High temp- how long before seeing a doctor?

[GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat]

Dd has been poorly with a chesty cough for two weeks now and for the past 5 days has had a high temp. She’s fine in herself (mostly) but is really tough with a good tolerance for illness so that’s not to say she’s well!

She’s 9 so I’m not too worried about her but at what point is it neglectful not to get her checked out?!

I’d go to Gp now to check it’s not an infection.

Two days ago for the fever.
About a week for the cough.

And I'm a relaxed parent regarding illnesses.

I’d go to Gp now to check it’s not an infection.

I'm sure it is one. The question is whether it's viral or bacterial. Viral is usually 3 days.

If it's not an infection, it's not great news.

I did look on the NHS website and it said 5 days. Obviously with it being the weekend it would need to be a 111 job now.

I'd be at the gp already op. And I'm pretty lax.

She’s also seen the pharmacist who wasn’t worried but obviously he didn’t examine her.

How high is the temp? Is she eating and sleeping ok?

I think if she is not showing signs of improvement or getting worse then definitely GP.

Whenever you're worried I'd say, so go

Temp peaked at 39.3 this morning but mostly low 38s. It is coming down with calpol and she’s eating, drinking, alert etc. Not sleeping great but that’s the cough that keeps waking her.

I’m not hugely worried but you never know.

NICE "paediatric traffic lights" guidelines recommend seeing a doctor if a child has a fever for 5 or more days.

That’s what I’d read on the NHS website and why my first stop was the pharmacist. We’re always told not to run straight to the doctor!

I’ll see how she is in the morning now and call 111 if no better.

I always try to get in before a weekend got things like if it's borderline so if a temp was ongoing for 3 days and it got to a Friday I'd get them in. 111 over the weekend is a hassle!

It’s probably a local thing, the nearest out of of hours centre is only 6-7 minutes away so no extra trouble really. Our doctors‘ surgery run out of appointments in the first 10 minutes if the day!

I’ve called this morning anyway and we’ve got an appointment. She’s no better, just the same. They will probably say there’s nothing they can do as it’s viral but best to get checked.

If her temp is only coming down with paracetamol and shooting back up again then it's just masking it, ds was the same and sent home with pneumonia which was pretty serious by the time they worked out what it was. It presents differently in children so worth asking if a chest x Ray could rule it out. Hope she's better soon.

Same here op, we often get seen at ooh easier than gp.

I’ve just been watching her and think she’s probably breathing a bit faster than usual too. Google says 17-23 per minute and she’s about 40. Probably worth mentioning too.

Thanks @MustDust, I’ll mention that too.

Glad she has an appt. yes her respiratory rate would be a concern even if the temp wasn’t considered too much of a concern yet.

If it was just a temp in a 9yr old I wouldn’t but the length of time she’s been ill, cough, increased Rr & temp is def reason to go to be seen. I have an asthmatic 8 year old (&paeds nurse) so busy time of year for chesty conditions) Hope she’s feeling better very soon op

They will probably say there’s nothing they can do as it’s viral but best to get checked.

Not likely that they will think it's just viral after more than 5 days, but even so, they may well prescribe medicine to alleviate her lungs and clear any liquid.

Unless she's feeling really bad with the fever, or it is higher than 39-39.5 oC, I'd let her be and not give any medicine. The fever is supposed to help get rid of the infection. Make sure she rests and takes plenty of liquids. In addition to check with a doctor who can listen to her chest.

We’re always told not to run straight to the doctor!

That would mean the first few days, not after two weeks of chesty cough and 5 days of fever.

Honestly with that respiratory rate I'd take her now, I'm not an expert but having had 2 family members hospitalised presenting with similar symptoms I wouldn't hang around. For comparison DH was at 25-30 breaths a min when he went in.

We’ve just got back and it is ‘just’ a virus. He said it may take another week or two and if she gets worse or presents new symptoms then take her back. Otherwise rest, fluids and medicine to keep her comfortable.

I'd love to know what virus is supposed to be responsible.

What’s the face for?