A&E or wait for GP – 16mo poorly

[vitjab1988]

Hi all,

Looking for some quick advice – not sure if I should take DS (16mo) to A&E tonight or wait for the GP tomorrow. He’s had a high temp (39.5°C) since this afternoon, calpol brought it down a bit but it’s creeping back up. He’s also very clingy and not himself, whimpering a lot. No rash, breathing seems OK, but he’s refusing fluids and only had a couple of wet nappies today.

Would you wait it out or go in? I don’t want to overreact but also don’t want to leave it too long if he needs help.

TIA x

Good idea re: syringe, I’ll give that a go. He’s just so miserable, which isn’t like him at all. Temp still high even after nurofen. I think I’ll see if 111 can advise, but I am leaning towards getting him checked – just don’t want to waste anyone’s time!

Use the Calpol syringe and syringe in 5-10mls of water every 5-10 minutes for the next hour. Sometimes just getting them hydrated makes a huge difference to the fever and improves their symptoms.

Use nurofen for temp

When did you give the nurofen op? If temp still doesn't go down after an hour then I would be going to a&e. Ime nurofen is so much better than calpol for temps

I read this exact thread earlier today (except the OP had already called 111 and had been advised to "monitor")

It disappeared as I was composing my reply.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fever-in-children/

The nhs advice is here (link above didn’t work for me). But personally I wouldn’t go to A&E with a high temperature unless something else additional was of concern eg, non blanching rash, dehydration, abnormal breathing.

DS1 often had 39/40 temperatures when he was a toddler and it was usually a tonsil/chest infection, often needing antibiotics. I’d call 111 in the first instance as suggested by pp.

That’s a good shout, I’ll try that now. He’s just so out of sorts, it’s worrying to see. Hoping a bit of fluid helps, but if he’s still the same in an hour I think we’ll have to get him seen. Thanks for the advice!

I’d definitely give 111 a call OP. We’ve always been lucky in that they’ve called back quickly and the responses have varied from a video call with a doctor, an appointment made with our own GP and an appointment at A&E booked (which sped up the triage bit as they’d done most of that over the phone). I’ve been really impressed with their responses and they clearly prioritise calls for young children. It’s worth calling them if you’re worried.

Had similar. 111 advised to go to A&E but think this was over cautious as never actually got admitted, was handed rehydration sachet and syringe in waiting room, advised to give 10ml every 10 mins. Sent home once had a wet nappy, Syringing water into DC much easier at home than crowded A&E waiting room.

Alternate calpol/nurofen every three hours. GP appointment asap in morning so they can check what cause is.

Have you called 111 yet for some medical advice?

That’s reassuring to hear, thank you! I think I’ll give them a ring and see what they say. He’s still really unsettled and not drinking much, so I feel like he probably needs checking over. Fingers crossed they get back to us quickly!

I would wait it out. You’ve said nothing to me to warrant A&E.

Ice lollies are good for getting in fluids when they are otherwise refusing.

Febrile convulsion is not a high temperature - it's the temperature rising quickly.

I wouldn't go to A&E personally, but trust your gut. Definitely give nurofen - much better than calpol for temps. And ignore the advice above about bringing their temp down with baths, stripping off clothes etc. Febrile seizures are caused by a rapid change in temp, not having a high temp. Nappy and a vest, calpol and nurofen every 4 hours, water in a syringe and a lolly. 111 might just send you to A&E anyway because of their age, you will be top priority for a call back anyway. It shouldn't be long. Worth calling if you're worried.

If you're worried definitely call 111.

Purely based on the symptoms you've described I wouldn't be worried though, it's only been a few hours and they have wet nappies (2 in a afternoon seems pretty normal to me as well).
I would continue to try milk and water, or any drink they like, but again it's only been a few hours without drinking so as long as you have wet nappies and they don't have sign of dehydration that's fine.

For the fever, alternate Calpol and neurofen every 3h (sticking to the max dose per day on the patient leaflet unless recommended otherwise by a medical professional). Calpol has never worked in my kids for high fever, neurofen is much more efficient in my experience.

In my experience it takes half hour for meds to start working ie reduce temp by 0.1/2 something like that and then up to an hour to get the temp down. So I would bear that in mind before taking further action. Definitely try the syringes too to get fluids in as that's what they'd do in hospital to hydrate not an IV initially. It's awful when they're ill and temps are really unsettling. Being clingy and unwell isn't a red flag - a temp that doesn't come down with meds is a red flag as is not taking fluids/dry nappies but you're not quite there with that yet.

I get what you’re saying, and I don’t want to overreact, but he’s just so unlike himself and not drinking much, which is what’s worrying me. I’ll see what 111 say and go from there.

In that case, trust your instincts. Hope he’s better soon.

I’d wait it out.

Wet nappies indicates he’s drinking some. A temperature itself isn’t a reason to take them in.

111 will just direct you to A&E in my personal experience so might as well decide whether you think it’s an emergency or not and it doesn’t sound like one based on what you’ve said.

Fluids, medicine and rest.

I wouldn't go to A&E I would ring 111. They've never sent us to A&E with anything like us. They've been sent to out of hours though. He's still so little is call. Might have a sore throat if he won't drink.

Apologies if I haven’t read all replies or up to date from you OP but I personally would go to A&E-before I get berated about going in ‘just with a fever’, my little boy has had bacterial tonsillitis about 3 times (he is just 2), however, one of the times he stopped drinking anything but sips for 2 days (a GP had said on day 2 that he would likely be fine as he had been!) and then stopped weeing and then needed admitting for fluid replenishment. It’s not to say it is tonsillitis of course but I never take chances with my boy after that fact and I have been a further twice to A&E with him and have never been made to feel a fool with him as I know how bad it can get very quickly. You could be in for a lengthy wait of course according to what else is in but at least if there’s any deterioration you’re in the right place. I hope your little one feels better soon ❤️

*anything like this

Wait for GP…if even that tbh. Kids that age get fevers all the time. It’s the bodies natural reaction to fight off illness. Without any other symptoms there’s really nothing to worry about.

Having been to A&E about a year ago with a child of a similar age, same symptoms but also had a rash (turned out to be hand, foot and mouth) I was sent away with a leaflet about under 5s with temperatures. Basically it really isn’t an A&E or even a GP situation and not to “try and bring the temperature down”. Calpol and Nurophen are fine to make him more comfortable but tepid baths, cold flannels etc is all outdated advice and very much discouraged.