Anyone awake - anxious about my son

[Anxiousmother23]

He came down with a temperature and very off colour yesterday morning, we kept him off school. His fever was at 38.9 last night, gave calpol and about 30 mins later ibuprofen to help, which brought it down to 37.5 (this is forehead temp)

Now he’s woken up in the early hours with a horrific cough and can’t stop coughing, his fever is back at 38.5 I’ve given him more calpol. But his cough sounds horrific. He was totally fine on Thursday, the whole thing started yesterday morning.

I’m mega anxious when it comes to illness, especially his. As I always think the worst, especially at night like this.
He’s also very rarely unwell with a fever etc.
He can’t seem to get back to sleep with this cough - obviously he needs to sleep to help get himself better.
Is it worth taking him to out of hours in the morning just to get him checked over? In case it’s an infection and he needs antibiotics?

Hi OP, I completely understand the worry, I have struggled with health anxiety in the past (currently under control with antidepressants), but I would suggest he has only been poorly for 2 days. Taking him to urgent care would expose him to more germs. I would personally keep a close eye on him, make sure he is drinking plenty, is easy to wake/not too sleepy, and dosed up on Calpol. Watch his breathing that he isn’t drawing in under his ribs or tugging at the neck. If you spot any signs of struggling more with breathing or hard to wake then immediately to urgent care. Otherwise care at home and GP on Monday if no improvement. Day 5 of a virus is normally the peak and then they start to get better.

I speak from experience of 3 children, the youngest had multiple hospital stays due to weak lungs and needing oxygen when she got chesty bugs.

I hope he feels better soon.

It sounds as if he’s not getting worse, anyway. It may "just" be flu, in which case there’s nothing much a doctor can do. As long as he’s not getting worse I would wait a day or two. Coughing at night can be lessened by raising his whole upper body with pillows so he's not lying flat. And remember it’s normal for temperatures to rise in the evening.

Coughs are always worse at night because of lying down etc. It sounds like a nasty virus so I'd give calpol and see how is he today. Hopefully he wil lhave rallied a bit.
I had a high temp and cough last month - definitely worse when Iay down to sleep.

Also to help the cough, you could sit in the bathroom with shower on high to create steam.

Also maybe Amazon prime an oximeter, very useful bit of kit in my experience. Hospitals monitor respiratory rate, temp and oxygen levels and I find comfort in checking these at home when mine get poorly (due to the previous hospital stays).

This just sounds like flu and probably is because Flu A is rife at the moment. Obviously flu can develop complications and become very serious but at the moment it just sounds like standard flu. Other posters have given you a sensible list of things to look out for and if these happen he will need to see a doctor, but as he is now just keep doing what you’re doing. Don’t take him to A&E unless those red flags happen as he will feel absolutely lousy there and you will infect everyone there.

PS if it is flu he is going to feel awful for at least a week, possibly two, and he will likely infect the household so buckle up for a long ride.

Oh, also, you can order a flu lateral flow test from Amazon for next day delivery so you could test him tomorrow to know for sure. I think Tesco also sell them if there’s one near you.

This is completely incorrect and is why you shouldn’t ask for medical advice online!

Indeed! https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/ibuprofen-for-children/taking-ibuprofen-for-children-with-other-medicines-and-herbal-supplements/

Always scary when they’re ill at night or weekends but I Agree with watch and wait! If he’s happy to sit up and eat and watch tv he’s not too ill - uncomfortable and poorly but ok.

have a look at nhs on line for advice re cough and temperature management and signs to look out for.

putting extra pillows UNDER the head of the mattress is more comfortable than a pile on top 😊

menthol rub on soles of feet with warm socks on top actually helps

read the info on paracetamol and Brufen to be clear on timing doses

a temp of 38 is uncomfortable but not worrying - it shows his body is responding correctly to a virus or bacterial infection

Both get a nap when you can 😊

No, it's most likely a virus and antibiotics don't work for that. Going to a & e should be a last resort at the moment as they're very over stretched. Ring 111 - they can make appointments for you in a & e if they deem it advisable.

i’d alternate paracetamol and ibuprofen. I would right out a schedule now because you are tired and fraught so don’t try and remember what you’ve given write it down.

Give him warm drinks, whatever he fancies eating and all the tv he can watch.

please just take him to a walk in GP or A&E you will be frantic otherwise. I was the same when my two were much younger and turns out they both had viral induced wheezing. Not saying this is what your son has but it's better to get checked out

great advice here

Since ibuprofen his forehead temp is now reading 38.1.
He is drinking a smoothie at the moment and watching the tv under a blanket.
Cheeks are flushed and looking heavy eyed.

Do people really ring 111 every time their child gets a cold?

He's awake, he's alert, he's eating and drinking, his fever responds to meds. He's fine! If he stops being fine, that's when you get other help. And you don't have to give him meds on a schedule. Just give it when his fever spikes and he starts to feel unwell (as long as it has been at least 4 hours since the last dose).

Give him plenty of fluids and regular Calpol and ibuprofen, every 4 or 6 hours, whatever the labels says for his age. To to alternative so one at 8am the other at 10am so they are spread out.
Don't let him over heat. Hopefully he'll sleep it off today.

Can you get to a pharmacy for advice and a proper thermometer?

if you are still concerned ring 111. They can sometimes just arrange prescriptions over the phone or can make out of hours appointments.

Personally I wouldn't take him a walk in and have to set and wait for hours.

OP obviously I can't see him and ultimately it's your decision but nothing you say are raising any particular alarms bells to me. He sounds poorly but not dangerously so, and in your situation my inclination would be to keep him well wrapped up at home and see how he goes.

@Anxiousmother23

just fyi

He has a cold, or the flu. He doesn't need a GP, or 111 or A&E at the moment. He's eating, drinking and resting. Get your partner to watch him while you go for a nap, encourage him to nap and graze at food as he wants and keep him in the warm

I wouldn’t call 111 or take my child in for this because he is eating, drinking, alert and his temp is not too high. All very normal with a virus.

I would be on the lookout for temp getting very high and any problems with breathing- viral induced wheeze was an issue both my kids often had. You can see if they are ‘sucking in’ under their ribs or the bottom of their neck. I would take my child in for this and also if they because unusually sleepy, weren’t eating or drinking.

however, he’s your child not mine so if you feel it’s more than just a virus and it’s something to be concerned about then make an appt for him or call 111.

That’s because a temp that high is more unusual for an adult than it is a child

@Anxiousmother23 children under 7 should be given paracetamol not ibuprofen.

https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/ibuprofen-for-children/who-can-and-cannot-take-ibuprofen-for-children/#:~:text=Younger%20babies%20aged%201%20month,aged%2012%20years%20and%20over.

Don't get overly worried about temperature.
It's normal to have a high temp- his body is fighting the virus.

Give him lots of fluids, soup, toast, whatever he fancies.

This is almost just a cold or another virus.

Maybe because he's usually healthy you are very worried but what you've described does not sound serious enough to need a dr.

Really? Why do you say that? It's not true.

That just says 'some types of ibuprofen' aren't suitable for under 7s and under 12s - not that ibuprofen as a whole isn't suitable. The liquid ones you can buy are typically suitable as long as you follow the dosing guidelines.