Does this sound serious?

[Oodlesofdoodlescockapoodles]

Hi all,

First thing to say is that she has already been seen earlier today.

My 3 year old has had a temp since Sunday which comes down with calpol but keeps coming back. We've alternated calpol and neurofen and yesterday she was sick during the night, just once. She did perk up briefly yesterday.

She hasn't eaten at all and is drinking very little.

Today she's slept basically all day. Just looking spaced out and drifting off to sleep (but able to be woken up and responsive) barely speaking.

I got an out of hours gp appointment as I was worried it could be serious but all checks were fine, no obvious cause. They said to give her a couple more days of calpol etc and then see how she is, could be viral.

Tonight she's developed a really chesty sounding cough and I still feel uneasy even though the doctor was very reassuring.

He said its not that unusual for small children with fevers to be this poorly and for it to last up to 5 days. I asked if it could be sepsis and he said he's confident it isn't.

I still feel anxious though! Would you be anxious? Is there anything else I should do?

I think I'm most worried that it could be a chest infection but he said her chest sounded OK this morning. She's just so, so sleepy and spaced out.

I have every sympathy. It can be so hard when little ones are ill. I would try to see someone else for another opinion, if only to put your mind at rest. Children can pick up bugs so easily - and get rid of them pretty effectively, but there’s always the worry that it’s something more sinister. It’s probably not, but if you’re worried, you’re worried. I often reason that I’d rather feel a bit silly and OTT and have a well child. Best of luck!

Thank you @Bogablob92 , I think you're right. I just have a nagging anxiety but not sure if its justified or not especially when she's already been seen. I'm just worried something has been missed but they know far better than I do! Just feel so uneasy

@Oodlesofdoodlescockapoodles Hello.
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Firstly I hope you're OK, I know how worrying it can be when your children are poorly, it's exhausting isn't it. I've got 3 boys and one of them.always has something or other 🤣😂 joys of school and autumn germs!
Secondly I wanted to pick up on the fact you mentioned sepsis.. I had sepsis back when I was pregnant with my first child at 21. I became very shakey, almost like shivering that was very uncontrollable. My temperature infact wasn't high. It was low, 34/35. My HR was increased (doubled!) and my BP was low. Whilst I understand your DD is 3 and I was 21, symptoms are still very similiar, and I'm guessing the GP checked other vital OBS signs that would of given away if there was anything more sinister and concerning at all so far such as sepsis. I would like to think that if they even thought about sepsis they wouldn't of let you home. So please don't panic yourself unnecessarily and think the worst, as hard as it is sometimes.. there are a hundred other things it could be without being the extreme.
It could just simply be a viral bug that she's picked up. There is so much about at the moment! Including croup and HF&M here 🥴 my middle and eldest DS have come down with a cough over night, almost barking, but it's nothing more than viral I don't think.
How high is her temperature? If she's drinking little, try fluids in the form of ice pops, if she will, always found them to help keep fluid intake up which in turn i also find helps aid mild fevers!
Obviously if she becomes unresponsive, a temp you can't control, no fluids at all etc then get a second opinion and demand she's seen and checked over again.
If you're still worried then there's no harm in getting her in at the GP again to get a 2nd opinion with a different doctor anyway. I hope she starts to feel better soon! Xx

@Adeleex thank you, that is reassuring (though I'm sorry you've had sepsis!). I did wonder if hand foot and mouth or even chickenpox might follow as so far there's no obvious cause and she's still very subdued. But nothing like you describe so maybe not as ill as I thought! Thanks for taking the time to comment :)

My DS just had some like this, lasted a week and most days he had a nap ( he's 10 so very rare). We saw the doctor due to how long it went on and he said probably flu ( Covid test was negative).

@Oodlesofdoodlescockapoodles pox is possible a good shout. I know that's done it's rounds here recently. The whole of the preschool and infant school near enough had a massive outbreak of it.
My friends DS had HFM 2 weeks ago, he started to be very whingey, off food and drink, had a temp, and then slowly blisters started forming in the mouth, on the bum and the soles of his feet!
There's a whole list of things it could be virally. So just keep an eye, but any more major concerns then I'd suggest getting a 2nd opinion. You're more than welcome. If it reassured you a little then I'm glad! There's nothing worse and more draining than being an anxious mess wondering what's what with kiddos xx

When mine were tiny and poorly I always tried (which I found very hard!!) to remind myself that if I had a nasty virus I wouldn't be my usual self either. I would probably not want to eat much, and would just want to sleep/rest etc. I know it's so worrying when they are poorly but 99% of the time they just have a boring old virus which takes the best part of a week for them to get over. If she has a cold it's normal to develop a cough.

I hope she's on the mend soon.

Hi, my 18 month old little boy is currently the same. I came on here to post something similar and saw your post.
He's had a runny nose but since Monday a chesty cough and high temp. He's not eating much but is drinking. Doctor said viral aswell. He woke up an hour and a half ago feeling really hot (our thermometer is useless) gave him neurofen but he still feels hot. So I don't know what to do. Really panicking

How is he now? X

He's just woken up and had milk. Temperature is down. Still coughing. Going to see how he is this morning but thinking of asking the surgery if I can talk to the nurse practitioner for a second opinion. Everytime we've seen him he's been clear and explained things and i've felt better. So stressful

Kids being poorly can be super stressful. The fact the temp is down and he's still having fluids etc it most probably is just viral. If you do need peace of mind then don't hesitate to ring, you're well within your rights to 😊 hope he feels better soon, keep going mummy x

Hi, thanks for all your comments.

Sorry your little one is unwell too @Becs14 .

My daughter had another very subdued day just falling asleep on and off and no interest in food. I took her in the bath with me and she fell asleep 😢 but her temp has come down now and this morning she's winding her brothers up so must be feeling much better!

I can totally understand how worried you are, I was utterly convinced she must be really unwell. This is day 5 and although she's got a nasty cough she's otherwise much better.

If you're worried though there's no harm in a second opinion, especially at 18 months.

If you Google "little orange book" it has some really helpful advice for what to look for/ when to worry

Thank you both. He has a very sore throat from coughing I think. He's very moany and crying tonight. He hasn't eaten much today but has drank a lot of water and milk. I just hope he feels better very soon