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Children's health

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Original poster

high fever 40.4

98 replies

PavlovtheCat · 27/03/2011 19:25

DS is 16 months. He has a high fever of 40.4. I am a bit worried.

He has had a fever for most of the last week (tuesday onwards) is teething, DD has had a temperature bug of some kind, lasted 3 days. I spoke to GP on friday, not worried, said bring him in monday if not better, give fluids, calpol/ibruprofen, normal stuff, said there is a bug around with high temp as symptoms. i have been giving him medicine which has mostly reduced temp but today it seems not to be holding it down.

He has a cough, had it all week, getting worse, but not croup like, more like tickly annoying cough, with some gagging. i think he has a sore throat. his breathing is quite shallow, i guess due to temp? And i have just noticed white spots on inside of his bottom lip. General crabbiness, malais, off food but drinking tons of water. No rash.

out of hours gp?

OP posts:

belledechocchipcookie · 27/03/2011 19:27

I'd take him to the out of hours, he sounds quite unwell.

Ibuprofen and paracetamol in the mean time, can you put a fan on him also (a rotating one that's not blowing directly onto him?)

I hope he's OK.

pooka · 27/03/2011 19:30

Yes ooh.

Ds2 was similar earlier in week. Took to gp who sent us straight to a&e because of the temperature (she thought could be something specific which HAD to be looked at in a&e setting - epiglottitis). But was croup as we'd suspected. Ds had liquid steroids and then because th temp was still fluctuating 3 says later I took him back to gp - and since a&e check he'd developed ear infection and throat infection.

He's been on antibiotics for 2 days now and is Much improved.

pooka · 27/03/2011 19:31

Ds1 and dd have also ad high temp bug that's doing rounds - but neither as bad.

zonedout · 27/03/2011 20:10

Both of my ds's tend to get fevers of over 40 with tonsillitis. Well ds1 has now had his tonsil out but would often hit close to 41 with his monthly tonsillitis pre operation. I find when ds2 gets tonsillitis or some other upper respiratory infection he also gags a lot. The other time he has had an extremely high fever was when he had pneumonia.

Definitely worth getting him checked out, that is a high fever and likely to be a secondary infection on top of the fever virus.

ScarlettWalking · 27/03/2011 20:14

That's awfully high. Bordering on convulsion territory, really don't mean to panic you but have you stripped/ applied a tepid sponge/ given calpol/ neuro?

He is v young I think he should be checked over. Could be tonsils/ ear/ chest or combination.

bubbleymummy · 27/03/2011 20:35

Would definitely get him checked because it's been going on for so long - would suggest that there is some kind of secondary infection that might need antibiotics.

bubbleymummy · 27/03/2011 20:36

Sorry just to add, high temps don't cause convulsions - it's the speed of the temperature rising that does. Hth

Original poster

PavlovtheCat · 27/03/2011 20:38

ok, temp reduced to 39.1. Stil high but i feel a bit happier with that. I stripped him to nappy and cuddled him (worried he would get cold, and then make it worse). Is that still too high?

I waited to call OOH til he had next lot of ibruprofen. He was 1 hour into most recent calpol dose and it did nothing for it. However, it only dropped by .05 and he started to feel a bit chirpier and his breathing less laboured/shallow.

So, I am anticipating the ibuprofen to reduce it more, but concerned as he has had the last dose of his 24 period and not able to have any more til the morning now. He is calmer, has been talking to me, but now he is trying to sleep but clearly not comfortable.

zonedout i think it is possibly tonsilitis and he is stretching his mouth when he swallows. Also forgot to mention his face has been puffy, but thought that was due to two molar bursting though right now, that is, i thought that til this evening. He also had v bad breath. It smells like tonsilitis...if that makes sense.

So if it is a throat infection of some kind, and bearing in mind he can't have any more ibruprofen til the morning and one more lot of calpol at 11pm, should I still do ooh?

OP posts:

activate · 27/03/2011 20:40

that's a long time to have a fever - I'd see someone about it

does the nurofen / paracetomal bring it down ? and how long for?

also consider that chest infections like pneumonia (very treatable) do not always present with expected symptoms in young children

do you have an A&E nearby - he may need a chest x-ray to rule out

IngridBergmann · 27/03/2011 20:40

yes, I think antibiotics might help. Sorry you are going through this, it is such a nightmare isn;t it. xx

belledechocchipcookie · 27/03/2011 20:40

That's still too high. He'll need plenty of fluids as he'll be sweaty.

He really needs checking over. Did you use a fan?

IngridBergmann · 27/03/2011 20:42

Sorry, I mean definitely OOH tonight. You don't want to be stuck over 40 again at midnight and unable to give more meds.

Poor little mite.
White spots in mouth is sometimes a symptom of measles before the rash?

IngridBergmann · 27/03/2011 20:43

and they might keep him in to rehydrate, he'll feel much better if so x don't worry. High fevers are horrid but they can help him at the hospital.

blinks · 27/03/2011 20:43

yes defo out of hours as may well need antibiotics which should help quickly. i work for nhs24. breathing concerns should also be reported, often high temp causes fast breathing/panting but shouldn't be laboured.

Original poster

PavlovtheCat · 27/03/2011 20:44

activate A&E is next to ooh, literally ooh is a room across the hall from A&E.

Ibruprofen seems to bring it down better than calpol, but for about 3 hours, then it rises again but not as high as today. However, this afternoon it has taken longer to come down with medicine and from a higher temp, and not lasted as long if that makes sense. He has got worse I would say since about 2pm. He woke up ok. Not great, but ok.

The doc on friday afternoon seemed not at all bothered about him having a fever since tuesday, and was fine with him waiting til monday. He was like 'if it has not reduced by monday bring him into morning clinic'

OP posts:

IngridBergmann · 27/03/2011 20:45

No you should really go if he seems more poorly - might be bacterial infec as someone said, that can develop after a virus.

Good luck, hope you are seen quickly, he doesn't sound very well. And I always trust Blinks on these things

Original poster

PavlovtheCat · 27/03/2011 20:45

ok, calling them now. and DH is on way back home, so I can go with car (DD is here asleep too so can't just hop out).

OP posts:

winnybella · 27/03/2011 20:45

I think as there is a possibility of tonssilitis, I would go to ooh as ABs would make him feel better quite quickly.

I most certainly wouldn't panic re:fever- it's a high fever, but perfectly normal with a lot of (not necessarily serious) infections. It did come down a bit, which is good.

DD had a flu and had a temp over 40 for a few days-doctor told me to wait 5-6 days before bringing her in.

But here, as there's a bad breath/ weird swallowing thing going on-ooh would be my choice.

winnybella · 27/03/2011 20:46

or tonsillitis

MmeLindt · 27/03/2011 20:47

This is a good chart that tells you when to seek medical advice.

Over 40°C I would go to A&E or OOH.

activate · 27/03/2011 20:47

that's a 6 day fever and it's not improving

my GP said that after 7 days of temps they'll put on antibiotics even if there's nothing obvious

personally (and I've got 4 children so tend not to over-react I think) I'd not be comfortable with not seeing someone - I don't personally like Out of Hours docs, I'd be heading to A&E if possible

zonedout · 27/03/2011 20:48

i know it is a pain but i would definitely still do ooh. i don't want to frighten you in any way but when my ds2 was a similar age i very nearly left it too late.

ds1 always used to get very bad breath with his tonsillitis. i would imagine your ds will need an antibiotic (which tends to shift tonsillitis very quickly, within 24 hours i find the fever is much much lower)

Original poster

PavlovtheCat · 27/03/2011 20:48

Thanks blinks his breathing is much calmer now, less like effort, he was doing the panting thing, fast, panting, generally looking glazed, and then it seemed a bit harder to breath, and now he is breathing slightly faster than normal, not calm, but not laboured any more.

I remember when DD had croup. Her breathing was so laboured she had the pulling in at the neck and ribs by the time we got her to hosp. I was so terrified, as it changed so fast. So yes, you are right, tonight he needs to be seen. I am just aware that last time I took him (10wks, similar symptoms) by the time i got there his fever reduced the doc told me to be more patient before wasting mine and his time again it had been 24 hours with no reduction despite medicine!

OP posts:

MmeLindt · 27/03/2011 20:51

Pavlov
Ignore the doc who told you off. That is there job - to be there - and most would rather see a child too often than once too late. I got hell from a nurse for not bringing DD in until her her temp was over 40° and she was breathing heavily.

Glad you are having him seen. Hope he is better soon.

MmeLindt · 27/03/2011 20:52

their job, not there

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