Chest infection in 5y old - low temps now.

[TimeIsAnIllusion]

My 5y 9m ds started being diagnosed with mild asthma (family history of asthma - coughs with every winter virus) last week. 3 days later he had temps of 39.5 not responding to paracetamol so was put on antibiotics for suspected chest infection. Since then the cough is less dry and less persistent. The cough now sounds productive and wet. He's had a couple of nights better sleep due to coughing being less persistent but remains tired, pale, bags under eyes and off his food. The high temps have gone since the start of antibiotics but last night and again today his temp has measured as low as 34.1 degrees. I've been able to correct this adding an extra jumper and thick socks (it isn't cold inside its 20 degrees and his sister is comfortable in shorts and long sleeved t shirt).
However should I be worried enough to take him back to the gp as he doesn't seem able to regulate his own temperature and I'm guessing this is due to the illness.
Since the antibiotics the illness has improved in some ways but he isn't significantly better. He's been taking them since Friday.

I'm stressing over whether he should see the dr again on mon if not significantly better?

My DS is the same he gets very low temps with infections, we end up with him in bed with us Doyle wrapped up Neil we get Him back to 36+ . It always regulated again once he is well.

Hi, thanks for responding sherbetpips
I think this could be the case with ds - it's just his illness and I hadn't noticed the phenomenon prior to owning a digital thermometer, which is a recent purchase.

Keeping him in bed with us is a great idea to ensure he has his temperature regulated, I will try that next time. I'm really hoping he's over the worst of the illness now - he's picked up as the day went on and ate a proper lunch for the first time in a week.
I'm even considering will he be ok for school tomorrow rather than a trip to the dr!

Took him back to school as although not back to full health he's improved a bit - and filled out form for antibiotics.
Was not impressed with teachers criticism I had brought him in the buggy (he is 5 and is poorly! I thought it best he conserve his energy to cope with the school day and I don't drive - we live half a mile from the school, he is small for age too - wears age 3-4y).
It seems very sad to me that school attendance is valued more by schools than the child's well being.
When I was a kid mothers would have not dreamed of sending kids in who hadn't finished their course of antibiotics.

Should it ask the teacher if she criticises all the pupils that come by car also - after all - they are all sat on their bums and not using their legs to get there either.

Only you can tell how your child is but if I had to take my.child in a buggy so they can conserve there energy, I wouldnt be taking them in, but ur his mum

I felt my choice to take him in was heavily influenced by pressure from the school - we got an attendance letter last year due to time off for illness.
So now we seem to be expected to take in children so long as they aren't being sick or having diahorrea.

They have facility to leave antibiotics in their fridge and have staff willing to give antibiotics during the day - that in itself speaks volumes to me about the schools expectation to have unwell children on site.

A lot of mums wouldn't think twice about taking an unwell child in a car. I don't have a car - so my buggy are my wheels for practical reasons. I also use the buggy to bring home groceries when I haven't a child with me at all.
I expect a bike trailer or a pull along wagon, bus, car or taxi would've been more socially acceptable forms of transport. It's all sitting on your bottom and conserving energy to get there though. Half his class do not walk to school on a daily basis!

Sorry if a child is so ill they can't walk the short distance to school they shouldn't be in. I understand you felt under pressure but it's not fair on your child, the staff at school or other children.

Sirzy I don't believe I have disclosed the distance from my home to the school.
I informed the staff he had a chest infection and here are his antibiotics.
They did not say "please take him home in that case". Clearly they want me to bring him regardless of illness - their attendance figures are paramount to them.

Many parents must be feeling the same pressure - I joined the queue of them at the office handing over antibiotics this morning.
Why do the school have a fridge for antibiotics and staff willing to give them if they are not happy to have poorly children in school?
No it did not feel fair on myself or the child (nor the other children around him from whom he caught his illness). I felt very sad but this is what the school wish for and expect.

we live half a mile from the school,

it might be what the school want but it doesn't mean it is best for the child or the others in the class. Sorry but if a child is that ill they shouldn't be in school its not fair on anyone

If I don't comply with the schools attendance policy they will send very stern letters and a welfare officer to visit I presume.

What will be the next step? I don't want to find out!

And just to clarify, he was physically able to walk the distance but I brought him in the buggy so he did not arrive tired as he was not fully well again. I wanted him to have some energy to benefit from his day in school and to ensure he would cope with the full and busy day.

sorry if a child is ill they should stay at home. I put my childs health before the worry of a letter.

And of course parents sending children in when they are ill puts others at risk by spreading germs. BUt that doesn't matter either hey as long as you don't get a letter!

I've already had a letter for keeping him off when Ill.
So now I am expected to send him back while he is recovering - not a high temp or being sick or diahorrea but while still under the weather and finishing his course of antibiotics.
I'm not the only parent being bullied into doing this by the new stricter rules on attendance.
Presumably this is why my children catch so many illnesses at school.
It would seem the system is counter-productive and the upshot is children suffer.