40.6 temp

[MiniCooperLover]

DS (11) started feeling unwell on Sat, went back to bed with a headache. Vomited a while later, slept most of the day hot but manageable with Calpol and Neurofen. Sunday perked up until eve when he suddenly hit 39. Shivering, cold hands/feet. We took him to urgent care, they say 'start of a chest infection' and gave us ABs. 9pm by this point and nowhere open to fill prescription. I slept with him and kept an eye but he hit 40.6 during the night even with the calpol melts. How long for the ABs to hopefully kick in? They made us feel so silly for bringing him with a cold basically, .. but he's still 40.6? And the cough is now something else.

I had this, and also my DC. I didn't go to urgent care but I did ring 111.

They told me to wait it out. Took 3 days. I was so ill. But after day 3 I recovered pretty quickly and so did DC.

(No AB's either)

Chances are the antibiotics will do nothing, as most chest infections are viral rather than bacterial. Unfortunately it’s just one of those things where you’ll probably just need to ride it out, but if you’re concerns that his symptoms have deteriorated and/or any new ones appear, then you need to take him straight back. Keep a look out for a rash.

Concerned*

Did they covid test?

We had done covid tests Sat and sun before we took him, they were ok 👍

Antibiotics will work immediately if it’s bacterial but you won’t notice improvement for a couple of days. Keep an eye out for any rash like a pp said but may just need to ride this out. If he gets any worse or shows no sign of improvement then I would personally take him back. Have you checked for covid?

Crossed post

It's so scary when they spike a temperature like that isn't it? As pp said it might be one you just need to ride out, plenty of fluids and rest and keep a close eye. But if it gets worse go back. There was a case similar to this on here a few weeks back albeit in a much younger child and they ended up with pneumonia after being fobbed off four times. Trust your gut if you feel something isn't right.

If his temperature is coming down with Calpol etc then I would give the antibiotics 24 hours to kick in. If the Calpol is not bringing his temp down then I would be tempted to go back or call 111.
Keep a close eye on him and listen to your gut my child suffered at home for 3 days with pneumonia as the walk in centre sent us away with no antibiotics even though I knew he needed them. I always go back within 24 hours now if there is no improvement and every time they have given antibiotics and he is on the mend pretty quickly once he starts taking them.

Usually 24-48hrs to see an improvement with AB. Fevers of that level are more suggestive of infection vs viral unless he is prone to high fevers in general?

Do take the AB as while chest infections often are viral, they aren't all. My Mum ended up with pneumonia because GP assumed viral & said ride it out.. If no improvement in 24-48hrs go back as may need a different AB.

It took quite a a while before I could get the ABs, had to try several pharmacies.

The cough is so bad and he gets a bit panicked when he can’t control it. I’ve got him lying propped up in bed trying to get to sleep poor baby. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day with some ABs in him.