17month old v high temp 39.5 for 36 hours - goes down then shoots back up..advice please!!

[loopeylu]

My DD had a mild temperature on Friday evening (37.5) -went to sleep ok (after the usual grumbling for 45 mins or so). At 5am on Saturday morning she wailed and felt like a furnace - 39.6. Stripped her off, gave her calpol. She then slept until 9am (normally she wakes at c.7am). Temperature was much lower. By Saturday afternoon it had shot up again to the 39s. Calpol and Nurofen at intervals brought it down and by 8pm it was under 37. She took AGES to go to sleep (and was v cross about being put in bed) but I reckoned this was because she'd slept later than usual on Saturday. Her temperature this morning is back at 39.5. So i've given her calpol again.

Would this alarm you? NHS direct yesterday evening didn't seem too bothered. She is eating v well indeed (just seen off 2 bowls of cheerios), drinking loads - she looks tired though (understandably).

Please let me know if you've had a similar experience. Temperatures in my children have normally been 24 hour affairs and I don't know whether I should be really concerned and seek out a dr or not..
Thanks v much for any advice in advance

I'd get her ears looked at by an out of hours GP. Could be an ear infection. Always was with my two. Temperatures that linger are usually infection of some kind that need antibiotics.

Ears or throat, our DD does this with tonsillitis. A couple of days of this means there is something lurking, I agree with MissNorty, head for the out of hours gp and get her checked, just in case

It is good that she eats well, also good that the temperature comes down with calpol/nurofen.

If she has no other symptoms that worry you (e.g. difficulty breathing, sore throat, swollen glands, pain when urinating), then I would sit it out and maybe go to GP tomorrow.

Personally I don't consider 37.5 a temperature, because thermometers are not that accurate and children/adults have fluctuating temperatures during the day anyway.

39.5 is high though (although it can go up to 41), so keep an eye on her.

Hope she gets better soon!

Agree with dikkertjedap. Throats and tonsils usually result in a refusal to eat or drink. Ears are so painful the child can be distraught and rubbing their ears. Not all children react like this though, so I would get her checked tomorrow if still unwell. 3 days is the golden rule for minor feverish illnesses and after this time look at getting her checked.

Thanks v much everyone for the advice. V reassuring. Calpol has kept the temperature in check but she still has one. If it is still up tomorrow, I'll get her to the dr.
Big thanks.