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Original poster

DS2 temp 38 white spot on tonsil- told not to worry

10 replies

Sandy8389 · 14/03/2025 14:40

Hello,

as title says… DS very lethargic no other signs of viral illness. Temp of 38-39. Nurse checked him over and told us he has a white spot on tonsil but leave it and see how he goes over the weekend and take him to hospital if he worsens. She checked temp with a no contact thermometer and it told her 36.8 (he moved as she done it so I don’t think accurate?) as soon as we got home (10 minutes later) he’s very lethargic and temp is saying 38.3- do I take him somewhere else or leave it? It’s the fact he has actually got a white spot on he’s tonsil that’s worrying me….

he never ‘usually’ suffers with high temperatures with viral illnesses. My daughter is usually the one who has sky high temps and he’s never really got them even when sick with nursery bugs and viruses…

OP posts:
TeaRoseTallulah · 14/03/2025 14:48

How old? Are you dosing him up with regular Calpol? Does his temp come down when you do?

TomatoSandwiches · 14/03/2025 14:50

Temp with white spot on his tonsil and lethargic would have me asking for antibiotics on a Friday, I wouldn't risk waiting over the weekend, if he gets worse it will be hell to get help.

Original poster
Sandy8389 · 14/03/2025 14:54

@TeaRoseTallulah he’s 2 and yes but goes back up - it seems all over the place to be honest…

@TomatoSandwiches that’s what I’m worried about. She actually told me to take him to hospital if he was worsens… I have called back and asked the receptionist to send her a message and ask for them incase. Doesn’t seem right to me :(

OP posts:
fartfacenotfatface · 14/03/2025 15:02

38-39°C isn’t ridiculously high and the white spot on the tonsil doesn’t necessarily mean it’s full blown tonsillitis. It could be viral (in which case antibiotics would be useless) or even if bacterial, most cases of tonsillitis resolve without ABs. My DC suffered dreadfully with recurring tonsillitis but we didn’t often bother with antibiotics.
What’s more important is how he is in himself. A bit of lethargy is normal when feeling under the weather. If he’s very drowsy, isn’t drinking or isn’t weeing then that’s more of a concern and I’d look for a second review.
Keep up the Calpol and ibuprofen and encourage him to take lots of sips of fluids. Don’t worry if he doesn’t feel like eating much.

Msmoonpie · 14/03/2025 15:03

Can you get a strep test from Tesco ?

TeaRoseTallulah · 14/03/2025 15:08

fartfacenotfatface · 14/03/2025 15:02

38-39°C isn’t ridiculously high and the white spot on the tonsil doesn’t necessarily mean it’s full blown tonsillitis. It could be viral (in which case antibiotics would be useless) or even if bacterial, most cases of tonsillitis resolve without ABs. My DC suffered dreadfully with recurring tonsillitis but we didn’t often bother with antibiotics.
What’s more important is how he is in himself. A bit of lethargy is normal when feeling under the weather. If he’s very drowsy, isn’t drinking or isn’t weeing then that’s more of a concern and I’d look for a second review.
Keep up the Calpol and ibuprofen and encourage him to take lots of sips of fluids. Don’t worry if he doesn’t feel like eating much.

I agree with this. Keep up with regular pain killers.

TomatoSandwiches · 14/03/2025 15:09

Sandy8389 · 14/03/2025 14:54

@TeaRoseTallulah he’s 2 and yes but goes back up - it seems all over the place to be honest…

@TomatoSandwiches that’s what I’m worried about. She actually told me to take him to hospital if he was worsens… I have called back and asked the receptionist to send her a message and ask for them incase. Doesn’t seem right to me :(

I hate to make you more worried but my DS8 had this, his temperature was up and down and then hit a spike of 40.1 and only mildly coming down with ibuprofen and calpol, we had a prescription for antibiotics as a precaution because it was a Friday when I took him in to the GP.
He was ok for a week but as soon as the course finished his temperature came back and it had turned out it was Strep A, and developed endocarditis, needed a 6 week course of IV antibiotics.

OldCottageGreenhouse · 14/03/2025 15:10

Doc told me yesterday that if I ever spot any white spots on DC’s tongue or tonsils, to take her to see someone asap as it could be Measles

Unseenentity · 14/03/2025 16:39

OldCottageGreenhouse · 14/03/2025 15:10

Doc told me yesterday that if I ever spot any white spots on DC’s tongue or tonsils, to take her to see someone asap as it could be Measles

The specific location for Koplik Spots in Measles is the inside of the cheek (opposite upper 1st / 2nd molars). In an immunised child with no contact with a known outbreak the chance of spots being measles specifically are very, very low (and the spots are on the tonsils).

TeaRoseTallulah · 17/03/2025 08:04

How is he now OP?

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