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Original poster

Very low temp but soaked in sweat

36 replies

mummytopebs · 29/04/2012 21:29

DD has been ill the last couple of weeks and has had very high temps of plus 40. After a couple of hospital admisssions and lots of tests dd has whooping cough and mild pneumonia. She is now nearly finished her second lot of antibiotics and is much better in herself.

However since Friday she has been having low temps especially at night but is soaked in sweat. Her temps have been between 34.8-35.4 but even at these low temps she is soaked in sweat. She also developed spots all over and purple mottling at the same time.

Any ideas?

OP posts:
KatyMac · 29/04/2012 21:32

I'd ring NHS direct or Out of hours If I were you

Unless the spots came on suddenly in which case, I'd probably head off to A&E

Original poster
mummytopebs · 29/04/2012 21:49

The spots came on yesterday and have been checked by the doc, he thinks they are a reaction to the infection. However he could not offer a reason for the excessive sweating with a low body temp. If he doesnt know I have no idea lol. So was just wondering if anyone had ever experienced anything like this before or could offer any explanation.

OP posts:
sausagerolemodel · 29/04/2012 22:00

I'm not a medic (but have worked in biomedical research) and do not want to worry you without cause, but low temperature and a rash and mottled skin can be a sign of sepsis (systemic infection).

There is a website here with warning signs.

www.sepsistrust.org/#/recognising-sepsis/3468251

If sepsis is suspected you should get her to A&E immediately. Esp if she has or develops respiratory symptoms.

TheGashlycrumbTinies · 29/04/2012 22:07

Get her to hospital ASAP, seriously.

DH is a doctor, I just asked him.

SarahJessicaFarter · 29/04/2012 22:13

Firstly hope she is feeling better soon. And hope you are ok and not out of your mind with worry. And I don't want to start a massive debate. But I haven't heard of a child (local to me anyway) having whooping cough since I was a child. Must be a huge worry for you. Secondly I cannot offer any other advice to you other than get to a hospital. Don't waste time if you are worried. Good luck and keep us posted.

Original poster
mummytopebs · 29/04/2012 22:18

She went to hospital yesterday and was checked over. They said the spots were ok as they were blanching, and the purple mottling was because her temp was so low (she does have a blood vessel condition where the vessels constrict and she is on meds for this). The paed at the hospital yesterday said he thought it was a reaction to the infection and nothing sinister as she is actually the wellest she has been in a couple of weeks and is now playing and eating bits and bobs, which she hasent donw for 2 weeks.

OP posts:
Heyyyho · 29/04/2012 22:29

Ate the spots on her torso?

SarahJessicaFarter · 29/04/2012 22:29

Eating and drinking is good then. I was told a long time ago by a doc friend that as a survival mechanism, children stop eating, but continue fluids totally by themselves. So appetite is a good sign. I hope. Keep going back though if you feel worried. His other philosophy was "never ignore the parent". Only you know what is normal behaviour for your child. If you think she's even a bit out of sorts, they should take you seriously. Lots of hugs.

Original poster
mummytopebs · 29/04/2012 22:36

Heyyyho the spots started on her torso and back but today have spread down her legs and on her feet. I have looked at the sepsis website and have scared myself silly as she is quite puffy / swollen looking, but she does do this with her blood vessel condition. Surely she would be very unwell in herself of she had sepsis? Will def take her to my gp tomorrow. Do you think I will be ok to wait till tomorrow?

OP posts:
SarahJessicaFarter · 29/04/2012 22:39

Are you worried now? Ring Out of hours doc. See what they say. Then make a decision about whether to wait or not

BeeBread · 29/04/2012 22:42

Sorry OP but I just wouldn't wait. I'd go to A&E now if sepsis were a possibility.

TheSameButDifferent · 29/04/2012 23:05

I'd listen to the doc

BoiledEggandToastSoldiers Sun 29-Apr-12 22:07:44
Get her to hospital ASAP, seriously.

DH is a doctor, I just asked him.

hellymelly · 29/04/2012 23:12

Hope she is ok. I imagine you are getting her seen, but if not i would agree with above that if you are at all worried then she should be checked again.

Heyyyho · 29/04/2012 23:15

That's quite a coverage. Is it getting worse? I would have said if they were on the legs this is often signs of an infection on its way out but it's on her torso. Can you bring her to A& E she is little and has been v unwell they will see her immediately I'm sure.

duchesse · 29/04/2012 23:19

Good grief! Straight to A&E. In those circs Meningitis and septicaemia should be ruled out. Hope everything turns out to be OK but you can't take chances with symptoms like those.

Heyyyho · 30/04/2012 14:46

Hope everything's ok

TheGashlycrumbTinies · 30/04/2012 15:04

Hope your DD is ok?

Sorry to sound so bossy last night but DH was quite concerned.

Original poster
mummytopebs · 30/04/2012 17:40

She has been checked over and the spots have subsided a lot today. Bloods ok but esr level was 25 which is a bit high. Still cant tell me exactly why she has got a low temp but covered in sweat. Boliedegg has your dh got any suggetions why this might happen

OP posts:
Marne · 30/04/2012 19:29

Hope your dd is ok, i always thought a high temp means the body is fighting the infection so a low temp means that the body has given up fighting the infection (but i am no doctor so am probably wrong), keep a very close eye on her and don't be scared to take her straight back to doctor or a&e if she gets worse or you see no improvement. Poor thing, hope she improves soon xxx

dikkertjedap · 30/04/2012 19:50

Very low temperature and cold sweats also indicate that the body is fighting an infection. If temperature is below 35.5 Celsius, make sure you can wake the child and warm it up (skin to skin contact, warm blanket, warm drinks (chamomile tea, normal weak tea with milk and sugar) and give something sugary (biscuits, chocolate) or crisps.

bumbleymummy · 01/05/2012 07:39

Could it be the sweat that is actually making her cold? We sweat to cool ourselves down and it's why we sometimes get all sweaty at the end of an illness when a fever breaks and our body is getting our temperature back to normal. Perhaps it's just gone into overdrive a bit for her and is cooling her down too much iykwim? Hope she feels better soon.

saggarmakersbottomknocker · 01/05/2012 07:50

mummytopebs - I can't remember from before but is she taking vasodilators for her other condition? IME they can make it difficult to control temp. dd used to get like this alot. Could the spots be aspirin related (lots of coughing breaking the blood vessels)?

Original poster
mummytopebs · 04/05/2012 17:43

Hi saggar yes she is on meds to open the blood vessels but is no longer on asprin as she had a stomach bleed. She has completely recovered from her last illness but is still sweating and having low temps at nite so will take her back to gp next week

OP posts:
dorota123 · 31/05/2014 03:23

Hello mummytopebs,
I am writing as a follow up to your post two years ago. My DD is just going through this right now.
A couple of weeks ago she had mild pneumonia, had antibiotics, she had spots on her body for two days.
My concerns is that for the last week she has been excessively sweating at night yet her temperature is at 35.4.
Did this go away by itself? Did your drs give you any answers when your daughter was going through this?
Thanks in advance

BarbarianMum · 01/06/2014 20:51

I'm not the original poster (obviously) but one of the functions of sweat is to cool you down. So if your lo is sweating (illness can make you sweat even without a raised temperature sometimes) then the sweat will evaporate from your skin and leave you cold and clammy.

Obviously consult a doctor if you are worried though.

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