Worried about 7 year old - temperature and lethargy

[Okaaaay]

Hi all - would appreciate your stories and insights into the following. I’m going to take DD to doctors tomorrow morning but feeling worried in the meantime.

In summary, my usually fit and healthy 7 year old started to be ‘off’ last Tuesday afternoon. Extremely tired, temperature, scratchy throat and feeling sad and poorly. She’s continued to eat small amounts, be up and about in the day (but definitely off) but is going to bed at 6.30 / 7 (usually 8.30) and has now fallen asleep on the sofa after school. Her temperature has hovered around 38/39 and is now up again to 39.2. She has a cough. Because of the cough and throat I had assumed a virus, but given this is day 6 I’m worried. Anyone any experiences of long viruses in this age group? Can temps last this long for a virus?

She is very rarely poorly (last time other than sickness bugs) was probably 3 years ago.

Hopeful bump 🙏

My 5 month old tested positive for something called metapneumovirus a few weeks back, she had a temp for over a week.
ive had it for a week now and still have a temperature. My son had it just before my daughter and still had a temperature last Saturday. It’s absolutely awful. It’s doing the rounds at the moment and honestly it’s knocked me off my feet x

@excitedforbaby9 thank you - I’ve read you can have long viral temps (hence monitoring her obs at home and trying not to go to GP to this point) but getting on for a week is scary. Thanks - I will look that up. Hope you’re all recovering x

Hi- temp of 39 is very high and given cough /lethargy I think would need to rule out more serious infection and due to current time would suggest A&E and I say this as a health professional don’t leave any longer xx

Have you been sending her to school with a fever? She must be exhausted poor thing after 6 days of being unwell. The NHS says you should a GP on day 6 of a fever. I hope she is feeling better soon.

Her temp was actually normal this morning hence she went to school. I have been monitoring her obs closely for signs of serious infection (O2, heart rate, breathing rate). Her heart rate has been slightly elavated but not alarmingly. I’m very aware of viral infections / sepsis guideline and, given the sore throat and latterly cough, assume the former for now. I will take her to the GP tomorrow.

She needs a gp and likely an antibiotic.

Has she been in school with a fever that high?

I would take her tonight. Day 6 with a fever and going to school she must be feeling awful.

She has been in school - regretting that now. I will take her in the morning.

My similar age child is coming out of something similarbim
afraid it’s been most of a fortnight off colour. No obvious infection, so didn’t do antibiotics just looked after at home with regular calpol.

@ExcellentCat thank you so much. I know it can take this long with a virus (she also no has obvious sign of infection). It’s so troubling in a usually fit and healthy child.

I remember one of mine being ill the whole of Feb half term and then the following week when she was in year 1, so around this age. She had a sore throat and ears, a temp on and off and would just conk out on the sofa. I wouldn't worry too much as long as she is drinking has has periods when she perks up a bit. Just give her paracetamol/ ibuprofen for the temperature and any aches and keep her off school until she has had a couple of good days.

Thanks @Itsachange appreciate that and good to know it’s the experience with some viruses.

I did get her checked out at the GP tho as well to be sure.

Ds5 has something similar, I'm baffled. He's had slight temperatures (mid 37s) on and off for more than a week and isnt quite himself. Appetite and energy diminished but still there. He gets tonsillitis a lot and while he does have 1 little white patch, he's nowhere near as sick as that and strep makes him. He's going to be furious to go back to school tomorrow (half term then inset today).

Have you actually had a look at her throat with a torch?

We had similar last week. My 8 year old complained of a sore head Sunday evening. And Monday he got sent home from school. Temp 39 degree Monday night, started paracetamol and ibuprofen, no improvement and his temp was 40.3 at the doctors office on Tuesday evening also complaining of stuff next and very sensitive to light. Ended up in A&E where he was dosed with paracetamol and ibuprofen and had swaps and bloods taken. They got his temp down to 38.4 and sent him home. The doctor called us the next couple of days to check on him and give results of his swab, no bacterial found so just viral but very scary. Hope your child feels better soon.

Thanks all for your comments. @Blessedbethefruitz yes i checked her her throat with a torch and it was red but no pus (which further suggested a virus). We went to the GP yesterday and he confirmed a virus - said it can take up to three weeks for the temp to subside (who knew!).

What’s really helped me this time was having the thermometer, pulse oximeter and sepsis guidelines (to check what’s normal and what’s not). I was worried that it was going on a long time, yet was able to see that she didn’t have any red flags from an observations point of view at home. My son had sepsis a few years ago so I worry after this and find the kit and being able to monitor things useful.