shivering and temp of 32.5

[lorrycat]

DS (18mo) started shivering yesterday (full body shivers) and DP and i just thought he was cold so wrapped him in fleec blanket and he seemed fine after that.

This morning he was shivering again and i've noticed his lips were very blue. So i took his temp and its 32.5 one minute and then the digital therm is was not even registering the temp, just flashing red and saying "Low".

So i called the docs and they told me to bring him over right away, that they were worried about the shivering. When i got there they took him temp and it was 102 farenheit (not sure what that it in celcius but know its fever). Doc says he has 2 really bad ear infections but cannot explain the low temp and shaking. But they have told me to bring him straight to A&E if it happens again and to sleep in the same room as him!

this has really alarmed me and i'm afriad to let him out ofmy sight. ATM he is sleeping in the living room in a travel cot.

Has anyone had a similar experience or shed a bit more light than the doc was able to?

A low temp is just as concerning as a high temp and can mean an infection. I trained as a paeds nurse for a couple of years and have not seen a low temp infection before as they are very rare. How is he now? How scary for you.

How did you take his temperature? Check the batteries and the method you were using, as 32°C is not an accurate reading unless he had severe hypothermia.

The shaking can come from being cold or it can come from having a high temperature due to the ear infections.

What treatment did the doctor prescribe?

The funny thing is that he is otherwise fine. Maybe a bit cranky but if his ears are inflamed then i'm not surprised. The doc gave me an antibiotic for him and paracetamol to be given every 4 hours.

Just took the temp again and its 36.4 now. I had been tryin to take him temp and few times and he's very good at letting u put stuff in his ears, so i had the sensor part in quite deep.

Its the thought of it happening again and following her advice to go to A&E thats freaking me out.

I'm glad you've got antibiotics and paracetamol, that's the best treatment.

If you get a strange temperature reading again, wait a minute and then take it again, in the other ear. Also use your own 'instinct' - if you think he's not too ill, then he probably isn't too ill.

I've taken many temperatures and false readings are very common, particular with ear, forehead and under arm thermometers. As I said check the batteries.

Thank you. i've also taken many strange readings also. But wwith the blue in his lips and the shivering, thats what was really worrying.

I have to say, its all very strange. i've dealt with raised temps before but never low ones.

My DS's temperature also used to go up and down quite dramatically when he was between 12 and 18 months. A couple of times it was bronchiolitis and in the most dramatic it turned out to be tonsillitis. His lips also turned blue. I remember ringing NHS Direct who said they were sending an ambulance, so severe were the symptoms, and when I said I'd drive they were insistent on knowing the route I'd take and that I must have a mobile with me in case of any deterioration.

Calpol, ibuprofen and antibiotics sorted him out and we were home within 24 hours. He grew out of these weird temperatures and is now a strong robust 9 year old. Blue lips though are always a cause of concern, and you were right to seek medical advice.

His 3 older sisters never had the very low temperature, and my thermometer did not suddenly go out of calibration on these occasions.

blue lips are always a worry and you are absolutely right to have taken him to the GP for this.

Lorrycat - you have done absolutely the right thing. I had never heard of this until DS was born, it happened to ME after the emergency c-section. My temperature dropped to 32 and I had to be kept in this giant hypothermia treatment bag thing for almost three days (side note - I felt normal and was behaving normally otherwise, would not even have been aware of it were it not for the panicking doctors & nurses!). It is very much real and your thermometer was likely accurate if he was also shivering/lips blue. It was likely his body's response to the infection and may never happen again but you are right to take it seriously and watch him closely until the infection is over, as well as during future infections. Low temp can be just as dangerous as high temp.

ds had low temp infection - not that low but 34 or so. Sorted itself out with antibiotics and calpol etc but it's something you don't read about - until i logged onto mumsnet of course!