8 month old has v high temp and we're due to go on holiday tomorrow

[DisneyBaby]

Help, what should I do?
We booked a last minute holiday to go to Crete for a week from Saturday, 2 adults and our 8 month old baby girl.
But this evening our 8 month old has got a very high temperature 39.8. I have given Calpol and Nurofen alternating for the last 12 hours but it keeps creeping back up.
I'm pretty certain it's not covid, I think it's most likely teething related as she's been showing a lot of teething signs lately.
What should I do? We have 24 hours until we go on holiday? This would have been our first with our daughter.
Do we still go and hope it will pass quickly? Or cancel?
I could try and get some antibiotics from my GP last min today and still go?
What is the healthcare like in Crete, if we were to need it?
Would insurance pay out if we were to cancel? I booked flights, accom, and transfers all separate?😕

OP my DC are much older now but theres no way on earth I'd take a baby on a plane with a high temperature.

You also need to bear in mind Crete authorities are testing temperatures on arrival. Do you really want to be hanging around the airport with a poorly child waiting to get a flight back?

Just saw your post that you're taking baby to Minor Injuries Unit - NO OP, that is against all guidelines, your baby had a high fever so needs to be tested for covid, and shouldn't be going anywhere else (possibly infecting everyone around you) until the test comes back negative. You are breaking guidelines and because of people like you, the virus spreads more than it should. Terrible.

@eurochick

You really shouldn't have taken her there. You had been offered a telephone appointment with your gp and should have organised a Covid test.

In fairness an infant with a persistent temperature does need prompt evaluation, ideally a physical examination, and I don’t know of a covid test that would come back that quickly. Covid is a concern and she should be tested but there’s no need to delay medical attention in the absence of a result.

It’s slightly different past a certain age you can converse about different symptoms but medical attention still needs to happen if needed.

That was my DS - raging temp developed right before we were heading to the airport. About 24-36 hours of calpol, then a few days later 3 teeth popped out on the same day - they were his first teeth.

So yes, teething CAN and DOES cause high temps.

Goodness me, a baby with a temperature of 38-39 doesn't need minor injuries or A and E without other symptoms. GP telephone appointment would have been fine.

And you are skirting the issue - you ALL need to self isolate as a member of your household has a temperature of over 37.8. Those have been the rules for the last 8 months. No holiday, no going out at all (except for medical care) for ANY of you until you get a negative test result for DD.

BUT - that was before COVID. Quite honestly i can't understand anyone booking a holiday with Covid.

Yes. You absolutely need to seek medical advice. It's unlikely to be Covid. I'm a young baby and teething does not cause temperatures that high. And do not go abroad. (I'm
A Paediatric nurse)

Whatever they say in minor injuries she needs a Covid test and you all need to self isolate until you get the results. It would be massively selfish to put so many people at risk at the airport and on the plane. You cannot 100% say it's not Covid.

It's shit you'll miss your holiday but you knew the risks when you booked.

You have a child with a temperature. The rules are very clear that you need to isolate until her covid test comes back. You can’t travel.

It's more important that the baby gets seen. Rather than telling to OP off about taking her to the wrong place. Temperatures happen for reasons other than Covid. And she needs to be seen in person. Not over the phone.

Why do so many people think the rules are for everyone else? It's very clear that you can't fly today.

Bear in mind that you absolutely shouldn’t be travelling without a negative Covid test, and if you do travel and need to claim on your travel insurance they will likely see from your GP / walk in records that you knowingly flew with an unwell child also against Covid rules which could well invalidate your insurance if you do travel.
If you do decide to go at least update your insurance company first to ensure you are covered as I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t be at the minute.

She needs to be seen at the right place though - and it isn’t clear from her posts that this is the case. Lots of MIUs won’t have a proper hot zone or Paeds on site, and is she’s unwell enough to need face to face review not telephone / video then it’s pretty clear they shouldn’t be flying.

OP my insurance paid out for a holiday I had to cancel because of COVID symptoms

I'm quite vocal in my disdain of a lot of covid restrictions and even I would say you are crazy to travel with a person showing symptoms!!! Covid aside that high a temp would concern me in such a young baby, glad you are getting them seen. And I understand how gutted you will be about the holiday, such shit timing for you

You need to test for Covid it at least self isolate.

Baby isn't well regardless and I wouldn't travel.

You won’t be able to do anything on holiday even if you get through the airport. They’re temperature testing everyone on entry to everywhere. 38 means you can’t enter, as it’s a Covid warning sign. Even if she has a negative test, you’ll be refused access because of her temperature. I’ve taken three flights since March (mostly unavoidable, all before the second wave) and all airlines have checked everyone’s temperatures, although they don’t sanitise babies.

I don’t think you’ve got an option to go regardless of whether your doctor thinks she’s okay or not.

@Cornettoninja that would be fair if the GP had refused an appointment but they hadn't. At the telephone appointment they would have triaged to determine if a physical examination was necessary.

Fair enough @eurochick and I agree.

I just worry that someone reading this thread may get the impression they shouldn’t be seeking medical attention until they have a test to rule out covid when that’s not always the case. Phone review is obviously the best course initially but sometimes that does need to be bypassed.

MN comes up on all sorts of google results and I’d hate to think of someone prioritising a covid test over actual medical help because they’re judgement was swayed.

Aargh - their judgement

@DisneyBaby

GP can only offer a telephone consultation at 12:30 so I've taken her to minor injuries instead so they can look at her properly, hopefully we will get her looked at within the hour. I'll ask their opinion on the holiday but I'm fully expecting them to say cancel.

You do not want to be away with an ill baby.... I took my Ds on holiday when he was 2, he was fine when we set off, by the time we arrived at our destination his temperature was 102, he was vomiting and unwell. I had to find a private GP (100 Euro)- it was Sunday, get him cool. Turned out to be tonsillitis. I had to pay for antibiotics (50 Euro). They didn't sell calpol in the country we went to, so my "holiday" bottle quickly ran out. Our insurance excess was £200 for medical so none of it covered and I lost half the holiday caring for a sick child.

In response to all of your hate.
I've taken her to urgent care because I called 111 and was advised to!

That is a dangerous temperature in a baby; she is in danger of febrile convulsions because her brain overheats,

You need to undress her , put her on a towel and gently sponge her down with tepid (not cold) water, Wte a flannel with slightly colder water and lay it on her forehead; keep re-cooling the flannel every 20 minutes. Stay with her in case she starts trembling, shaking or fitting.

Do not go on holiday. 
Four hours in  aplane with hot crying baby  whose ears hurt due to cabin pressure? 
 Hot baby in hotter climate?  Seeking Dr or  hospital in the middle of the night  when you don't speak the language? 

 You must be mad.

Uh huh, well timed drip feed there op.

Ignore the rude posters. I hope your DD is OK