Anybody’s toddler has a virus like this recently?

[Edenmum2]

DD(3) lost appetite on Monday morning and has consequently been spiking temperatures (highest we recorded was 39.4) on and off since then, so 6 days. Very distinct pattern of spiking every 4-6 hours and then coming down a bit with nurofen/calpol. Seen GP, no ear or chest infections, no rash. No cough or cold. No vomiting. Have sent off urine and waiting for results but GP said it’s just viral probably. Are there really viruses that just spike your temp and that’s it? she hasn’t had a virus without actual cold symptoms before so genuinely don’t know.

She has also got her last 2 top back molars coming through and every time her temp goes up her cheeks go neon red….but everyone tells me teething CAN’T cause fevers.

anybody had anything similar?

Just to say - as soon as the temp goes up she just crashes, just want to be on me, doesn’t want to do anything (very unusual) won’t eat a thing, gets upset but can’t or won’t tell me anything that actually hurts. It’s quite dramatic. And then the nurofen kicks in and it’s back to normal for a few hours and then rinse repeat.

Mine did this for weeks. Dr's kept saying was viral, not to worry. I felt was getting worse. We ended up in a and e with a serious lung infection and sepsis. Don't want to worry you as obviously all viruses won't progress this far. But keep a close eye on your little one and get attention if they seem to be getting worse. No cough or breathing difficulties here either.

HHV6 is infamous for causing high levels in toddlers, it often causes a rash (roseola) but doesn't always lead to a rash. Various other viruses CAN cause high fever in toddlers but don't always. It's the wrong time of year, but influenza can cause a high fever and feeling grotty with no cold-type symptoms.

As others have said, keep an eye on your LO and seek help if you're worried; but yes, you can get a viral infection and fever with no other obvious symptoms, especially in a toddler who can't tell you clearly any other symptoms that might help with diagnosis.

On the teething front - teething shouldn't cause a fever that high and persistent, but there ARE scientific studies showing changes in body temperature in the week before a tooth cuts. I don't have the links to hand, but mild fevers can be caused by teeth.

Yes, so has my middle. I did wonder if it was a precursor to chicken pox or similar but after 3 days (for both) it just went away.

They both just slept, drank water (begrudgingly) and hardly ate anything. Managed to convince toddler day 3 to eat olives and yoghurt 🤣🤣 (separately haha) and my middle crisps and ice poles

Thank you that’s super helpful. GP are basically saying as they can’t find an infection there is nothing to treat. But will take her again next week if no improvement

Oh I’m so sorry that sounds awful. Did you take him to A&E due to the persistent high temps or had he been displaying any other symptoms by that point?

Mine have had similar. It’s ok to keep taking them back to GP. But generally if paracetamol/ibuprofen gets the fever down then that’s a good sign. I worry far more if that doesn’t work. I had a nurse tell me teething doesn’t cause fevers but in some children (my youngest) it definitely does

My DC had something very similar a few months back. But the temp was back up 2hours before the next dose of calpol / ibuprofen was due.
they also had headaches, tummy pains, joint pain. As soon as their fever got to 38.5 they had chills, lethargy etc.
Their blood work in hospital showed a bacterial infection, but no idea what was the cause. Needed IV antibiotics.

hope your little one is OK!

Yes, and few a and e trips, sent home a few times but no improvement. The problem was there wasn't many symptoms other than temp rising and feeling very ill, but then nurofen and calpol bought fever down, until next time. It wasn't until bloods were taken that they could accept something was really wrong.

If your child has temp rises, then their body is fighting a virus or infection somewhere. The body will either get the upper hand and temps will stop rising, or the infection will worsen and they will seem to be getting worse. Our child still had periods of feeling fine in between periods of feeling awful, they didn't present as that ill at times, even though they were.

Keep an eye on them, and if you feel they are not getting attention they need, insist on bloods for markers of infection ( crp levels ).

Its most likely something minor for you, but do keep a close eye, especially if it goes on for days longer.