Bit worried about DD10 body temperature

[seriouslynonames]

Sorry to ask this in AIBU - for traffic.
DD10 has had a cold or similar virus the last few days. Bit snotty Thurs, bit croaky Fri, but feeling fine. Bit more croaky Sat and very mildly raised temp for a while but felt fine. Carried on as normal but Sunday lunchtime temp back at 38. Felt tired and had a bit of a headache. Calpol before bed, temp and headache improved.
Today much the same - tired, headache, temp between 37.2 and 38.5, bit of a dry cough but not much. Appetite a little diminished but still eating and drinking enough. Calpol again helped head and temp.

She felt exhausted by bedtime, though other symptoms were improving. Couldn't get to sleep as was restless and wasn't sure if too hot or a bit cold
So checked temp again in case gone up, but instead it's down at 36 (unusual for her, she tends to run warm). Her skin between shoulder blades feels cool, again unlike her.

Is 36 low enough to be concerned, coupled with the exhaustion (when she had seemed on the mend) and when her temp had been raised earlier?

Thanks for any advice. I know Mumsnet isn't where I am meant to look for medical advice, so more just wondering what's a low temp to be concerned about and is the swing from a bit high to a bit low something to be concerned about?

She's now asleep but I plan to check on her a few times in the night. Will of course call 111 if any significant change for the worse.

Thanks

Keep an eye out for other signs like shallow breathing, rapid pulse, confusion or skin rash. It’s probably her immune system on overdrive to regulate her temp but keep and eye on it and you can always call 111 for advice if your still worried.

Thank you @Thedownwardspiralpath . I didn't notice any other of the things you mention, before she went to sleep. I just checked again now and it was 35.7 😬.
Will check again in 20 mins and call 111 if any lower. I don't want to wake her to check for rash etc but equally don't want to just leave her!

Has this happened before at all? My youngest used to get cold rather than hot when ill when she was younger and the time we called 111 for advice they told us to take her into bed with us and try to warm her up. (which normally worked combined with calpol).

Personally I’d keep a close eye on her as I believe getting too cold a temp is just as bad as too hot.

What type of thermometer are you using - ear or forehead? An ear thermometer will always give a slightly higher (and usually more accurate) reading.
Also, had she had calpol before you took her temp at 36? If her temperature was starting to return to normal on its own, calpol may have reduced it further?
I would monitor her overnight and if you are concerned cal 111.
Hope she’s on the mend very soon

Thanks @Tiedbutchorestodo
I don't remember her ever having a low temp like this before. I will keep a close eye.

NHS website says anything below 35 is dangerous and 999 worthy so might be worth a 111 call / close monitoring

Thanks @PoptartPoptart
It's an in ear thermometer
No Calpol since lunchtime.
Will check again soon and see if I can check for rash without waking her

You've checked the thermometer on yourself to make sure it's working correctly?

NHS suggests 3 readings ten minutes apart if you're concerned about low temp. I probably would be making sure I could wake her.

Thanks @BusMumsHoliday
Will go and check again now and also see if I can wake her

Maybe check with 111 / out of hours doc before giving any more medicine in case it makes it worse? (I have no medical expertise - just what I would do)

Is she passing urine?

The Sepsis Trust has excellent information about signs to look for, and has an assessment tool to support this. As you are concerned your DD is not right and her temperature is unusually low, it would be sensible to seek a qualified medical opinion.

Her pulse seems ok at 64 (checked manually as I can't find the finger thingy). Her breathing doesn't seem rapid. I can't see a rash on back or tum/chest. She woke up and just seemed sleepy but not confused. I asked if she felt hot or cold and she said both.

As everything else seems ok I will continue monitoring over the next 30 mins and then I might call 111.

I will monitor the rest of the night, whatever else I decide to do!

Thanks for your help

Cross posted @Anotheranonymousname thanks I will take a look.

She did a wee just before bed, and one an hour or two before that.

No meds given @Tiedbutchorestodo I think you are right it may not help

I think I will probably call 111 shortly to be on safe side

She woke up and just seemed sleepy but not confused. I asked if she felt hot or cold and she said both.

Answering both to hot or cold is a sign of confusion. The cool skin, excessive sleepiness are symptoms of pneumonia.

How is her breathing? Is it rapid or shallow? Rapid breathing is 1 breath every 2 seconds- or 30 in a minute.

I would consuder A&E if I were you.

Hope all goes well and she feels better soon. Has she warmed up again? Please do get some proper medical advice - not worth the risk with little ones.

the below is an extract I’ve found in nhs Hartlepool - it suggests below 36 three times in half an hour for a child is an A&E visit

It didn’t post the photo - here’s the
link.

www.nth.nhs.uk/resources/how-to-recognise-if-your-child-is-seriously-ill/#:~:text=Dial%20'999'%20for%20an%20ambulance,Activity%20&%20Body

sorry it says 10 minute period not half an hour

Spoke to 111. Nurse called back. Now waiting for out of hours GP call organised by the nurse. Poor thing just wants to sleep!
She actually seemed brighter than at bedtime, when she properly woke up, but temp was still 35.8 when last taken.
So hopefully ok, as other signs seem ok. But will see whether GP wants to see her.
Thanks for your help

A GP MUST see her in person no later than tomorrow morning.
This whole phone call appointment set up isn’t good for situations like this.
She needs a physical examination/lungs listened to, throat swab, possibly a blood test.

How is she OP? Hope you both managed to get some sleep 💐

Hope she’s doing better this morning?

I think ear thermometers are really temperamental personally. We frequently get these low temperatures on ours. If you repeat it one after the other, it usually ticks up. It may be that her temp is returning to normal but the thermometer is reading low.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t be cautious and get medical advice. You should and I would too.

It is when it’s gone midnight.

My kids tend to get a cold temp when the worst of the initial phase of the virus has passed - their fever drops and then their temperature goes lower than normal. Every time I frantically google and look up old mumsnet threads about low temperatures. Sepsis is a major concern and what I’m always worried about however for us warming them up with extra layers/ cuddles / coming into bed with electric blanket for a bit has worked and then they’ve been on the mend. Hope it’s same for yours but good to be vigilant!

Thanks all for your concern!
Her temp stayed at or below 36 all night.
The out of hours GP called about 1am and hesitated about whether to get us to bring her in. By that time she was awake (as 111 had to speak to her directly) and seemed fine in herself so we left it as watch and wait as she really didn't want to get in the car for a 30 mins drive. The GP said it was up to me but to see usual GP in the morning (or call 999 if anything worsened).

I checked every half hour and her temp finally came back to something like normal about 8am.

Got a GP emergency phone call and they asked to see her this afternoon. Turns out she started with a viral thing but now has a bacterial chest infection so we have amoxicillin. Had no idea she might have a chest infection, was barely coughing.

So hopefully on the mend. She has been more active today so I the viral thing has largely gone. Hopefully the antibiotics will go down ok (banana flavour!!) and she will be on the mend soon.

Thanks again for the late night advice all!