11 year old - temp (40) not coming down

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DS 11 has been feeling rough all week with cold and cough but not felt too hot and still been to school etc.

Tonight he has had headache and shivery, felt very poorly, achey and looked pale. Temp was 39. With calpol and went to bed he feels better (not shivery/achey etc) but temp has gone up to 40 and it is still there over an hour later.
Have now given him ibuprofen about 15 minutes ago.
If it doesn't come down do we need to contact 111 am I being a worry wart? DH seems to think I am because DS is 11 not a little child.

He's rarely been ill during his childhood so I don't have much to compare to really

If it doesn't come down after calpol and nurofen defo ring 111 and get some advice. Hope he's ok x

Yes you need medical advice - 40 is too high even for an adult.

Nurofen is much better for bringing down temps. I'd give it half an hour to work and see what he's at then. Doesn't have to be a perfect temp as long as it's come down a bit.

Yes. I agree to ring 111. Also try stripping him down and sponge him with a flannel that has been wet and then wrung out.

That can work well if he is clammy.

Do not put him in cold water though - just a WRUNG OUT damp flannel.

Yup, call 111.

Any pain anywhere else, eating and drinking okay? Passing urine??

Yes if it isn't dropping after both calpol and ibuprofen you need to seek medical help.

I find it unusual in this age group to have a temperature of 39/40°C without a bacterial source. So yes I would get checked out tonight, if it was my child. And expect some investigations inc bloods, probably. Hope he is feeling better soon.

I also think a preceding week of viral symptoms without fever, followed by a deterioration with high fever is also more suggestive of a secondary bacterial illness. Have come across secondary bacterial pneumonias with this kind of story a few times.

Viral illness typically hits hard at first with fever, and then tapers off with lingering milder symptoms eg cough. This history is the wrong way around for that. Any illness getting significantly worse rather than better after a few days should be ringing some alarm bells. Though it is also possible, he has been unlucky, had one virus then additionally come down with flu or another nasty virus.

Thanks all. I took his temp again about half hour after ibuprofen and it has come down a little, to 39.5.
Decided I wasn't going to sleep worrying what it might do while I was asleep, as 39.5 is still very high.

Phoned 111 and they got me a call back to a doctor. They're going to see him at OOH at midnight.

My DH still thinks I'm worrying about nothing and that as his temp has come down it's fine but there is obvs a cause.

I wouldn't be happy with that drop - think you're totally right to take him in.

Good decision! Let us know how he gets on, if you can x

Glad you got help from 111. Hope he's om.

It's come down 0.5 that's the bare minimum that paracetamol could do! Shame on your DH for being so relaxed

Does your DH think they give midnight Dr's appointments out like sweeties?

Glad your getting him seen op I would be worried too.

DH is very much a glass half full person and his approach to life is "it'll be fine'. He is usually right and in the past has been a good balance to me who is often the other end of the scale.

There has been a couple of things lately health wise (something with me and then this with DS) that makes me worry that he will miss when something does need action or not advocate for me or DS

I'm fairness to DH, he wasn't in when DS was feeling unwell. DS says he feels better once his shivering etc stopped, even when his temp is still very high.

Thanks everyone for your replies and reassuring me I was right to be a little concerned.

Hopefully your DH is right and it's nothing to worry about, but with a temp that high after paracetamol and ibuprofen it needs checking out. Best of luck, let us know how you get on.

Hopefully it's nothing to worry about. You did the right thing - better to be safe! I hope he feels better soon

I would have wanted to see temp drop by a couple degrees after meds so I would have done exactly the same as you.

How is he today ?

Hope you've managed to get some sleep and you have some reassurance/help from the dr and your son is ok x