Wake up 3 year old with fast breathing and temperature ?

bedff · 2023-04-01T03:37:15+00:00

My 3 year old is sick since yesterday. She has a nasty cough and has developed a temperature over night. She's asleep, but breathing really fast and she's got temp of around 38. I'm not sure if I should wake her ? She was awake earlier for a bit and pretty upset, but then she fell asleep again. I'm so tired but finding it hard to sleep again, knowing she's got a temperature and I want to keep an eye on her.

Lulu2171 · 01/04/2023 04:43

Wake her up for what purpose? What would you do?

Her body will be fighting the illness while she sleeps. I'd leave her.

I can understand not getting back to sleep yourself while you're worried.

Aquamarine1029 · 01/04/2023 04:44

Faster breathing can be normal with a fever, but it can also be a symptom of other things, including RSV. Given that she also has a bad cough, I would get her seen immediately.

Original poster

bedff · 01/04/2023 04:46

Well, she woke up.. so I gave her Calpol.

OP posts:

ChickenMacaroni · 01/04/2023 04:49

Sounds like you've already checked on her when she woke a few mins ago.

I wouldn't wake her and personally wouldn't give Calpol for a temp of 38 unless they were in some sort of pain. Running a very slight fever is their body's way of fighting off the infection. Hope she feels much better soon and that you get some rest too 💜

Original poster

bedff · 01/04/2023 04:54

ChickenMacaroni · 01/04/2023 04:49

Sounds like you've already checked on her when she woke a few mins ago.

I wouldn't wake her and personally wouldn't give Calpol for a temp of 38 unless they were in some sort of pain. Running a very slight fever is their body's way of fighting off the infection. Hope she feels much better soon and that you get some rest too 💜

Yeah she was pretty upset when she woke up and screaming that she has boo boo.. so I figured it may slow down her breathing and help her sleep better.

But I know what you mean, it's not always necessary to relieve the fever.

OP posts:

Original poster

bedff · 01/04/2023 04:55

Kids eh ! My son has just got better after a week of illness and now of course it starts in my DD... and I've got it too.

OP posts:

Spanisheomellletttes · 01/04/2023 05:28

Paed nurse here. I second checking the fast breathing and cough. RSV is nasty

Original poster

bedff · 01/04/2023 05:30

Spanisheomellletttes · 01/04/2023 05:28

Paed nurse here. I second checking the fast breathing and cough. RSV is nasty

She's sleeping soundly now. I'll see how she is later. Thank you

OP posts:

Original poster

bedff · 01/04/2023 09:06

Spanisheomellletttes · 01/04/2023 05:28

Paed nurse here. I second checking the fast breathing and cough. RSV is nasty

Should I call 111 ? She hasn't coughed that much over night, but it sounds painful and she cries.

OP posts:

user1471457757 · 01/04/2023 09:10

I would call 111, can't do any harm any may help.

Spiderboy · 01/04/2023 09:10

If she is still breathing fast, call 111 and see if you can get an appointment. Is she pulling in around her ribs at all as she is breathing in?

Coffeeandchocs · 01/04/2023 09:18

Another paeds nurse here, I wouldn’t wake a child with a temperature. Temperatures are a normal reaction to illness and only need to be treated if they’re extremely high (higher than 39) or it’s causing the child distress. An upset child with a temperature of 38.4: dose of calpol and recheck temperature in an hour. A relatively content child with a temperature of 38.4: leave them be and only treat if they start to become distressed.
The fast breathing on the other hand is a worry and I would wake a child to check them over. Things to look for are recession (sucking in under and between the ribs) and a tracheal tug (sucking in at the base of the next with each breath). Another one is nasal flaring and head bobbing in younger children but these wouldn’t normally be apparent in a three year old. Just fast breathing with the absence of any recession, I’d let them go back to sleep. If they did have any of these signs of respiratory distress I’d call 111.

Original poster

bedff · 01/04/2023 09:36

Coffeeandchocs · 01/04/2023 09:18

Another paeds nurse here, I wouldn’t wake a child with a temperature. Temperatures are a normal reaction to illness and only need to be treated if they’re extremely high (higher than 39) or it’s causing the child distress. An upset child with a temperature of 38.4: dose of calpol and recheck temperature in an hour. A relatively content child with a temperature of 38.4: leave them be and only treat if they start to become distressed.
The fast breathing on the other hand is a worry and I would wake a child to check them over. Things to look for are recession (sucking in under and between the ribs) and a tracheal tug (sucking in at the base of the next with each breath). Another one is nasal flaring and head bobbing in younger children but these wouldn’t normally be apparent in a three year old. Just fast breathing with the absence of any recession, I’d let them go back to sleep. If they did have any of these signs of respiratory distress I’d call 111.

I didn't check these things unfortunately, silly me. I'll know to check next time. She was pretty upset and her lips appeared kind of white. I gave Calpol and she fell asleep straight away and her temp went right down and now she's just her usual self. I'll try and check her breathing rate now and perhaps call 111 in case she needs to be seen.

OP posts:

Coffeeandchocs · 01/04/2023 09:55

bedff · 01/04/2023 09:36

I didn't check these things unfortunately, silly me. I'll know to check next time. She was pretty upset and her lips appeared kind of white. I gave Calpol and she fell asleep straight away and her temp went right down and now she's just her usual self. I'll try and check her breathing rate now and perhaps call 111 in case she needs to be seen.

Show quote history

It doesn’t make you silly. I only know these things as it’s part of our assessment when kids come in with respiratory illnesses.
As a general rule, when my little one has a cough or any other illness where his breathing may be impacted I have him with his top off for a little while so I can look at his body. If ever it looks like he’s “working hard” to breathe, I get him seen by a doctor.
If you notice any of those signs I previously mentioned it’s always a good idea to get a quick video of it if you can. With little ones it can come and go and you might get them in front of a doctor and they then seem perfectly fine so it’s always good to have something to show the doctor what you’ve seen and were worried about.

Coffeeandchocs · 01/04/2023 09:59

Just to add, fast breathing often comes with the high temperature. So if you give calpol and the breathing returns to normal it’s likely they were breathing faster due to feeling hot, and not because they’re struggling with their breathing.
As always though, if you’re worried about her get her checked out.