To think that this is more than just a viral infection?

[Guylian564]

DD (8) has been unwell since Thursday evening last week - high temperature and cough. Fast forward to 5 days later and she’s just getting worse, the temperature has remained throughout and never really ‘broken’ or gone down and her cough is getting worse every morning that she wakes up and has become continuous over the last couple of days.

I have taken her to the doctors twice and seen 3 GP’s (1 was a trainee so another double checked within the appointment) and all 3 said that her chest sounded clear and it’s a viral infection but I’m just not convinced.

DD has had plenty of viral infections throughout her lifetime (along with COVID 2/3 times) and they’ve never been this bad and the temperature has never lasted this long, she also usually has other symptoms such as a runny nose which she doesn’t have this time round.

I normally feel quite in control when DD is unwell and gauging how serious it is (I have some medical knowledge myself) and this just isn’t sitting right with me.

AIBU to think that this is something more and potentially take her to be seen again?

How high is the temperature? Are you talking 37.9 or 40? Does it go down with paracetamol/ ibuprofen?

Could it be flu? I think you are quite right to take her back to the GP though.

At the moment it’s sitting at 39.2 and it doesn’t go down with paracetamol and only goes down with Ibuprofen for a couple of hours and that’s it.

@MolkosTeenageAngst

@Tefiti3

I don’t think so because she literally has no other symptoms apart from a cough and a fever - no sore throat, no runny nose, still eating and drinking okay etc.

Had something similar with my eldest - turned out it was bacterial tonsillitis right at the back of the throat that needed a competent doctor to find. It was after 4 days of back and forth being told it was viral.

Always go back if in doubt.

However, DS has just had 8 days of fever and cough which just got worse and worse. Couldn't sleep, coughing almost constantly, laboured breathing etc. No cold symptoms. We saw the GP who confirmed his chest was clear and that it was going round. He turned a corner almost overnight and is back to normal, starving after a week of poor appetite, and seemingly healthy again.

I'm on day 10 of the same thing. I am so sick of coughing and running hot/cold that I am boring myself.

@SpeedyDrama that’s what I was first concerned about because DD is prone to tonsillitis at least once a year. All 3 GP’s looked in her throat but her tonsils are quite large so the view might be slightly obstructed.

Ah! My dd is still coughing after a fortnight. Temp mostly pk. Am considering taking her to the doc, but it's mostly likely viral isn't it!

Definitely go back if you are concerned but a virus can be equally serious as a bacterial infection. Ebola is a virus, Flu is a virus etc. Hope she feels better soon.

@ShowOfHands I have heard that the latest round of viral infections are lasting a bit longer so hopefully if it is that we haven’t got much longer to go - feel better soon! 💐

I'd have her seen again if the fever really isn't budging - whooping cough is doing rounds at the min and something can actually be done to ease it a little if it's caught early. Obviously may not be that at all, but in any case there's no harm in another opinion if you feel something really isn't right.

My friends's daughter had the exact same recently. It was pneumonia, a rare variety. Two GPs missed it. Picked up by a paediatrician after an A&E visit. I'd be taking her in.

Viruses can be just as nasty. It’s just harder because there is no treatment.

We are on day 10 here with my 10 year old. No appetite. He literally got into bed Sunday before last and hasn't really got out. Continual high temp and horrible cough. Just lifeless and sleeping constantly. We got some anti biotics on Monday due to doctors concerns over the constant high temp and he has had two full days of them and no change so far. Been off school for 7 days so far and can't see him being able to go back anytime soon. I am starting to worry now

Take them in. Similar happened with DS years ago - ended up being a fairly rare UTI and after nearly 2 weeks of being fobbed off it was a consultant in A&E that got things sorted

You sound a bit like me with my dd recently. Doctor listened to chest and said clear which I was going to accept but luckily consultant ordered xray which showed pneumonia. Her symptoms were cough, high temperature that was coming down with meds but not as fast as usual. Eating less than normal but not so little you'd be worried but I just felt something about it wasn't viral.

OP we aren't in England but it's going around here in Australia too. We've just had my DS swabbed and waiting on results - GP thinks it could be mycoplasma which is known as "walking pneumonia" - it responds only to two certain antibiotics and they're not the usual ones apparently.

my DS is the same, high fevers and a horrible cough. We have a steroid puffer to loosen the airways but I'm thinking we will need antibiotics. He doesn't usually take this long to get over viral things

Also wanted to add about my dd's pneumonia, amoxicillin doesn't work on my dds type of pneumonia. It wasn't until they changed her to azithromycin that it went.

I was also going to suggest mycoplasma - it’s really doing the rounds here in Ireland.

Here’s a doctor explaining about symptoms of it: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C38N_nKtdAH/?igsh=cG5rdnljczF6bTZp

Oooh, that is a nasty temp, especially if it’s not coming down with medicine.

I would go back to the GP and ask for further investigations eg a throat swab or chest x ray.

Sounds like flu to me. It's horrible the fever goes on for ages.

Most common symptoms fever and cough.

Definitely take her back you are concerned though.

Pretty sure you can also buy 'Covid' style tests for influenza from Amazon/chemist which might provide reassurance

Echoing other posters in saying pneumonia. My DC had the exact same. Took them to urgent care on day 5 of the temp and their oxygen SATS were low - but wouldn't have known from how they were acting!

Go back - my poor DS5 had exactly the same symptoms and ended up being admitted to hospital. He had a temperature plus a cough that didn’t budge for 12 days. It was bacterial and he needed multiple rounds of antibiotics plus steroids and actually oxygen because his levels plummeted. Do you have an oximeter? You can buy them on Amazon and it’s the reason I caught his declining oxygen levels. There are some really nasty things going around.

My 17yo is on day 7 of the same sort of thing - slightly better today temp wise - a much lower 37.9-38.2 rather than 39’s for the past 6 days - hopefully your DD will get better soon.

How is you DD @Guylian564?

Really hope she's feeling better