To think this doesn’t need hospital attention?

[Obeseandashamed]

Just to clarify, I am worried about my child but don’t think this needs the hospital. AIBU? 3 yo has had fever for 48 hours. It has not dropped below 38.4 and at its highest has been 40.1•c. Fluids are being drank but not had much of an appetite. We are alternating between calpol and nurofen but it’s not helping beyond bringing the temperature down by approx 1 degree. He has no rash but has a cold so I’m inclined to think the fever is related to that. AIBU to think this can wait until the morning & call the docs or should I be making a trip to A&E? Husband thinks it’s an A&E job for tonight. I am not so sure!?!

Go online to 111 service. It’s great and they often book out of hours gp appointments for dc or get a gp to call avoiding A&E.

Seriously, your child has a high temperature and your questioning it?
Go to a&e

It’s your child, you have to go with your instincts, but if they’re acting ok, breathing reasonably, not too tired/sleepy or too distressed then they’re probably ok to be monitored

3 days is a long time. Especially if the fever isn’t coming down. I would have called 111 at the very least.!

I've just started working for a local Out Of Hours GP Service. It's a dedicated clinic building open overnight and weekends, dealing with about 35 local surgeries. If you live round here and dial your surgery and it's shut then your call diverts through to us. Your situation is a lot of what we deal with. At times we're ridiculously busy so on occasion it would be quicker to go to A&E, but it's aim is to reduce A&E attendances and Hosp admissions. We have bunches of appointments, often 9pm-11pm and even 2am-4am if needed. We do house calls for really sick people and care home residents. NHS 111 also pass cases to us that they can't deal with over the phone. You could google or phone your surgery to see what advice is on their answerphone for OOH services. Hopefully if you have something local you can at least stay home in your own surroundings and nip out with him for an appointment rather than sit an A&E waiting room for 6 hours.

How is he in himself?

The fact the temperature hasnt been normal at all amd meds arent lowering it for over 48 hours would concern me.

I’d also recommend 111 - we had reason to call last night, call handler was wonderful as was the clinician who called us back after the initial screening.

I have just called 111 who have referred us for a 1hr telephone assessment with a local GP service. Thank you- it seems perhaps I was being a little too relaxed about it. My child was born prem so we spent a lot of time in and out of hospital with various respiratory infections and febrile seizures as a result of fevers in the first 2 winters. I was often treated like an overreacting parent for going in so I suspect this time, I have ended up at the other end of the spectrum and been too relaxed about it. Child is generally ok albeit not their usual self and very clingy, wanting to cuddle and not do very much but I suppose that is typical with feeling under the weather.

😭😭😭 Just as I pressed send, I’ve had a text message from the 111 service to say:

Dear parent/guardian of (deleted),

Lots of people are using the Out of Hours GP service. It could be several hours before you are called back.

Please call 111 for reassessment if you start to feel worse. ONLY ring 999 or attend A&E in an emergency.

If you can wait until your GP opens or if you start to feel better and you no longer need a call, please follow the link to cancel. Visit https://www.nhs.uk/ for more advice.

TO RESPOND, please follow this link: accurx.nhs.uk/c/p-bkdjghkkte

Thanks,
LCD Mobiles

I think you did the right thing Op, it's so hard to judge sometimes! Hopefully the GP will advise whether they need to see you tonight or if it can wait to the morning.

That will be a stock response. You still did the right thing. Especially for a child x

I hope you don't have too long to wait. I agree you did the right thing.

Seriously??
Read the NHS website on childhood fevers. The OP has acted totally reasonably, no need for silly hysterics and trying to make her feed like a shit mum.
https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/fever-in-children/
a link to educate yourself 👍🏻

That will just be sent to everyone.
I suspect and hope you will be called soon although with your update about your childs history i think i wouldnt waste time and just go to A&E now

Have you got any urine dipsticks? My daughter had the same symptoms a few weeks ago and it was a UTI. Once she had antibiotics her temperature dropped and her "cold" disappeared xx

Have been to the out of hours. They decided it is just viral and will pass. Ear canals are a little red but nothing major so wrote a note for the GP to review and decide whether to prescribe antibiotics.

A&e would be overran and children all I’ve thr country would be missing out on a comfy nights sleep if they went in with a fever m, even higher ones for 48 hour. As long as no other concerning signs this is most likely a normal mild virus

Don't be ridiculous.
The child is taking fluids.
A and E is not for this kind of thing.

In UK it seems to be.
In most European countries it would be 'oh child +1 yo eats and drinks not in a lot of pain'. Go see GP in a few hours/ tomorrow.

111/A&E in UK - I have never seen so many patients not in in need of urgent care the few months I worked for that part of NHS.

Tbh it's not a huge temp rise, some of mine have had higher and it's still been viral bugs when they were ill last year..Hope little one is better soon :)

At my eldest 6 weeks HV review, I got frustrated when the assistant told me about the "great resource" that was NHS.co.uk to get information about children illnesses. That was amongst a long list of - what I found - obvious and therefore useless advices.

Now realising on Mumsnet that apparently no one actually read that website that is, indeed, very helpful to get information about children illnesses (and adults).

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

One of mine always had high temps and never really ill just used to burn off the infections but I would be same as you and not want to go to a&e for a temp. There was one worrying time when they were 2 and had febrille convulsions due to the temp but has not had one since and thats over 13 years ago now. Hopefully your dc is ok now.

I’ve had 3 DC - all grown up but wouldn’t have gone to A&E just for a high temp. As it’s been 2 days i’d see the GP today.

Following on from my previous post, we ended up at A&E tonight as I couldn’t bring my child’s temperature down. He tested positive for influenza A which explains why he has been so poorly. I suspect I’ve also caught a milder version from him as I feel rotten too. They’ve kept him in as even with paracetamol/ibuprofen they haven’t been able to get his temperature below 39.7 😢

Oh bless him! Poor thing hope he gets better soon