Help high temp in 3 yr old lasting 10 days

[lovepigeon]

My poor DD has had a high temp on 10th day now with temp still going up to over 40 in between medicine doses. She has a slight cough, sniffly nose and one of her eyes is a little bloodshot. GP checked her over on Monday suspected flu, looked at ears etc but did not check urine. I rang back Tuesday as seemed a bit worse than the two days before but they said not to worry keep giving calpol and no need to bring her in. I am so worried - is it normal to have such a high temp for such a long time with the flu? Younger DD and DF had similar illnesses a few weeks ago but with temp going after 5 days. Should I take her into A&E in the morning? I'm concerned GPs not really doing many tests.

I'm sorry I don't know the answer, but I agree, it sounds like a long time to have such a high temperature.

If you're still up and still worried, I would call 111 - they might suggest emergency doctor or A&E. Otherwise, I'd take DD back to GP first thing in morning. At our GP practice there's a different doctor doing 'emergency appointments on same day' for each day of the week, so if like you we'd been to GP on a Monday, we wouldn't see the same GP again on a Wednesday, so a second opinion. But if you think you'd only get the same answer as before, or you still get no help, then I'd say A&E.

And I hope someone else can post with (better) advice, too.

NHS advice is to see your GP urgently if your child has a high temperature for more than 5 days.

Also, a child with a temperature of 40 degrees or higher is at risk of having a fit.

I would call GP again tomorrow morning and ask to be seen by a different doctor (I'm assuming there is more than one GP in the practice)

Also, how is your daughter doing generally? You know what your child is like when she is ill. Is she behaving the same way she normally would when ill, or is this affecting her more severely? Things to be concerned about include rashes, unexplained bruises anywhere on the body, excessive fatigue (compared to how she usually is when ill) and refusing food and drink for long periods of time. If any of these apply, or your gut instinct tells you there is something different about this illness, then INSIST on seeing a different doctor and say you will go to A&E if they won't see you the same day (that usually encourages them to fit you in)

I don't want to worry you, but I discovered my son had a very serious illness that would not have been discovered as quickly had it not been for my insistence that a GP see him that day. Mothers KNOW if something isn't right.

Bloodshot eyes have you looked up Kawasaki disease?

Does she have red tongue, sandpaper rash.

My ds had the above and I ended up going to a&e after three going nowhere gp appointments. Consultant pead said any temp over 5 days needs investigating. I would just go to a&e and be pushy. Good luck x

Thanks for all the advice I ended up taking her into A&E this morning as she seemed to be getting worse - woke with temp 40.5 and v tired. Hospital doctor said her tonsils were enlarged and looked like viral symptoms (cough, sniffly nose, throat etc) but urine test came back +ve for leukocytes and blood but -ve for nitrites. He said urine results could be result of the virus or some kind of uti so prescribed antibs due to length of fever.

clairecasta I agree about mothers knowing. DD looks awful - much thinner, v unhealthy skin colour, dark rings around eyes and seems worse then sunday and monday when she appeared to be improving (lower temp and playing a little). When I rang GPs yesterday to ask for her to be seen due to deteriation in her condition they fobbed me off and refused to give me appt. It makes you doubt yourself.

Sunshine I did consider Kawasaki, her tongue was not red and no rash but best it be considered due to risk of complications. Still don't know for sure what is wrong with her but at least I'm not worrying she could end up with sepsis etc for untreated bacterial infection. Urine cultures results will come back Friday so will know more then.

I think I'm going to change GP practice as its not the first time I've felt let down by them. I had much more confidence in the practice where we used to live.

Thanks again for all your posts - I couldn't sleep last night and felt sick with worry. Will let you know how she gets on. X

Hi love pigeon,

Well done. Sounds like u are on it.

When my ds had kawasakis disease he looked as you describe thin, dark circles under eyes. he looked really ill.

So if hospital doctor thinks viral infection cough etc. does he think it's normal to have such high temps for so long? It wasn't until we saw hospital pead that I felt we were getting somewhere.

What other symptoms does she have? Even tiny changes? Is she eating?

If you do not feel satisfied don't be scared to push. Just sit in a&e and say you need to see someone else.

X

Don't let the gp's doubt yourself. You are her mother. You know best. Just bypass them from now on until you get on top of this.

Good for you going to A&E. Can't believe your GP refused you an appointment - what reason would be sufficient for an urgent appointment I wonder? Sounds like a good plan to change GP practice. Hope she's better soon.

DD on the mend now, fever was down to 38.5 on Thursday and back to normal on Friday so 11 days of fever in total. She is still very tired but I am so relieved that she seems to be gradually getting better. Will hopefully get the urine culture results tomorrow so have a better idea whether she had a uti or not. She got better after starting ABx so perhaps some sort of bacterial infection but could be coincidence in the timing?
Thanks again for all the helpful posts
x