My 2 year old is worrying me!

[monarchbutterfly]

Posting in AIBU for traffic.

My 2 year old has had a temperature on and off all day. It was 39.8 this morning so I contacted the GP who when we saw her said my little boy has another chest infection so she prescribed him antibiotics. His temp is now back up to 38.5 and I'm worried I'm going to go to sleep and he's going to have a febrile convulsion. I have been alternating calpol and ibuprofen as advised by the GP but it only settles the temperature for so long.

He's asleep now - boiling hot but his hands and feet are freezing. Breathing is ok, he has a diagnosis of asthma so I'm always so cautious of that. He hasn't drank much at all today despite my bests efforts and urine output hasn't been great for the 2nd half of the day but it was normal for the 1st half.

Should I let him sleep and ring 111 in the morning or do you think if I leave him he'll have a febrile convulsion whilst I'm asleep?

*he's had two doses of his antibiotics already today. I'm just worrying as he's at the maximum for his calpol today.

My child had the fever fits years ago. Can't you just sleep with your child tonight to keep an eye on him?

I’d phone 111 now so you can get some advice, and sleep near him so you can keep an eye on him.

When did he last have Calpol, and how long is it keeping his temperature down for when he does have it? Can he have some more ibuprofen tonight?

If it's keeping it down for a couple of hours at a time then it all sounds fine/normal and typical of an illness. That's a pretty standard temperature for a poorly child with a chest infection. I understand the worry, I'm the same with my own and have to talk sense into myself.

Ring 111 now for advice - make sure you mention he hasn’t drunk much today and that his urine output has been reduced. Hopefully he gets better soon.

What times has he had Calpol and ibuprofen today?

What's he wearing?

Realistically, if you ring 111 for a 2 year old they're going to send you to A&E.

Has he had febrile convulsions before? A temp of 38.5 wouldn't worry me in itself, that's fairly normal for an infection. If his temp is coming down with Calpol/infant neurofen that's great, it's just if it spikes up after medication that I'd be worried.

But ultimately, you know your child best. If your gut says he's not right, take him in.

Put him in your bed. Febrile convulsions aren’t dangerous on their own although obviously need to be checked out - they tend to happen when temps rocket quickly.

You know your child. If you’re really worried go to hospital

If he he a temp of over 39 and didn’t have a convulsion then he’s unlikely to have one with a temp of 38.5.

The nhs guidance says that a temp of this level in a 2 year old isn’t dangerous. It’s par for the course with toddlers, they get high temps. It’s not dangerously high or unusual. I’d be worried if it doesn’t respond to calpol and/or it goes above 39.5. Just keep a close eye on him, they’re not going to do anything for him at A&E unless he’s severely dehydrated which it doesn’t sound like he is.

Ps. Plenty of toddlers get very high temperatures with infections without having convulsions. My DD would regularly get temps of 40 at this age. Just make sure he is in light loose clothing and if he does have a suddenly spike then strip him off a bit (although not completely, that advice has recently changed)

When mine were little taking a temperature wasn't a thing. If they were unwell and felt hot and weren't drinking I used to give them an ice lolly which was cooling and it got a small amount of sugar and fluid into them.

I expect that's probably frowned on now but I never had to buy calpol or give paracetamol.

What kind of thermometer are you using? Many are very unreliable. I go by form, eating & drinking, sleepy or not and smell oddly as I always get a sick smell when they are unwell. Sleeping beside you helps them regulate their temperature. Also worth asking your GP for guidance on giving him his pain medication by weight - the guidance on the back of the bottle is based off average children.

apparently convulsions are caused by rapid temperature rises not high temperatures by themselves.

I’d always air on the side of caution and ring 111. It’s better to feel a bit silly and be wrong than regret not phoning. My little one took unwell in the afternoon at school aged 4 and because of the time they just waited till home time rather than phone us. When she got home from school she had a seizure because of her temp. Always best to be overcautious with children.

The NHS states that a high temperature but cold hands and feet can be a sign of severe illness in children so I think I'd check there was no reason for them to be cold, like being out of blankets in a cool room, then seek medical advice. I hope all is well OP.

It's err on the side of caution

I'm just saying this in case you go through life thinking it's air

OP always trust your instincts when it comes to you DC

No one knows them better than you do

Hopefully his temperature has gone down

If you want to go to A & E then do if his temp is still high

Thanks I appreciate that, I do actually know this but obviously my brain wasn’t functioning at that time of night. To be fair my brain often doesn’t function well 🤣

@monarchbutterfly hope your little one is okay 🤞