Page 5 | A&E or wait for GP – 16mo poorly

vitjab1988 · 2025-03-03T18:43:14+00:00

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

NestaArcheron · 04/03/2025 00:38

mintjim · 03/03/2025 23:12

Mum has said she feels she should take him. On that alone, she should take him. These threads are SO dangerous. Non medical professionals giving conflicting advice. One day a thread like this will kill someone, I personally think mn should ban them.

💯 agree.

Mumtobabyhavoc · 04/03/2025 00:56

vitjab1988 · 03/03/2025 21:18

Still no call back from 111, which is frustrating. Been syringing fluids in as suggested, and he’s had a tiny bit, but still really lethargic and burning up. Temp hasn’t budged much even with nurofen. He’s just lying on me, whimpering, which isn’t like him at all. Really torn – don’t want to overreact but also don’t want to wait too long if he needs help.

Has anyone had to wait this long for 111 before? Not sure whether to just head to A&E now.

Go to hospital.

PoopingAllTheWay · 04/03/2025 01:15

Really hope you have taken your baby to A&E

SleepyRich · 04/03/2025 03:35

I presume you've gone into a&e. However if you're still waiting for 111 - essentially with under 2 especially if you think fluid intake has dropped below half of what it normally is then they're going to tell you to goto a&e (and you certainly should if you can't keep it above 50%). If you say his urine out put dropped - a&e. If you say he's just curled up whimpering - they'll send an ambulance.

111 are often reported to say "we'll send an ambulance to check him over" - this is a mistruth - the huge majority of ambulance paramedics receive no minor illness training/arent allowed to discharge an under 2 - even if they arrive to find picture of health child running and playing/all better now - they have to take you to a&e because you accepted ambulance disposition. I.e. just save the 2hr wait for an ambulance and take him to a&e yourself.

Generally though as a few others have said fever alone isn't a significant concern, actually given drugs to bring it down can actually worsen the infection - but it's worth doing if they're in pain - i.e they've got a painful throat meaning they're grumpy about having a drink, having regular pain killers should help them drink more normally which will support them whilst body fights the infection off.

Original poster

vitjab1988 · 04/03/2025 09:42

Ended up taking him to A&E last night as he was getting worse and still refusing fluids. They checked him over and said it’s a nasty viral infection but thankfully nothing more serious. His temp was still high, but they managed to get some fluids in him and we were sent home with advice to keep pushing fluids and alternating calpol/nurofen.

He’s still not himself this morning – very clingy and not eating much – but at least he’s had a few sips of water. Hoping today is the turning point. Thanks so much for all the advice and reassurance last night, it really helped!

OP posts:

DollydaydreamTheThird · 04/03/2025 09:46

vitjab1988 · 04/03/2025 09:42

Ended up taking him to A&E last night as he was getting worse and still refusing fluids. They checked him over and said it’s a nasty viral infection but thankfully nothing more serious. His temp was still high, but they managed to get some fluids in him and we were sent home with advice to keep pushing fluids and alternating calpol/nurofen.

He’s still not himself this morning – very clingy and not eating much – but at least he’s had a few sips of water. Hoping today is the turning point. Thanks so much for all the advice and reassurance last night, it really helped!

Hope your LO gets better soon. ❤

Oldrunner · 04/03/2025 09:58

vitjab1988 · 04/03/2025 09:42

Ended up taking him to A&E last night as he was getting worse and still refusing fluids. They checked him over and said it’s a nasty viral infection but thankfully nothing more serious. His temp was still high, but they managed to get some fluids in him and we were sent home with advice to keep pushing fluids and alternating calpol/nurofen.

He’s still not himself this morning – very clingy and not eating much – but at least he’s had a few sips of water. Hoping today is the turning point. Thanks so much for all the advice and reassurance last night, it really helped!

Glad you got him checked over by medical professionals. With the history you gave its impossible to completely assess the condition of the child- could pick up quickly , could deteriorate just as quickly. Medical professionals will want to see your child in order to do a proper assessment and plan appropriate treatment.
If anything changes and you feel he's deteriorating again ease don't hesitate to get him seen by a medical professional again.

AmyW9 · 04/03/2025 11:54

vitjab1988 · 04/03/2025 09:42

Ended up taking him to A&E last night as he was getting worse and still refusing fluids. They checked him over and said it’s a nasty viral infection but thankfully nothing more serious. His temp was still high, but they managed to get some fluids in him and we were sent home with advice to keep pushing fluids and alternating calpol/nurofen.

He’s still not himself this morning – very clingy and not eating much – but at least he’s had a few sips of water. Hoping today is the turning point. Thanks so much for all the advice and reassurance last night, it really helped!

You did the right thing! And don't hesitate to go back if you feel he's not getting any better.

steff13 · 04/03/2025 13:55

mintjim · 03/03/2025 23:12

Mum has said she feels she should take him. On that alone, she should take him. These threads are SO dangerous. Non medical professionals giving conflicting advice. One day a thread like this will kill someone, I personally think mn should ban them.

I agree with this. I'm in the US, and if this were my child I could call the doctor and she'd be able to get us in the same day. I've done it many times. But my understanding is that it's sometimes a struggle to get an appointment there. I would take him wherever you could get him seen.

mintjim · 04/03/2025 14:00

vitjab1988 · 04/03/2025 09:42

Ended up taking him to A&E last night as he was getting worse and still refusing fluids. They checked him over and said it’s a nasty viral infection but thankfully nothing more serious. His temp was still high, but they managed to get some fluids in him and we were sent home with advice to keep pushing fluids and alternating calpol/nurofen.

He’s still not himself this morning – very clingy and not eating much – but at least he’s had a few sips of water. Hoping today is the turning point. Thanks so much for all the advice and reassurance last night, it really helped!

You did the right thing. Hope he's feeling better very soon. Always trust that feeling above anything else.