Toddler ‘under the weather’ for three weeks

[SilentRefluxAdvicePlease]

My daughter started two mornings a week at playgroup in early September; she is two years and five months. By the middle of the month she had bronchiolitis (diagnosed by a GP) and ever since, she hasn’t been completely back to her normal self. She has had a low grade fever (sometimes tipping over 39 degrees Celsius) most days, which comes down with paracetamol. She is eating fairly well, perhaps slightly less than usual, but is just what I would describe as ‘under the weather’ with a runny nose, cough and sporadic mentions of tummy ache and ear ache. I have taken her to the GP a second time and they were very thorough in examining her, confirming viral infection which I wasn’t surprised about (and would of course only want her to have antibiotics if they were needed). But I can’t help but worry that she doesn’t seem to be getting better! Mainly looking for reassurance or tips to survive the autumn/winter season. We’ve had to postpone her flu vaccination twice now because of the fevers, which worries me too! Thanks for reading.

How long has she had that fever? That's high. If she's had a fever for a couple of weeks (?) or longer I wouldn't be so confident it's only viral. GP's 'viral' diagnosis are just a default. I would be asking for tests or antibiotics if she's really had a prolonged fever.

Also it's not good to be giving paracetamol for a prolonged period...

Did the GP actually do a swab test? If your LO is still feverish I would personally be asking the GP to send off a swab for testing to be sure they haven't picked up something else on top of the bronchiolitis (which is nasty enough by itself but RSV shouldn't normally cause a prolonged fever). There are some bacterial infections that don't generally need antibiotics but do cause prolonged symptoms such as Mycoplasma

Thanks, everyone. Perhaps I’ll go back to the GP again! No swab test, just physical examination. The fever isn’t always that high, but it has been somewhere between 37 and 38 most days. Today was 39 at one point, but then it comes down with paracetamol and she’s eating and drinking pretty well. She seems to get better and then dips again, so like you say, she might have picked up something else.

Honestly last year my little one was in hospital every month over winter, she had a terrible time (first winter through nursery!) I think it's very common to get lots of bugs first winter, but hopefully improves 🙏

I would just keep taking her back if you are worried, GPs are always happy to make sure little ones are ok. X

I would want a throat swab for Strep A. It doesn't always present with the classic scarlet fever rash or with white lumps in throat. It 'piggybacks' on a virus so the history of having had a viral infection and three weeks down the line not improving merits checking in my view.

Do you keep sending her back to playgroup? Her immune system needs time to recover from an illness before catching the next one otherwise it will weaken. so I would keep her at home until fully recovered.

Thanks, everyone. Yes I have been sending her to playgroup, she goes two consecutive days each week. When I asked the staff, they said that if she seems well in herself and as long as she doesn’t have a fever on the day, or needs paracetamol for any other reason, then she can go even with a runny nose or cough (I guess because they have lots of children with those things all the time!)
So I have been taking her temperature each morning and today it was in the ‘normal’ range, she was excited to go to playgroup and off she went quite happily after eating lots for breakfast! Then when I picked her up at lunchtime she didn’t seem quite herself again, so I checked her temperature at home and it was 37.7 (which I suppose is only slightly high, but still high for her). I think I will get her checked out before the weekend. Grateful for the responses!

I would go back to the GP and say she keeps spiking fevers and give examples of it being every day or most days. Also say she is not right in herself. GPs often say viral but it can be hard to tell unless they send off swabs to distinguish between viral and bacterial infections. Don’t let them fob you off, you know your child.

Hi everyone, just thought I’d update for anyone reading in future, that we went back to the GP this morning after three more days of on and off fever between 37 and 38. The GP thought that the glands in my daughter’s neck were swollen and also that her right tonsil and ear were red and inflamed, so the GP has prescribed a course of antibiotics. Definitely worth a trip back and I’m just hoping that antibiotics are the right thing now, given how long she has been under the weather. Thanks again to all for the advice!