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.

Please go back and dont be fobbed off with "its a virus"

Another example of a practice not following the GP’s request. This is how so many people end up in a&e.

Does this situation happen a lot?

GP says come back on a certain day if no better.
Patients attempts to go back on that day, stating GP has advised this, and is told no by receptionist. Are GPs aware this is happening?

How’s your little one OP? 💐

Thinking of you OP and hoping you get some answers for your little one.

Was this a temp check whilst baby sleeping? Temperatures do fluctuate during sleep and not abnormal to drop 1-2 degrees below normal. If however it's in the context of being unwell/suddenly more unwell this would be a concerning measurement. I'm sure like all parents after the past couple of years you've got temperature checking down to a fine art but it's always worth repeating a reading/checking both ears to guard against an error - i.e. if the typanic probe isn't directed straight at the membrane, or there's a lot of wax, it would not read correctly.

Hi everyone,

We’ve just got back home. They checked him over again and believe it is simply a prolonged virus rather than anything more worrying. Apparently you can also have a temperature drop with a virus. However, we are on another course of antibiotics, this time w stronger dose. We need to give it 48 hours but if there is no improvement, we need to go back.

Thank you so much for the hand hold and support. I’m so scared for him, but we wait another 48 hours and hope he starts to feel better. I just don’t know what to think.

Yep, follow your own instincts. The notorious "virus" is usually blamed when they want to get shut of you unfortunately. Hopefully all will be well, best of luck and baby is well soon. (An over 40 temp is not good though)

I’m hearing this anecdotally but far too often. Perhaps the GPs are too scared to challenge the receptionists 🤨

If its a viral infection it won't be affected by antibiotics so the strength/dosage won't change the course if the infection. Regular fluids are key to helping, don't be overtly concerned by fever alone, it's part of the immune response making the body less hospitable to viruses. By artificially lowering temp with paracetamol you can actually prolong the course of infection which is why the guidance is not to give it for temp alone but for pain/distress.

It's very stressful when young children are unwell for so many days, sounds like they've been throughly assessed and at the moment just need to wait it out over the next few days. Hopefully they've given good guidance regards how long to wait /when to return to gp or a&e!

Regular fluids for little one, can you take some time away yourself/shifts with partner? You need to be well and rested to provide the best care as well.

Hope your baby feels better soon x

Does anyone know why doctors would up antibiotics for something that is viral? I know the antibiotics are a back up, in case there’s a secondary bacterial infection, but considering they’re insistent it’s viral, why put us on a new course?

Just to avoid a secondary infection or sepsis taking off I think. (And in case it’s bacterial rather than viral - they don’t like to take chances with babies.) I hope your little one feels better soon - the temperature spikes are so worrying, aren’t they. I used to hardly sleep when DD had infections like this. It’s the right thing to take them to A&E if you think they need it - it’s always better to have them checked out than not, and they never mind seeing a young child. Hope you can get a bit of rest.

How is your little one this morning, @ScaredFTM1 ?

I think they like to hedge their bets a bit. With a young child a serious bacterial infection would have likely had much more serious consequences 9 plus days in so without a diagnosis and with no obvious bacterial infection (positive urine sample, congested chest on X-ray or stethoscope or tonsillitis for example) they assume it’s a virus. Some of the blood test results can help with that assumption too.

But as the pp said to prevent a secondary bacterial infection or an outside chance of sepsis occurring they need to cover their bases.

It’s tricky- there are some horrible viral things around but I do think the extended time that there’s been a high temperature for is unusual.

I’m all about trusting your instincts- go back as and when you think you need to. Every single paediatrician would rather see a child a day too early than too late. You’ve been really sensible in your management of this so continue to trust yourself and go back if you feel you need to 💐

I have a DS prone to a hospital admission so I know it can all be pretty stressful and the responsibility is horrible so relieve yourself of having to manage him medically at any stage you think you need a trained pair of eyes on the situation.

How are you doing now @ScaredFTM1 ?

Hope your little one has turned the corner

Have to say I put in an econsult this afternoon at 13.36 automatic response said will get a return call by 6.30 tomorrow

Had a phone call at 13.49 to say they had made me an appointment

I've had a reply the same day before but never that soon, usually it is the next day - except for with the kids when it is later the same day - so I do think they, at least at my GP, triage the econsults fairly quickly

However the fact they haven't rung back if I were concerned then I wouldn't wait

Yes, funnily enough it happened to me today. Doctor told me to bring my (three month old) son back today if no improvement. I explained this on the phone. The receptionist said no, the first available appointment is 18th May.