Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Very High Fever (up to 41) in 2.5yr. Should I be concerned?

21 replies

PavlovtheCat · 19/05/2012 16:23

High fevers are actually quite normal for DS, he tends to display illness through a high fever of up to 40 and behaves ok. Sometimes he gets lethargic at this high, and occasionally shakes a little, but responds well with medicine, there have been the odd occasion where he has not responded quickly enough and I have sought GP advice but it always goes down before I get there! typically. He has had possibly 3 bouts of fever only illness where he has snot and fever only.

He has just recovered from chicken pox, Spots came out two weeks ago yesterday, had slight fever bit poorly but generally ok recovered quickly.

Since then, the glands behind his right ear have stayed very swollen, there are actually two lumps, not one. I have not been too concerned as read that this is common for a few weeks after Cpox.

Came home from work at lunctime yesterday to find he had a fever, he and Dh were asleep and he woke hot.

I did not take his temp at the time just gave him ibruprofen, have a good gauge for how hot he is. meds brought it down well. more meds before bed as temp risen again, went down again fine.

He then woke at 1am, so hot he was burning my skin to touch him, took temp, it was 41. i brought him in to bed with us, calpol, took about 1hr to reduce, lots of liquid. Again, in the morning, v hot but DH dealt, did not check, but said he was v hot, gave meds, and same during the day.

His temp is now risen, I cant find the thermometer but its around 39.5 I would say, but creeping up. I will give him meds again and he will probably sleep in a mo.

His mood is fine, although more cuddly, he has clear, becoming green snot almost constantly so obviously a bug. Gland behind ear really big.

Should I be concerned at such a high fever? Should I be seeking medical help at 41? I have not as meds have brought it down fine, but could it cause him harm while waiting? He has never suffered from convulsions.

OP posts:
ohforfoxsake · 19/05/2012 16:40

As long as the meds are working you can keep an eye on him a while longer.

If however he isn't responding to the meds, or it's lasted more than 48 hours, I'd call NHS Direct.

The one time I didn't we ended up in hospital for 5 days with intravenous antibiotics and a kidney infection. Super cautious now.

Hope he gets better quickly.

LeMousquetaireAnonyme · 19/05/2012 16:46

There are nasty complications from CP. I would take him to get check as soon as possible BTH.

Timandra · 19/05/2012 17:01

I think I would call out of hours GP for an appt today if his temp is still going up to 41.

cutegorilla · 19/05/2012 17:03

I would get him checked personally. As said above, CP can lead on to other things.

BeaWheesht · 19/05/2012 17:05

Ear infections are common after cpox and sometimes I think they can spread into the bone behind the ear and be dangerous so I would get him checked.

dikkertjedap · 19/05/2012 17:06

I would also call OOH. He clearly has a raging infection, the big question is is it viral or bacterial. That's why I think you should seek medical advice because it is more likely to be bacterial the longer it goes on and if not treated then there is a chance that he will become more ill/get complications.

peggyblackett · 19/05/2012 17:09

41 is very high. I would call OOH doctors. I hope he feels better soon.

OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 19/05/2012 17:10

Call doctor

PavlovtheCat · 19/05/2012 17:18

oh, funny about the ear, he was rubbing it at bedtime last night, DH noticed it, but only briefly, then it stopped again.

I will call docs now.

Like I said, he is acting absolutely fine. he has just eaten 4 small yogurts and is drinking lots of water.

I did not know about complications relating to CP despite googling Shock GP told me to watch out for a cough as it can cause a chest infection, but did not mention anything else. He does not have a cough...,

OP posts:
Heyyyho · 19/05/2012 17:23

Sounds like a nasty secondary infection

PavlovtheCat · 19/05/2012 17:25

I cannot find the thermometer anywhere. I think it has been what we refer to as 'poppled' (a reference to things disappearing at the hand of DD when she was littler, as we called her 'pop' sometimes, not sure why...), there are so may places to hide it, could be anywhere Confused.

temp is around 39 I would guess, calpol about 30 mins ago with food, as he fell asleep before I could give him any, but only slept for 30 mins max, i am anticipating it reducing.

OP posts:
quirkychick · 19/05/2012 17:36

Dd1 had cp at 3 and a week after getting better had a cold which turned into a chest infection/asthma attack. We ended up being sent by OOH to hospital.We had a stay in hospital for couple of nights. It triggered several later bouts of asthma which were severe enough to mean we had open access to CAU. All under control now, though.

Get him checked out. Hope all is fine.

PavlovtheCat · 19/05/2012 17:39

temp has reduced to 38.7 with calpol, so still high but not badly so.

OP posts:
Badvoc · 19/05/2012 17:40

41 is VERY high tbh.

Get him checked out.

good luck

PavlovtheCat · 19/05/2012 18:58

Shock stuck in traffic coming home, after DH was 15 mins late out, due to torch going through the city, roads closed right across from where I live to where he works, typical!

Anyway, should have called before i left, as it is a 2hour wait for out of hours! Been told if he gets worse to call back and they will chase, or A&E.

I have taken a look in his ear, and there is brown wax. The swelling behind his ear is red and and visible. So, I am guessing its an ear infection.

Dh thinks I am over-reacting and the frequently heard 'bloody mumsnet' was muttered, but he also knows that I won't not call I just said 'ok I am over-reacting, I am calling them anyway!' To be fair on him really, he did say when I got him, call them as soon as we get home don't leave it til it gets late in the evening (but I am now suspecting that is so he can go out and watch footie Wink.

OP posts:
narmada · 19/05/2012 22:04

Def take him to a doctor. There's an outside chance that the red lump behind his ear could be mastoiditis which can be quite serious and needs to be checked. I stress I am in no way medically qualified, but my gran had mastoiditis once and it wasn't nice.

narmada · 19/05/2012 22:04

Mastoiditis can lead to brain infections :( I don't want to frighten you but I really think you should get it checked.

MousyMouse · 19/05/2012 22:10

take him to a&e.
good thing though that the meds are working in reducing his fever.
tell dh that mumsnetters are always right

drcrab · 19/05/2012 22:19

DS who's 4 had chicken pox around Easter. He then developed this rash and fever and aching joints a couple of weeks after that. For over 2 weeks. We finally got referred to the consultant paed. Who admitted him. Because 24 hr before that he developed an all over body rash (you couldn't see skin!) and a fever that didnt go down.

They thought it was HSP (google it). Do finally I had answers. Just 3 weeks of nightly fevers and random rashes appearing and 2 night stay in hospital.

I'd push for an answer. Even if it's just a 'bog standard' virus.

PavlovtheCat · 19/05/2012 22:47

Sorry to not post for so long.

I spoke to out of hours gp, they wanted to see him immediately.

He is fine. He is fighting an infection, unknown as his ears are fine, chest is fine, not able to see his throat as he was asleep and the doc was not concerned, said it might be inflamed but she said ABs would not really help if it was Hmm. She said it is likely his body getting rid of the chicken pox virus, as even though it seems to have gone, it actually takes a little while to leave the system. She acknowledged his ear was swollen and said keep an eye, but not worried right now.

She told me to give him both ibruprofen and calpol together if fever gets as high as 40, and if his behaviour changes go straight back.

She said it was a good sign he was ok in himself, eating ok ish and taking liquids, and he will work through it but she said it was better i got him checked.

I am glad I went as I know he is now ok and can rest tonight feeling assured he has not got a horrid ear infection.

Thanks everyone for your support Thanks

OP posts:
PavlovtheCat · 19/05/2012 22:48

mousy he knows thats why it annoys him!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread