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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Sick - not sick child

14 replies

bizzybeing · 08/05/2024 12:57

DS3(5y) was unwell over the weekend. Just high temperature cold type thing, nothing serious. He did a great impression of the calpol advert and seemed fine yesterday morning so I sent him to school. Got a call at lunchtime to say he'd got a high temp so I went and collected him.

He went to bed early last night and again woke up feeling fine so I sent him back to school today. But, I've just got home from collecting him as his temperature has gone back up again.

He's not had calpol before school either day and last had a dose when we got home at lunchtime yesterday so it's not a calpol wearing off effect (although I'm well aware the school probably think it is)

Assuming he wakes up feeling well again tomorrow AIBU to send him to school again? Or should I keep him home in case he's not actually better?

For context my DS2 is something of a school avoider so I try really hard to be consistent about school not being optional and only staying home if you're really genuinely unwell so I'm reluctant to keep DS3 home in case he might be I'll later in the day!

OP posts:
Springadorable · 08/05/2024 13:01

If he's generally fine in himself I'd give him nurofen when you drop him off as that will keep his temp down for about six hours. Plus he may well be properly better by tomorrow anyway.

ILikePistachios · 08/05/2024 13:26

I'd send him in, have you been taking his temperature when you collect him or just going by the school telling you it has gone up?

Okayornot · 08/05/2024 13:30

How high is his temperature? Is school taking it because he feels unwell?

Original poster
bizzybeing · 08/05/2024 13:34

I'm not sure whether they've actually measured it but he was a properly toasty 39oC yesterday when we got home. Less so today but still 38.5oC

OP posts:
Original poster
bizzybeing · 08/05/2024 13:36

Okayornot · 08/05/2024 13:30

How high is his temperature? Is school taking it because he feels unwell?

He has told the teacher he didn't feel well but they've also commented that he was fine first thing but then got very quiet and didn't want to do anything (which is very out of character)

OP posts:
Okayornot · 08/05/2024 13:46

It doesn't sound as though he is well enough to be at school, that he is tiring easily and hasn't enough energy for a full day. I'd give him a day off and see. You can always take him in late if he's fine!

Mumtoasdboys · 08/05/2024 13:47

The school avoidance is irrelevant as he actually has a high temperature. Anything over 38 the nhs advise to keep a child home so the school
were correct to send him home. In my experience schools are reluctant usually to send kids home so he must have presented as unwell. I’d get a gp appt and check he hasn’t got anything underlying going on that is causing these spikes

Rumors1 · 08/05/2024 14:02

We have a few sick kids in the wider family and friend group and it has been on and off temps, headaches and nausea. I have it too. Fine for a few hours, then headaches and waves of nausea.
I would keep him off for temp, he is likely contagious.

Original poster
bizzybeing · 08/05/2024 15:37

Mumtoasdboys · 08/05/2024 13:47

The school avoidance is irrelevant as he actually has a high temperature. Anything over 38 the nhs advise to keep a child home so the school
were correct to send him home. In my experience schools are reluctant usually to send kids home so he must have presented as unwell. I’d get a gp appt and check he hasn’t got anything underlying going on that is causing these spikes

I completely agree that the school were right to send him home and I wouldn't have sent him in if he'd had a temp or seemed unwell in the morning.

OP posts:
Icannoteven · 08/05/2024 15:50

If possible, I would keep him home until his fever had stabilised for a day.

I would also keep a note of when his fever spikes. There are different types/patterns of fever that can indicate different conditions. More info on this here:

https://www.medicinenet.com/what_are_the_5_types_of_fever/article.htm

When you say he is a bit of a school avoider, what do you mean? Does he complain about vague symptoms a lot? The reason I ask is because I had my eldest down as a school avoider because she started making lots of vague complaints e.g muscle aches aches, pains, stomach aches etc. it actiually turned out that she had coeliacs and joint hypermobility spectrum disorder 🫤

What Are the 5 Types of Fever? 6 Causes & Symptoms

The 5 types of fever are intermittent, remittent, continuous or sustained, hectic, and relapsing. Fever is a sign that your body is fighting an infection or illness. Learn the signs of fever, what causes fever, how doctors diagnose fever, and what you...

https://www.medicinenet.com/what_are_the_5_types_of_fever/article.htm

Original poster
bizzybeing · 08/05/2024 18:01

Icannoteven · 08/05/2024 15:50

If possible, I would keep him home until his fever had stabilised for a day.

I would also keep a note of when his fever spikes. There are different types/patterns of fever that can indicate different conditions. More info on this here:

https://www.medicinenet.com/what_are_the_5_types_of_fever/article.htm

When you say he is a bit of a school avoider, what do you mean? Does he complain about vague symptoms a lot? The reason I ask is because I had my eldest down as a school avoider because she started making lots of vague complaints e.g muscle aches aches, pains, stomach aches etc. it actiually turned out that she had coeliacs and joint hypermobility spectrum disorder 🫤

Keeping track of when his temp spikes is a good idea. Thanks.

The school avoidance isn't this child. It's his older brother - a range of issues mainly stemming from his normal teacher being on long term sick. We're working on it with the school but part of the strategy is being very firm about having to go to school unless he's really unwell. I can already see the argument tomorrow when I say littlest who appears perfectly fit and healthy at the time doesn't have to go to school.

The thought of the argument I'll have with DS2 about not sending DS3 to school when DS3 is likely to want to skip out of the door to school makes me inclined to send them all in and keep everyone happy!

OP posts:
Mummyto2boyz · 11/05/2024 08:58

I usually keep mine iff for a couple of days if they have a high temp. It usually means h
their wee body is fighting off something so needs rest. He's also probably contagious so has passed it all around his class. I'm surprised the teachers haven't told you to keep him off for a couple if days.

Original poster
bizzybeing · 11/05/2024 11:21

Mummyto2boyz · 11/05/2024 08:58

I usually keep mine iff for a couple of days if they have a high temp. It usually means h
their wee body is fighting off something so needs rest. He's also probably contagious so has passed it all around his class. I'm surprised the teachers haven't told you to keep him off for a couple if days.

A couple of days after the high temp has resolved? Really? It would never occur to me to do that unless they were still feeling unwell. Gov advice is that once the temp has resolved and they feel better they are fine to go back to school.

In the end I did send him in because he was up dressed and ready to go before I even woke up. He was absolutely fine all day (and still is now) so I'm happy I made the right choice for him.

OP posts:
MidnightEagle · 11/05/2024 13:54

I think technically the advice is 24hrs of temperature staying down without medication.

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