Temperature not completely resolving with paracetamol

[shangelawasrobbed]

Backstory: I've had a sore throat, cough and general achiness since Thursday. Tested negative for COVID on Thursday, faint positive yesterday and strong positive today.

DP tested negative yesterday but started with the same symptoms today and got a strong positive on testing this afternoon.

My little boy has just turned 1 (corrected age just under 11 months as he was 6 weeks early). He started with a cough yesterday but nothing too bad. He was his usual self this morning - crawling around and playing as normal. At around 3pm this afternoon he became quite sleepy, a bit earlier than he'd usually have his nap. I didn't think too much of it - I thought he was maybe a bit under the weather and so tired, so I let him have his nap early.

When he woke up, he felt very warm, and he seemed very drowsy and lethargic. I took his temperature - 39.1 so I gave some calpol. Took his temperature again an hour later and it had come down to 38.0.

He then perked up a bit in the evening. Ate some toast and some yoghurt/peanut butter and drank most of his milk. Took him up to bed at 7:30 (again a bit earlier than normal as he seemed grizzly and tired).

Since then, he's been quite unsettled and has woke a few times. When he woke at 10.10pm he felt very hot, so I took his temperature again and it was 39.7. I gave some more calpol (5 hours after first dose) and have been checking on him since then.

His temperature has come down to 38.4, but I'm aware that this is still quite high. He also seems very tired/lethargic (obviously it's bed time but he usually looks around when he wakes and is quite wriggly, whereas tonight he is just putting his head straight down on my shoulder and is very still/heavy - although I wouldn't describe him as floppy).

His hands and feet are warm (they have been cold at times throughout the day, which is unusual for him as he's normally super toasty, but they're not cold at the moment). I can't see any rash and he has no signs of a stiff neck, light aversion etc etc.

My concerns are 1) that his temperature isn't coming down into the normal range with calpol and 2) that he's a lot more tired/lethargic than normal. I'm trying to call 111 for advice but the wait time is currently over an hour. Does anyone have any advice?

Would you be worried in this situation and what would you do? We only have calpol in the house and can't go out to buy ibuprofen as we're both COVID positive.

The temperature no but being lethargic yes.

No, I wouldn't be too worried. (Obviously I'm not a medical professional, just a mum of many years and just wanted to give you a reply.)

Temperature shows his body is fighting infection, and you're controlling that with paracetamol, which is working (bringing his temp down when administered). The lethargy is because he's not well. Unwell children are lethargic, just like us when we are unwell. They are usually clingier and want to be held, carried and cuddled.

You sound right on top of it, so keep doing what you're doing and you'll hopefully see an improvement. It's rotten when they're so little, you just want to wave a magic wand and make them all better!

Thank you so much for replying. He's just woken again and it's down to 37.7 now. He's more restless and grumbly too, which makes me less worried - he's well enough to tell me he's poorly if that makes sense!

I've given up on 111 now. I'll keep an eye on his temperature overnight and just generally see how he is in himself, and I'll call them back if I'm worried that things are getting worse.

Thank you again for your advice.

How is he? Could someone go and get some ibuprofen?

He's much better today, thank you! Temperature has stayed down below 38 all day and he's much, much perkier!

My little boy had this last week - temp not resolving with paracetamol and ibruprofen.

waited hours to speak to 111 who were not that concerned - I was concerned though because he was lethargic (but prob cuz had been up 2 nights with illness)

I was super anxious because I was tired and overwrought too.

what did help was that I put him in his own bed, and took a mattress in and slept on the floor so I wasn’t causing him to get hotter by sleeping in the same bed, I put him in a single t shirt / nappy and blanket (this helped bring his temp down a bit)

every time he was up in the night i checked his temp and gave drinks (this was stressed to me by 111 - a danger of a lingering temp can be dehydration). I continued with calpol / neurofen as it was having a little effect

basically it was over when it was over, on the second night his temp just broke, he was 36.2 again and started to get better.

not sure I could have done anything else. It was really stressful, sorry you are going through it too.