8 year old sudden fever and very achey

[dancinginthedark123]

8 year old bit clingy yesterday and spent morning saying her back hurt. She then started shivering and has a fever of 39. If
comes down to 38 on calpol / Nurofen. She’s miserable saying everything aches especially her legs so badly and is trying and failing to get
comfy on couch. She has a cough and I’ve tested for covid which is negative. Of course it’s xmas eve 🤦‍♀️is this likely flu/ virus to just ride out at home
or possible chest
infection Which might need antibiotics? She’s still drinking / passing urine but
she is miserable. Only options now are 111 who tend to take 18 hours + to respond with a call back here or
a&e which it doesn’t feel serious enough for. On my
own so hoping for some sane handholds and advice as I’m pointlessly panicking 🤦‍♀️

I would definitely call 111, poor thing. Sounds like a bad bug - has anyone in her class at school had a similar bug? I hope she’s ok, bless her

I'd say keep her topped up with fluids and paracetamol, doesn't sound like it needs hospital attention unless she doesn't feel better in a few days or symptoms worsen - time for lying in bed/on the sofa watching the telly. As long as drinking/peeing/able to breathe ok/not coughing up copious amounts of green phlegm then just time for rest. It sucks.

there have been some s&t bugs and a couple off with chest infections so definitely possible. Just not sure whether to ride it out at home or if she needs checked, she just keeps saying everything is so achey ☹️

Thank you, yes no phlegm and she’s nibbling
on things / drinking and peeing so not hugely unwell just high temp and sore “everything” but especially back and legs

It doesn't sound like A&E is needed, but 111 can be reassuring if you are still concerned, whilst the symptoms remain like this or begin to worsen. Hope she's feeling better soon so you can enjoy Christmas together.

I would call 111. She doesn't sound like she is struggling to breath or have other symptoms currently which will need urgent treatment. A temp of 39 isn't dangerously high. Achey and sore back and legs is fairly normal for flu. She might need anti-biotics if she has a chest infection, but 111 might be able to send you to a walk in appointment for that if they feel she needs. I don't think she would be priority in A & E, which would probably mean you would be waiting for hours unless it's very quiet. While I don't think you'd be a "time waster" at A&E at all, to sit there for 4 hours, to be prescribed anti-biotics which could be prescribed in a 10 minute visit to an out of hours GP, giving her the other 3 hours 50 mins to be snuggled in her pjs on the sofa with a hot drink and a Christmas film seems sad.

Can she walk? Is she able to be comfy, despite her sore legs? (I don't mean like is she wanted to go for a walk, but she's not crying about having to leave the sofa for the loo cause it hurts so much is she?)

Covid atm is often not testing positive until day 5 so it still could be that

She is crying when leaving sofa - she can walk but resisting it but she’s clearly really really achey. 39.4 despite calpol. It just came on so suddenly ☹️

I’d also call 111. I know the NHS website says otherwise but all my kids I have them in just their underwear when fever is 37.8+ and a light blanket. Sounds like she might have a kidney or UTI infection. Sorry to hear she’s so poorly tonight x

I'd personally let it run its course for now. Kids get bugs and temperatures, and feeling achy and crap is part of that. If she's still weeing, and there's no specific area if pain (ie to indicate ear/throat infection), then it's probably a cold/flu/covid type thing and nothing to worry about.

I'm a bit surprised that people would seek assistance for a new, not that extreme temperature.

Sounds like flu - it comes on very quickly .

Surprised people are suggesting 111. She has a fever, fluids and rest sleep as much as possible. Don't force food let her eat what she fancies. Quiet Christmas

I think most experienced parents wouldn't seek medical assistance at this stage, but if OP is concerned enough to post about it, 111 will provide reassurance.

111 might also pick up on something that OP hasn't mentioned, and as we haven't seen the child it would be dangerous to outright dismiss the OP's concerns.

Agreed - sounds just like flu

SSounds like it could be flu. Tends to come on really suddenly, and achy everything is a classic flu sign along with the fever. And feeling absolutely horrible and very sorry for yourself. Barely able to drag yourself off your bed to go to the toilet (needing someone to help you). Poor thing. Keep an eye on her. My sister was telling me today about someone in their 40s she knew who is in hospital with flu.

I’d try and see an out of hours doctor as being in so much pain you can’t even lie down comfortably despite taking regular doses of painkiller is concerning. Yes flu can cause it, but flu is also deadly and can move fast in young children.

Call 111.

Achey back and legs sounds a bit edge case.

Sound like the flu me and my family had last week. DD12 went to gymnastics training all healthy and happy and 2 hours later felt really poorly. The rest of us came down with it the next day. Temperature, headache, aches, pains, chesty cough, runny nose, no appetite and so, so tired! I haven't felt that ill in years! Turned out loads of my friends had it too. It lasted about 7 days. Hope your DD feels better soon x

Just to add the aches and pains were lower back, hips, butt and legs.

Sounds like the flu.

I too would ride it out with lots of fluids and rest. Obviously keep an eye on breathing, weeing etc and see advice if you’re concerned. Your poor DC.

This was my 8 year old yesterday and this morning a hundred spots appeared… bloody chickenpox!! Who would have believed it 😐 she hasn’t even been in contact with anyone as far as we know

My dd became ill suddenly after her swimming lesson last week, cold and clammy to touch and being sick all night. Next morning, burning hot, achy, tired etc. It was only after she went for a wee late morning and asked me why it stung to wee that I clicked she had a uti and when I googled she ticked nearly all of the symptoms. I took her to the out of hours doctors and she had a short dose of antibiotics that cleared it up. It was so sudden, came out of nowhere, could be something similar. She had back ache etc.

@dancinginthedark123 Sounds exactly like our house this week OP. We’ve all had this awful flu that’s doing the rounds. DS(4yo) had the high temp, shivering, achy, bad cough etc and kept getting upset saying his feet were sore. DH and I both also had it and the bottom of our backs and our legs (calf muscles in particular!) were so so painful 😔
Also came on so suddenly. I’d make sure you have plenty of paracetamol and ibuprofen - DSs temperature lasted a good 3-4 days 😔

Hope you manage to avoid it and hope DD has a speedy recovery! X

Does she have a stiff/sore neck or sensitivity to light. DS got this last year with what turned out to be flu ( headache so bad he was crying), but 111 sent us straight to A&E to rule out meningitis. It's almost certainly flu but might be worth calling 111.

Thank you all so so much. She’s lying watching tv so doesn’t seem sensitive
to light. No neck stiffness, just crying saying legs and back hurt. I’ve got her into bed and given her some nurofen so hope she sleeps long enough to let Santa get organised 🤦‍♀️
quiet day tomorrow I think. Luckily no big plans so she can just stay in Pajamas and rest. Temp is 39.6 but she’s prone to high temps. throat/
pee not sore so I agree with the flu consensus. Just rubbish timing 💔I hope you all have a lovely Christmas and thank you for reassuring me x