Very high temperature

[SundanceLeopard]

To cut a long story short, 11mo has had a cough since December. Has had one course of antibiotics a month ago which he improved on (was previously vomitting through coughing which has now stopped). Took him back to the GP this morning as he started having low grade fevers over the weekend, they've prescribed him another course of antibiotics, a different type, to see if it helps.

I've just phone 111 as his temp has spiked this afternoon (40.1) despite alternating nurofen/calpol. We had a call back from a doctor who just gave us the usual of 'it's viral'. I'm honestly not sure what to do, I'm in two minds as to whether I should get him checked out anyway. The only thing he wants to do right now is sleep 🥺

If over 40 degrees and it's not coming down at all (usually 1.5 degrees after about an hour) when you alternate ibuprofen and paracetamol, please find your closest children's A&E.

If your child has a cough, I'm surprised they do now want to check his lungs.

We've managed to get it down now to around 38.9 so I'm going to try and get some more fluids into him and keep an eye on his temperature for now I think

I was also surprised though that they didn't want to check. My oldest had pneumonia at a similar age and it does seem like all the same signs and symptoms that she had

Hi op my little ones (13 mo) had a fever of an alarming 41.5 last week. Dr was great and gave lots of reassuring advice. Things that stick with me where that it's really isn't the number which tells them anything, it's how quickly it comes on and how long it lasts after Calpol/ibuprofen is given. It was taking two hours to come down at one point. They still weren't worried.

I was advised you can actually give Calpol and ibuprofen at two hour intervals as long as it alternated - but please get personal advice from 111/gp before doing so.

Let him sleep, it is absolutely normal for him to want to and when he is asleep he will be most comfortable. Make sure lots of fluids & wet nappies and eating when he can. I know I how scary it can be - please don't worry yourselves too much, it's quite usual in babies.

Wishing him a speedy recovery and you a restful night xxx

@CucumberCool i am surprised you were given reassuring advice when your child had a 41.5 degree fever. A 42 degree fever can cause brain damage and your child wasn't far off that. I continue to be surprised that they didn't want to monitor your child at a hospital with such a high temp, take bloods and check for serious infections.

Tbh you seem surprised by lot @gemloving. She's fine. Kids get ill.

I don't think there is any evidence that high temperatures caused by the fever response cause brain damage. Though there are a lot of misconceptions out there and I understand how people might acquire worries.

https://dontforgetthebubbles.com/hot-garbage-mythbusting-fever-children/

sciencebasedmedicine.org/fever-phobia/