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Original poster

Help. Been A&E 3x this week, keep getting told everything is fine

130 replies

Silversal · 22/09/2025 00:23

Pls help!! DD had a viral infection and middle ear infection was on antibiotics, finished 2 days ago. Now DD has had low temps of 34.1 at night since Thursday but not during the day. I've taken her A&E 3x since then and they think it's odd but just said it's part of the viral infection. DD is easy to wake, taking a bottle, only had diarrhoea today but I started her on probiotics to counter the antibiotic gut flora stripping. She is wearing a 3.5tog and pj's under and the room is 24c so it is baffling me. I've tried different thermometers and also tested on myself as Dr in A&E questioned my thermometer accuracy. She eventually warms up after a bottle, me putting a coat on her and a duvet when she starts sweating and then cools again. This is only happening at night. Before bed and during the day she is 36.3/4. Only other symptoms currently is a small cough, diarrhoea today and a slightly lower appetite (eating meals not snacks) I'm up all night with her checking her temp.

OP posts:
warmapplepies · 22/09/2025 17:45

BellesAndGraces · 22/09/2025 16:43

A&E are sometimes wrong. In this case, the consultant the OP has seen for a second opinion seems to agree with OP’s course of action.
GPs always advise parents, particularly mothers, to trust their instincts about whether their child is unwell or displaying a concerning symptom. IME, bar those parents that are clearly time wasters or have Munchausen by proxy (which the OP doesn’t seem to be/have), doctors would always rather see a toddler multiple times about the same symptom than have it ignored. After reading about what happened to Martha Mills, I would never tell a parent to stop worrying about a symptom that is ordinarily red flagged just because A&E told them it was fine, even if strangers on Mumsnet were telling me otherwise. I would sooner be vilified as overly anxious than be planning my child’s funeral.

Show quote history

Yes, A&E are sometimes wrong - but she's been seen THREE times now. The only "issue" seems to be that DD's temperature drops in the middle of the night - but in an overheated room with a duvet, hat etc, it's hardly surprising she's dropping her temperature to try and regulate herself.

There's no other symptoms apart from that.

BellesAndGraces · 22/09/2025 19:06

warmapplepies · 22/09/2025 17:45

Yes, A&E are sometimes wrong - but she's been seen THREE times now. The only "issue" seems to be that DD's temperature drops in the middle of the night - but in an overheated room with a duvet, hat etc, it's hardly surprising she's dropping her temperature to try and regulate herself.

There's no other symptoms apart from that.

Show quote history

So the consultant who she’s seen for a second opinion is wrong and you’re right?

warmapplepies · 22/09/2025 19:08

BellesAndGraces · 22/09/2025 19:06

So the consultant who she’s seen for a second opinion is wrong and you’re right?

Show quote history

I didn't say I was right, but it sounds like OP hasn't told the hospital about how hot she keeps her house.

As an aside, what illness do you know of that shows itself with a low temperature at 1am in a boiling hot room and no other symptoms whatsoever?

BellesAndGraces · 22/09/2025 19:11

warmapplepies · 22/09/2025 19:08

I didn't say I was right, but it sounds like OP hasn't told the hospital about how hot she keeps her house.

As an aside, what illness do you know of that shows itself with a low temperature at 1am in a boiling hot room and no other symptoms whatsoever?

Show quote history

Where did OP say she hadn’t told the hospital what temp she’s keeping the room? Sorry, I missed that.

No illness that I know of, but then again I studied and practice law, not medicine. Is this where you tell me you’re a consultant paediatrician and have examined OP’s child? Because if it is, major drip feed …

warmapplepies · 22/09/2025 19:16

BellesAndGraces · 22/09/2025 19:11

Where did OP say she hadn’t told the hospital what temp she’s keeping the room? Sorry, I missed that.

No illness that I know of, but then again I studied and practice law, not medicine. Is this where you tell me you’re a consultant paediatrician and have examined OP’s child? Because if it is, major drip feed …

Show quote history

She hasn't said either way, but people have mentioned it several times and she's never clarified.

I don't know why you're picking at me, multiple posters have said exactly the same thing as I have.

BellesAndGraces · 22/09/2025 19:21

@warmapplepies “not clarifying” is not the same as confirming.

I didn’t mean to pick on or target you, I’m sorry about that. Your post just happened to be the one I saw and responded to 💐

Teachingagain · 22/09/2025 19:38

Why are you keeping your baby’s room so hot. It’s well above the recommended temperature.

TickyTacky · 22/09/2025 20:08

Surprised that so many people are saying it's not a cause for concern when actually low temperature (taken 3x) is a red flag sign of sepsis or severe infection. My son had this with slapped cheek. Pleased you've managed to get bloods, well done for staying vigilant.

warmapplepies · 22/09/2025 20:09

TickyTacky · 22/09/2025 20:08

Surprised that so many people are saying it's not a cause for concern when actually low temperature (taken 3x) is a red flag sign of sepsis or severe infection. My son had this with slapped cheek. Pleased you've managed to get bloods, well done for staying vigilant.

Because her toddler is fine in absolutely every other way, that's why.

DameSylvieKrin · 22/09/2025 20:43

The margin of error on home thermometers isn’t great; have a look on the packaging what it is. The child could easily be a normal temperature (testing the thermometer on others wouldn’t show you that). You really have to treat the child and not the number on the thermometer.
Try a night where you have the room a healthy temperature for sleeping, dress the child normally and don’t take her temperature. Avoid going to her unless she needs you. You may find she’s fine. She’s certainly been checked over enough.

WickWood · 22/09/2025 20:51

I hope the blood results all come back clear x

SeptemberNCing · 22/09/2025 23:40

TickyTacky · 22/09/2025 20:08

Surprised that so many people are saying it's not a cause for concern when actually low temperature (taken 3x) is a red flag sign of sepsis or severe infection. My son had this with slapped cheek. Pleased you've managed to get bloods, well done for staying vigilant.

Presumably your child was also unwell, unlike OP’s child who is completely fine in every way save for a low temperature overnight.

You need to check the child, not just the number.

Blessthismess2 · 23/09/2025 05:35

TickyTacky · 22/09/2025 20:08

Surprised that so many people are saying it's not a cause for concern when actually low temperature (taken 3x) is a red flag sign of sepsis or severe infection. My son had this with slapped cheek. Pleased you've managed to get bloods, well done for staying vigilant.

If she had sepsis or a severe infection surely there would be other symptoms and they would also affect her in the daytime ?

IWasScaredToBeHeld · 23/09/2025 07:44

TickyTacky · 22/09/2025 20:08

Surprised that so many people are saying it's not a cause for concern when actually low temperature (taken 3x) is a red flag sign of sepsis or severe infection. My son had this with slapped cheek. Pleased you've managed to get bloods, well done for staying vigilant.

I’d say that if the daughter had other symptoms it would be a cause for concern. However, it’s not.

OP is overheating her child and her body is trying to compensate, plus the normal drop in temperature each night.

youalright · 23/09/2025 07:57

You have 2 choices either accept this is her normal and stop taking her temperature or buy a 2nd thermometer check both take photos and make a gp appointment to tell them your concerns

nosleepforthewickedx2 · 23/09/2025 08:00

The only time you should be concerned about a low temp is if there are other concerning symptoms with it, unresponsive, floppy, grey/blue colouring. Your DD is still eating, and still her normal self other wise so it is fine. It is completely normal to drop temp over night. If they was concerned you would have been kept in the first time of attending. I know it’s an anxious time when our babies are poorly but please just let her recover without disturbing her sleep to take a temp. If you wasn’t doing that you wouldn’t even know it was dropping as you have said it is back to normal in the day.

CheeriosOrFrosties · 23/09/2025 21:55

How is your LO doing @Silversal ?

Original poster
Silversal · 23/09/2025 22:38

Thank you for all of your well wishes. DD is doing okay thank you for asking. Blood results showed high infection markers and low red blood cell count but not dangerously low and likely just fighting off the viral infection and ear infection. Iron levels are normal. The private paediatrician with 30 years experience said that it is rare for children to have such low temps at night but he has occasionally seen it and as long as her daytime temps and general health seem fine then to try and not worry as she should be okay once the viral infection goes. He believes she also had a mild case of chicken pox the week before I took her to A&E the first time when she had a rigor. Thank you to all the posters who have read all my posts and not jumped on the last one or others comments.
My DD is not in a 28c room all night ever or wearing a hat all night, I did this to warm her up for half an hour to get her temp up to mid 35 range. I bought another thermometer so 3 in total all with the same readings, last night she measured 36 before bed and 34.2 during the night. When you have drs in A&E unable to provide answers for the low temps and the GP I have asked for further investigations as a mother my job is to advocate for my child and I've paid taxes since I was 16 so I don't care about using services I have contributed to. The ambulance would have come the night I called for the hypothermia but said it would take 25mins and I got there in 10 so please the comments downplaying the situation isn't warranted.
Again, thank you for the kind words and hopefully she continues to improve.

OP posts:
Original poster
Silversal · 23/09/2025 22:44

SeptemberNCing · 22/09/2025 23:40

Presumably your child was also unwell, unlike OP’s child who is completely fine in every way save for a low temperature overnight.

You need to check the child, not just the number.

Show quote history

Do you know me? How dare you say I need to check my child and not the number. Do you think I'm just staying up watching her, off work, looking after my poorly child because she was poorly in the day but didn't have a low temp. You know absolutely nothing about my child.

OP posts:
Original poster
Silversal · 23/09/2025 22:46

IWasScaredToBeHeld · 23/09/2025 07:44

I’d say that if the daughter had other symptoms it would be a cause for concern. However, it’s not.

OP is overheating her child and her body is trying to compensate, plus the normal drop in temperature each night.

Show quote history

Not once did I overheat my child, I got her temp back to normal and removed items of clothing and reduced the radiator temp. You weren't there, so keep your opinions on my mothering ability to yourself. I would never ever endanger MY child, shame on you.

OP posts:
Original poster
Silversal · 23/09/2025 22:51

warmapplepies · 22/09/2025 20:09

Because her toddler is fine in absolutely every other way, that's why.

Show quote history

She wasn't though, she was poorly just no low temp in the day. She was sleeping more, eating less, crying and clingy and less energy. She had wet nappies, was eating and drinking and playing in between but she wasn't perfectly fine. Her heart rate, o2 levels and temp in the Hosp 2/3 x was fine when triaged and once showed 34.3/4 but went up.

OP posts:
Original poster
Silversal · 23/09/2025 22:57

warmapplepies · 22/09/2025 17:45

Yes, A&E are sometimes wrong - but she's been seen THREE times now. The only "issue" seems to be that DD's temperature drops in the middle of the night - but in an overheated room with a duvet, hat etc, it's hardly surprising she's dropping her temperature to try and regulate herself.

There's no other symptoms apart from that.

Show quote history

You clearly don't read a full thread. How infuriating.

  1. heating not on 28 all night same with hat and duvet
  2. put that on for half an hour to warm DD up to normal temp
  3. did tell A&E what I had done to warm her up. The same A&E that discharged my child 3 months back and with a vomiting virus and I went back as I wasn't happy she was vomiting up water and low and behold they made a MISTAKE discharging her, contacted Pals and got an apology as junior Dr and nurse should have taken bloods, xray and put her on a drip. My DD was admitted overnight.

Not medically trained but I know my child and I have spent every night and day of her life with her since she was born.

OP posts:
Original poster
Silversal · 23/09/2025 23:01

MrsDoubtfire1 · 22/09/2025 13:35

How old is your child? Why don't you give her yoghurt with live bacteria instead of probiotics? I would have thought they were quite strong for a little one. I can't take them and I am an adult. They give me wind. Also, I would go back to your GP and have a proper discussion with them about what is going on or a nurse at the practice who deals with paediatrics.

Baby probiotics, she takes them daily when not on Antibiotics for the last year.

OP posts:
Original poster
Silversal · 23/09/2025 23:03

Anyway, I'm off to catch up on some sleep. Thanks to the lovely people who can read and assimilate information. I won't be replying again to anything else on this thread.

OP posts:
Lolayu7 · 23/09/2025 23:08

I hope she's on the mend soon. My DS caught chicken pox when he was a few months old , but he was also 9 weeks prem to make it worse ! But his bloods were off for about two months , he had blast cells in his blood ,the hospital came out checking weekly . It can really mess them about