3.5yo with ongoing on/off fever

[ImALittlePea]

Hi

My 3.5yo has had an on/off fever for a few days now. First registered last Wednesday, but went away overnight with Calpol. Came back Sunday (around 38), again going down with Calpol. No symptoms with it, other than a slightly croaky voice and very intermittent cough. She's been distressed during the night and after her naps for a few days, not always when she's registering a temperature, but it was so bad on Sunday night I took her to the GP yesterday (Monday) morning, who couldn't see anything to cause it but commented her tonsils were a bit large (but it didn't look like tonsillitis or warrant antibiotics).

Temperature went up to 39.4 yesterday early evening, again has been managed by alternating Calpol and nurofen (on advice of GP) overnight and this morning, but has spiked again this afternoon. She's in relatively good spirits, playing mostly as normal, quite pale for her, eating and drinking ok; obviously I've kept her home from nursery.

I'm just concerned that the temperature, although coming down when she's dosed up, is still there. At what point do I take her back to the doctor? I hate to potentially waste their time, but equally she's clearly unwell with something and has no obvious symptoms of anything viral. I hate seeing her getting so distressed.

What should I do?

Hi
My DD is 2, she has had a fever on and off for nearly a month now.
We have been to the Drs a few times and ended up at the hospital for further tests
Thankfully it turns out she's just had a run of viral stuff but the GP said a temperature for longer than 5 days needs investigating and if its still going on longer still then leukemia needs ruling out.
I'm sure your DD is fine as there's so much going about but if the temperatures carry on then she definitely needs looking at again.

Hi @ElmtreeMama thanks for the reply. Glad your DD is ok. Did she have symptoms along with the temperature? Yes agree she would need to be looked at again but I can't gauge when this would be appropriate if things continue as they are (obviously if she deteriorated in any way, we wouldn't hesitate at all)...

So she had had antibiotics for an ear infection and started off with symptoms but then it was more just that she wasn't herself.
The GP said it was potentially more concerning if there was a fever without other specific symptoms.
She was sent to hospital on day 12 of having high temperatures and they did lots of blood tests. She's still having fevers now but my mind is at ease more. I'll probably take her back if its ongoing after we're all over colds and coughs etc.

Yes the lack of symptoms accompanying the temperature is concerning. The doctor did say her tonsils were on the large side, so she could have been in the early stages of tonsillitis at the point she was reviewed, but too early to tell. If that makes sense.. her temperature is normal again now (after ibuprofen) so at least it's responding 🤷‍♀️

Yes my DD always comes down with medicine and also would come and go. It's such a worry isn't it!! There are A LOT of bugs going around at the moment as well so it's hard to know.

Very hard to know @ElmtreeMama

Tbh if I were you I'd phone tomorrow as its been a week then.

ring 111 ?

Yes I think if it's still present in the morning and as long as she doesn't worse in the meantime, I'll try and get her seen again

Her temperature is currently normal though - they wouldn't go past triage surely?

(also, I have zero faith in 111 after their advice to me last year nearly cost me my life 🤦‍♀️)

Well, her temperature spiked even higher overnight, couldn't get her into GP so went to the walk in centre. She's now got some antibiotics so 🤞 the corner will be turned soon.

Good @ImALittlePea I hope she's all better soon