High fever won’t give up in 3yo

[AT20]

Hi all, just posting for people’s experiences dealing with a persistent temperature in a 3yo.
Since Saturday afternoon my 3yo son has been spiking fevers of between 38-40. Calpol barely touched the sides but it comes down well with neurofen. I took him to a&e yesterday as he had mottled skin and was 40 degrees. A senior dr looked over him and said he has inflammation in his ear and throat and he has 5 days of antibiotics incase bacterial. It’s been 2 days and he is still spiking temperatures and he shakes if his temp starts to spike a lot so back to the calpol/neurofen, not proper convulsions just gets shakey. The hospital checked his urine and said no UTI and he has a clear chest although he coughed up thick white phlem today once (even though he isn’t really coughing). I guess I just want some experiences with this as he has never had a spiking temp like this before especially as he isn’t complaining of a sore throat of ear which is obviously inflammed. Drs at the hospital said to go back in 2 days if it’s still spiking got further tests which at the moment is looking likely! He’s just been laying around all day for the past few days and not eating much but drinking ok. Anyone else have advice to offer here? Thank you.

That should say 2 days since he started antibiotics.

This happened to a friend and their little body was getting overwhelmed. After an IV antibiotic and a few days all better. Hopefully it’s the same for your little one!

I'd take him back personally, if he's been on Abs for two days with no improvement. Dr's.alaays say they'd rather be safe than sorry with little ones. How are his nappies?

I hate this when they're so little. You just don't know what to do for the best. And you're exhausted and trying to make rational decisions. All that said, if you think he needs to be seen, don't hesitate to take him back. Worrying signs are a new, weird cry, floppiness and seeming much worse.

Is he drinking plenty of fluids? And weeing?
Ice lols could help and ice in drinks with a lid.

Have you got any support around you? Hope he's on the mend soon.

I’d ring 111 OP just so you can try to get an app with an out of hours GP instead of waiting in A&E for hours, which will make him feel even worse, and you. I’d definitely want them to look at him again. They might want to change his antibiotic.

Thanks all for your replies. He’s in bed now after just taking neurofen which does bring it down but as soon as it wears off it’s straight back up. I definitely think for tonight he needs sleep as he’s tucked up and soundo. He doesn’t have any rashes and he’s clearly unwell but I think he needs to have a good nights sleep and I can either get a gp appointment in the morning and if not take him to a&e. I think I may well do that anyway because as much as I don’t want him waiting in there all day, at the same time they can do blood tests etc and drs will take time to organise. The dr in a&e did tell me to come back tomorrow if it’s still spiking so that’s my plan but it’s just awfully worrying that it’s so persistent and high. It’s so hard to know what to do for the best. He is drinking and peeing ok but I am having to encourage him to drink and he’s eating a tiny bit when his fever is down. I don’t think it hurts him to drink as he’s not complaining about a sore throat and he has in the past. It’s very stressful and I’m a worrier anyway!

I do have a bit of support, my husband works long hours but is here around 7pm and my mum lives nearby who has my 8 month old daughter when I need to take him to drs/hospital. This is my first experience with a persistent fever and it’s extremely stressful! I will definitely have him seen again in the morning. Thank you for your replies and of course if he goes down hill in the night I’ll take him in then but the past two nights he’s knocked out and only woken for a medicine top up so would really like to let him sleep tonight unless he goes down hill. If anyone has similar experiences please continue to reply as anything may be helpful. Thank you all.

Hi OP I'm sorry to hear about

Hi OP sorry to hear about your son. Forgive my earlier post I'm still learning the app. As a children's nurse there are a few red flags in your post. Persistent fever, non effective antibiotics, mottled rash, lethargy. I have been trained the "think sepsis" way. How is his breathing pattern? Is it normal? Is he struggling or showing signs of increased work? Are his ribs showing when he breathes, tracheal tug, any recession?

So sorry last post. Don't mean to worry you at all!! I have a 4 year old and have taken her to a&e twice for similar incidents because I think it's better to be safe than sorry. I would consider going again. They should see you quickly due to age and presenting symptoms. If you call 111 they can "book" you in to be seen quicker. It could absolutely be just a horrible fever but children are notoriously good at compensating until they become very unwell. I hope all is well xx

@parmesansally thanks so much for your reply, so I originally took him in yesterday due to mottled skin as I am a worrier and sepsis was my first thought. They said all his vitals are fine and no infection in wee. The senior dr then examined him and typically at the time he jumped around and acted fairly well as it was a time the fever was down. Then he said the throat and right ear are slightly inflammed and gave antibiotics 1 dose per day for 5 days and he’s had the second dose today so I’m expecting to see a change any time now hence will be going back in the morning if no change. He doesn’t have mottled skin now, they said it’s where his temp was so high the blood had moved to his organs but yes I am very concerned about the constant temperature. His breathing is normal and his heart rate was normal when they checked yday it only went up abit when he had a fever. I just need that fever to go before I have a mental breakdown!

@AT20 absolutely happy to help another mum always. Sepsis is a silent attacker so I would always encourage parents to take children to be seen if they display any symptoms and they are concerned.

Vital signs being ok: alright that's good. As the doctors said, mottling with blood being diverted to organs is right. I would keep an eye on his limbs/trunk. Temperature changes start peripherally so his fingers to his hands then arms, if you can feel good strong pulses on his wrists and feet then that is reassuring. The pulse is called pedal and radial so you can Google. Breathing is the first thing that changes in children. Any recession etc will be obvious so as he's warm he is probably sleeping in a vest or something thin you can observe his breathing pattern through. Urine again is good. As long as he keeps drinking and weeing that is also good signs as the peripheral shit down also affects the bladder. Eating as you know isn't an issue, he can go a few days on minimal input as he has lots of brown/yellow fat in storage. It's drinking that is #1.

Sounds like you are keeping a close eye on him. I would pop in every so often before you go to bed and give him a good look over before you go to sleep. Keep the room temp on the lower side of warm and try to give regular medicine for the temperature for the time for antibiotics to work. It will keep his temp down and comfortable. Avoid using a fan as it will cool the top layer of skin and encourage him to warm up centrally which is what we are trying to avoid haha. My little one would wake for Calpol at any time so hopefully yours is the same. I'm up watching tv so I'll keep an eye on your post.

Please don't feel worried if I'm saying things that sound a bit scary. I always feel as a parent I would rather know more, than less but if it's too much please just say. Best of luck tonight! xx

@parmesansally really appreciate your advise, thank you. My husband has just checked his wrist and said he has a strong normal pulse (I’m rubbish at things like that) he was 39ish when I gave him neurofen at 8pm and now he doesn’t even feel hot to touch, that’s stuff is amazing. However that has been the case the past few nights then after about 7/8 hours it spikes high again once it’s worn off. Currently his hands and feet are nice and warm as temp is down and he’s breathing normally with no rashes or mottled skin. I will keep a v close eye on him over night and if he spikes again in the morning I will definitely go straight in. Also thanks for letting me know he can be booked in, I will try to do that via 111 if it comes to it. He is in very thin pjs with no dovet, I’ve taken that off his bed. He has drank 150ml of milk this morning and about 1litre of squash even though it took a lot of encouragement and had about 4 wees which is probably slightly less than usual but I don’t think awful. I’m praying his temp eases up by morning as he took the second antibiotic at dinner time today but if not a&e I will be off too… again!!! It’s always something. Thanks again for your really helpful post x

@AT20 honestly it's not easy to find pulses manually so don't worry! Children run at higher temperatures than us and most doctors recommend letting children spike temperatures (it is an immune response) to allow antibiotics to work their magic. However, if children are uncomfortable then we give meds as you are. Liquid paracetamols work much quicker than tablets and last just as long (4 hours duration) so that's why he is spiking again when he's awake. Glad to have been some help to you good job on the water. It's recommended around 1,200ml a day for a four year old so you've smashed it. 4 wees is just fine, think more about the weight of the nappy than the number.

One thing I wanted to query was taking once daily antibiotics? I can't think of one you would take once a day so just Google on the BNFC your medication and double check because god bless our drs/pharmacists but mistakes do happen and best to catch early. Hope I'm not overstepping saying that. Best of luck for tomorrow xx

it’s hard to tell re how much wee as he only wears nappy’s over night. It was decent wet this morning and then he done 4 wees in the toilet which the colour looks ok so I think he’s hydrated enough.

I’m more topping him up regularly because he’s increasing temp fast when the meds wear off and it’s giving him the shakes which scares me 😱! I’m upstairs feeding my daughter but it’s the antibiotic that doesn’t go in the fridge and comes in 15ml bottles so he has two bottles for 5 days worth. I could be completely wrong but I think it’s something like Azittromcyn??? He’s on 4.6ml once a day, hopefully they have done it correctly! X

@parmesansally forgot to tag you on previous message but i just double checked the nhs website says once a day phew! I’m hoping that’s why it’s taking a while to kick in with today being dose 2 so really hoping for an improvement tomorrow please please please! He starts nursery next week, he’s so ready and loved his trial days but I’m dreading all the horrible illnesses! X

@AT20 ah azithromycin is magic I'm sorry I didn't think of that one. It takes 2-3 days to work so it should be kicking in very soon! Glad to hear all is settling at home.

Fingers crossed for nursery! Unfortunately my little one caught every bloody thing going from tonsillitis and chicken pox (both which we are battling now lol) to the good ole hand foot and mouth parent life is so glam and exciting! At the least, he will be building up immunity to it all! It is what it is, and thankfully we have the NHS and Mumsnet to keep us going haha. Have a good sleep xx

Amazing, thanks. I hope so see some sort of improvement tomorrow then unless I guess it’s potentially viral but the dr did say he can see inflammed throat and ear so hopefully it does the job.

Ohhh no! Wish your little one well, poor things, they do go through it when they’re little don’t they! I’m in the wrong profession, should have been a nurse to help know what im doing with all these dreaded bugs, I’m getting anxiety just thinking about them all to come 😫 plus baby getting them too but as you say it is what it is and have to try and get through the rough!

Wishing your little one a speedy recovery and thanks again for helping me make a rational decision as I do panic! X

@parmesansally I’m so tired after the last few days I forgot to tag you again! X

@AT20 thanks for your well wishes! We had a long night ourselves too but who needs rest hope today is going better. X

When ds2 had flu (aged 4) he spiked a temperature for 10 days in a row. As long as neurophen is bringing it down and there are no other developing symptoms then (personally) I'd not be too worried. Obviously if something changes seek assistance.

I hope your son is feeling better and his temp has came down. I have been in the same boat my daughter has had a temp for the last 8 days she was rushed to hospital on easter sunday as she went grey and lips went blue she was very unwell but has been alot better today only needed nurofen once today which is better than what she was taken.

@DisquietintheRanks and @rach2713 thank you for your comments, I took him back to a&e it’s just awfully scary.

@parmesansally quick question if you don’t mind, he’s been checked in a&e again. His vitals were all ok still and his wee showed a keytone as abit hydrated but they wasn’t too concerned and said to come back Friday if he is still spiking I’ve checked him in the night, his neurofen is due to wear off now it’s been 8 hours but he doesn’t feel hot to touch yet, breathing normally warm hands but ice cold feet all the way up his legs, is this corncerning or ok as he’s just been checked? Thank you

How is he this morning @AT20 ?

@DisquietintheRanks I’m scared to speak too soon but I think a slight improvement. He hasn’t had neurofen or calpol since 8pm last night and he’s been about 37 degrees so far today. He’s v tired and keeps heaving phlem but he’s really snotty today out of nowhere and coughing so I’m no dr but wondering if it’s viral which is maybe why the antibiotics haven’t done much as originally he was only displaying inflammed throat and ear but not complaining of any pain, who knows if it’s viral but I think it’s a good sign it’s coming out if him. He’s still not eating but does keep sipping juice. If no spike today then I think we’re in the direction, thanks for asking and replying to this thread xx