might be “masking” underlying problem and baby needs other treatment. Often hitting 40 for 11 days doesn’t sound right.

www.nhs.uk/medicines/paracetamol-for-children/

This page says “Do not alternate between paracetamol and ibuprofen to treat a high temperature without advice from a doctor or nurse.” And “If your child needs help with pain day and night for several days (usually up to 3 days), give a dose of paracetamol every 6 hours.”

Is he ill in any other ways? Are you definitely sure your thermometer isn't faulty?

Yes because you have sought medical treatment.

Called 111 but he’s napping now and he needs to be awake so I said I’ll call back. He’s not sleeping well either so didn’t want to wake him up from a much needed nap.

He had the MMR three weeks ago, so at first I assumed it was related to that. He also had a cough and runny nose but the cough is clearing, but still a runny nose. I spoke to a GP on day 6, who checked him on day 8, which is when I got the antibiotics. He’s 3 days in on the antibiotics and I’m not seeing any improvement.

I’m sure. Even with a touch of his skin you can feel he’s burning.

When he has the high fever what is he like? Unsettled, grumpy, breathing fast, rigours? Before giving meds I’d ask myself if he needs them, fever is the body’s way of fighting infection so it’s doing it’s job. I know people are concerned about febrile convulsions but often giving anti pyretics don’t stop them as the temp rises so fast to cause one. Giving constant 8/6 hourly antipyretics will also mask symptoms so I wouldn’t do that. Also what is the source of the infection, why is he on antibiotics? Perhaps they aren’t the right ones? Or not strong enough etc…ask dr to weigh him and prescribe his para/brufen on his weight so you are optimising the doses.

what to do in short term, ask for him to be seen, today. He’s a young baby and should be checked over given your concerns and his history. If not go to a&e. Children compensate for a long time before becoming acutely unwell. Check he’s drinking, peeing and any other worries I would get him seen fast tbh

I would have been in A&E along time ago. I hope your baby gets well soon.

The stuff about calpol etc is more a thing for next time OP. Right now just focus on 111 when he calls back / urgent care. He's had a fever for a long time and someone NEEDS to see him. If GP were awkward I'd go for out of hours but in your situation I'd say Urgent Care is best.
And if he goes floppy, etc 999

Agree with all this. I don't give my kids paracetamol or ibuprofen to bring down a fever, only if they're in pain.

I definitely think your baby needs seen again. 11 days with a 40 degree fever means there's something going on. Perhaps further tests or different antibiotics needed.

I would go to A&E
I phoned 111 on Saturday night when my 7 year old had a temperature of 40.8 I didn't get a call back until 10 hours later and spoke to a doctor for the first time at 4pm Sunday afternoon by which time she was much better thankfully.

I initially phoned 111 at 6pm

How old is he?

A&E. It really isn’t worth risking it and something isn’t right.

Hopefully you'll get some guidance from 111 when he wakes up, poor little mite.