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Children's health

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Original poster

16 mo has had temperature nearly constantly for 6 weeks

36 replies

TheLaineyWayIsEssex · 05/04/2012 10:17

Ds is 16 mo and just over 6 weeks ago was ill with high temp of 40 and cough and cold, temperature,went afer a few days but cough persisted and was eventually diagnosed as chest infectio.
Since then his cough had improved, though still apparent, howeer with the exception of a few days he has had a temperature of over 39 degrees.
He is snotty, but generally ok in himself - eating is generally ok, although on a couple of days hasn't eaten at all.
Also, his hands and feet are usually v cold and have noticed his lips going blue, but they sometimes do when he is cold
Not sure whether I should take him back to the docs?
Any advice? Or ideas about what could be wrong?

OP posts:
sunshineestate · 05/04/2012 11:26

I would take him back to the Dr ASAP.

HettyKett · 05/04/2012 11:33

Yes, do take him back to the doctor. Today.

Are you sure your thermometer is OK? Just a thought.

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 05/04/2012 11:33

Please take him to a doctor . Turning blue is not normal and make sure he listens to his heart and lungs!! Hope he is ok :(

ThisWeekonFancyJesus · 05/04/2012 11:34

The guidelines given by my doctors is a high temperature lasting more than 3 - 4 days. I would take him in for a check up.

When dd has a high temp she gets cold hands. Hope he is better soon Smile

ThisWeekonFancyJesus · 05/04/2012 11:35

Sorry that wasn't clear;

The guidelines given by my doctors on whether an ill child needs checking is a high temperature lasting more than 3 - 4 days

Original poster
TheLaineyWayIsEssex · 05/04/2012 11:49

Ok thanks, will give them a call
Well i did wonder about thermometer, but is the same one doctors use (braun in ear) and just over a year old. It gives a different reading for me ( though I have a slight temp as been ill since sat myself).
He feels hot to the touch so definitely has one.

OP posts:
Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 05/04/2012 12:44

Update if you can to let us know he's ok :)

Original poster
TheLaineyWayIsEssex · 05/04/2012 14:45

Hi all,
Just to update, called doctors and had phone consultation with nurse as no DR available. Went through all symptoms and she didn't think it warranted an emergency appt today. Have an appointment for weds morning, and have been advised to record his temperature twice daily until then.
He is off his food again today. Just a banana consumed. I wonder if hehas just been v unlucky to have caught back to back bugs?
Confused so not sure what to think. I will keep a close on on him and if his lips go blue again will take him to walk in ( it is next door to A and E)
Thanks for advice. Will let you know if I get a clearer idea on weds.

OP posts:
Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 05/04/2012 14:51

Am very Shock they won't see you til Wednesday! Walk in centre is a good idea they can deteriorate so quickly when they r small :(

Original poster
TheLaineyWayIsEssex · 05/04/2012 16:23

Walk in here is v good and reassuringly close to hospital. We have 2 bank holidays which means the whole world stops turning Hmm
He is currently napping but must go wake him as getting v late!

OP posts:
Original poster
TheLaineyWayIsEssex · 05/04/2012 17:07

40.1 and 40.3 upon waking from nap ....
Waiting for dp to get home to decide.
He is still running around happily so you wouldn't know he was unwell other than he is roasting to touch

OP posts:
Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 05/04/2012 17:36

Bless him. They just keep going don't they :)

Heyyyho · 05/04/2012 17:43

Wow that's high - DD used to get blue lips before a convulsion, they should take that v seriously indeed. Something to do with the oxygen levels.

He must be very run down - fevers are very tiring for the body.

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 05/04/2012 17:47

Has he responded to calpol is it reducing fever?

knackeredmother · 05/04/2012 17:53

Take him to A and E / walk in please. A yemperatre that is not resolving with cyanosis needs evaluating, and not on Wednesday.
I'm currently the doctor oncall for paeds emergencies and we are surprisingly quiet so you may not have much of a wait wherever you are.
Please update how you get on. Good luck.

leftmysociallifeatthedoor · 05/04/2012 19:51

My DD had a temp for around 8 weeks but it was only around 38. A temp that high imo for that long needs seen now.

I would absollutely be taking him to walk in tonight and asking them to test urine and check throat, ears, chest ( x ray if needed).

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 05/04/2012 20:39

Did u take him? How is he??? :)

curiousparent · 05/04/2012 21:54

Hope your DS is being seen tonight OP - I am shocked that your surgery would not see one so little with all the symptoms that you describe. We are very fortunate to have a GP surgery that is great with kids and would never make a child wait that amount of time. Mind you if they did I would be off to OOH/A & E - knackeredmother is very well qualified to give you advice for an urgent visit.

leftmysociallifeatthedoor how is your DD now? What was it that gave her a temp. for so long?

LoopyLoopsIsTentativelyBack · 05/04/2012 21:55

Hope he's OK :)

winnybella · 05/04/2012 22:00

Sorry, but I just don't understand why you haven't taken him in to see a doctor before. I mean, I know you did and he was diagnosed with chest infection, but since then?

Fever that lasts over 5 days and/or does not come down with meds needs evaluating. It is NOT normal to have a constant temperature of 40 degrees. Neither is it normal for a child to get blue lips. Could be respiratory, could be heart problem.

Obviously he needs to be seen as soon as possible. I would take him to A&E, tbh, if you can't get an appointment before Wendesday.

winnybella · 05/04/2012 22:02

Obv I meant it is not normal to have temp of 40 degrees non stop for 6 weeks, not that 40 degrees in itself is alarming as fairly usual with even minor infections in young children.

But 6 weeks?

kid · 05/04/2012 22:07

My DS had a high temp for 2 weeks when he was almost 3yo. He had a bit of a cough and was off his food and the temp seemed to spike each evening.

After 3 Dr visits, we were referred to hospital as they thought he'd had an infection which had spread to his blood.

At the hospital, a very good Dr noticed a tiny dip in his stomach and sent us for an xray. It turned out to be pneumonia, one if his lungs was completely full of fluid. He made a quick recovery with antibiotics but i felt terrible for not acting sooner. I am also glad it was detected before the other lung was affected.

Please do take your ds to the hospital. They can do blood tests and chest xrays whereas the Dr can only listen to the chest.

Hope your ds is ok.

leftmysociallifeatthedoor · 05/04/2012 23:47

Curiousparent - thanks for asking. She started with a uti then an ear infection then several utis according to dip tests but nothing cultured in lab then fluey cold. Funnily enough since her fluey cold her temp seems to have mostly petered out. Touch wood etc. She wasn't ill all the time, still eating and playing etc but had cold hands and feet and felt v v hot even though her temp was 'only' 37.9 or thereabouts. She's also had 8 teeth come through in that time.

curiousparent · 06/04/2012 10:45

Oh dear poor thing! Lots going on there then - I think sometimes once they get really down it seems hard for them to recover and they catch one thing on top of another.

Hope she continues to improve :)

No news on OP's DS?

leftmysociallifeatthedoor · 06/04/2012 14:35

Thanks, I think chickenpox before xmas knocked her immune system tbh.

OP - hope your ds is ok?