Toddler suddenly lethargic

[OneTwoOrThree]

DD 2.10 was fine till around 4.30 pm
When she started to go downhill. She ate most of her dinner at 5.30 ish, which I thought might sort her out.

By 6.30 she had a temp of 38.5, which I'm
Not worried about but was also v lethargic. She was lying in my arms, drowsy and fell asleep on me around 7. She wasn't completely limp, but a bit floppy and not keen to wake up / talk / walk. Bedtime is usually 7pm, but she never runs out if energy early. She's in bed now, no vomit despite telling me she felt sick.

Should I worry about the lethargy, or just accept as normal for an unwell toddler. No other symptoms....

Is it normal for her though? has she ever been like this before?

Not normal at all, and never been like this before BUT she's also never really been unwell. A couple of odd vomits, but never properly unwell.

It's so hard to know, especially when it's now night time and she would be drowsy / hard to wake etc, even when well.

I would phone NHS Direct, just to be on the safe side

have you given anything to bring the temp down? 38.5 is a high temperature for a little one

She had calpol at 6.30 ish. I've just been in to check her... Took her temp with ear thermometer and it's 37.1

She squirmed and rolled over when I took her temp, which I guess is a good sign.

The floppiness with a reluctance to wake up / talk would concern me a great deal particularly as it's been over such a short period of time. Please contact NHS direct or local walk-in/triage centre as she needs to be asesesed.

well, temp going down with medication is a good thing.

my lot always get very lethargic when they are ill, esp with a temperature, but of course that doesn't mean your little one is the same.

personally, i would leave her be and just check on her now and then. but if you are worried then do take her along to walk-in centre or a&e, esp if her temp remains raised

DD went like this once. I took her up to A&E where they checked her over and diagnosed a double ear infection.

I really think you need to get her seen.

Thanks all. I've just woken her, given her a drink and tried to have a chat. She spoke a little and was easily rousable. Good eye contact and even managed to stand up. I feel a whole lot better now I've woken and checked her.

I agree with thisisyesterday. As her temp has gone down I would leave her be but if it remains raised take her in.

DS had persistent raised temp recently and GP, walk in centre and A&E failed to diagnose upper urinary tract infection, they just kept saying go home and give calpol which I did but now I regret it because he has scarring on his kidney which could have been avoided if I'd been more pushy and followed my instincts.

Now I think about it, last time she vomited she had been acting a bit off then fell asleep in the car. V v unusual, hadn't done that for 9-12 months, and it was a shortish journey. 10 mind later the car was covered in vomit. 30 minutes later and she was back to normal. The car, car seat etc took a lot longer to return to normal

Perhaps her way if dealing with illness is to sleep.

Thanks again for your help. I'm happy to leave her to sleep tonight and will reassess in the morning.

Quick update. All well this morning - chatty, chirpy, stroppy etc.

No ideas what the problem was, but she has recovered nonetheless. It's amazing how quickly kids can get sick, and how quickly they can recover.

Glad she's feeling better, funny how quick the strops return isn't it. Me and DD get on so well when she's poorly, part of me enjoys it!