12 year old. temp around / over 39 for 48 hours despite fully dosed on paracetamol

[nannyl]

DD is 12
Picked her up from school on Thurs and she looked / felt awful.
She went straight up to bed.... had a few mouthfuls of dinner, then had an olbas oil bath, some paracetamol and was in bed SLEEPING before 7pm.

She didnt wake until 10am yesterday, but since then her temp has not dropped below 39, and has been up to 39.5, even when having p.mol 4 times per day. She had 11 hours of solid sleep last night too.

Yes, I've called 111, and yes I'm 3 hours into a 6 hour wait, waiting for a Dr to call back. (actually i did the online form which prompted NHS 111 to call me back and the person who I spoke to said i needed to speak to a medical person)

Can i expect anything other than a trip to out of hours?

Could do without that.... our OOH is at our local hospital, where all the Drs are currently on strike only dealing with life threatening problems and serious injuries.

She is flopped on the sofa, binge watching netflix (fine by me) and is eating and drinking etc. She has a v sore throat, cough, strange voice, runny nose etc etc, but i'm not concerned that she is "seriously ill" or anything like that.

If she sees a Dr is there any chance I can convince them NOT to give her ABs?

Have you tried ibuprofen? I've always found it much better for temperatures.

I think it would probably be treated as flu and not requiring anything other than rest and paracetamol etc? Has she had the flu jab?

If they do identify an infection, why would you want them not to prescribe antibiotics?

‘If she sees a Dr is there any chance I can convince them NOT to give her ABs?‘

You want to convince a doctor not to give your child the medicine that may make her better? Great parenting OP. Not. Pure selfishness.

I agree with pp about ibuprofen. I’d probably alternate until their temp reduced.

because I have a massive auto-immune reaction to antibiotics (which takes 2 - 3 years) to calm down.

I personally avoid them when possible. For context I've only just finally recovered from the IV ABs I had in hospital about 3 years ago.

My 12 year old has only had them once in her life so far (when she had scarlet fever, age 6)

If she's otherwise well (e.g. awake, coherent, not seeming more poorly than her physical symptoms indicate she should be, weeing, eating, and drinking) then I don't think a temperature of 39°c in itself is all that worrying. I'd assume she has flu. For most people, that will be self-limiting. Antibiotics wouldn't work anyway.

I'd be more concerned if she was not waking, not drinking, not weeing, seemed confused, or seemed generally more poorly then you'd expect for her physical symptoms.

Hopefully 111 will phone soon.

You know she can have ibuprofen and paracetamol together

Alternate with ibuprofen - two hrs after the paracetamol. If she has flue she WILL
have a high temp. Nothing to do but ride it out and ensure rest fluids and analgesics.

The history of scarlet fever and a v. sore throat plus high fever not responding to medication is worrying. Once you’ve had scarlet fever, you’re very susceptible to any strep infections and strep infections can be causing things like heart damage behind the curtain of a very sore throat,

You need to take her to a doctor and you need to not be so adverse to antibiotics. How do you have an allergic reaction to someone else taking them? If it’s because you’re handling, them, then don’t. At 12 she is old enough to keep her antibiotics in her room and take them away from you.

Great advice on here OP.

I’ll add that bugs don’t thrive in high temperatures, that’s why we heat up during infections. Her body is doing exactly what it is designed to do so don’t worry too much about normalising it.
She is eating, drinking, peeing, pooing and wakes easily not fuddled or not herself conscious wise, then you are doing a lovely job.

Nice cold drinks, stuff to soothe her throat & keep her hydrated is top priority for the next day or so.

The latest strain of Covid comes with a high temp and a v sore throat. Her symptoms sound v like what I have now (which is Covid). Just FYI. Though a sore throat could be anything from Covid to strep to flu!

if she’s well in herself I would just keep a watchful eye and make sure you’re giving her the max doses of whatever she can have. I found hot water with lemon and honey helpful or ice lollies, jelly etc.

hope she feels better soon - it’s miserable having a temperature!

Thank you all

Just given her ibuprofen as well. Will obviously take her to OOH if the 111 phone person says so.

Did an (out of date) covid test this afternoon which was -ve

Is she covered in blankets? Sorry to ask but often people feel shivery with a fever (because they are hotter, the air around them feels colder) and they pile on the blankets, which drives up the fever and makes them feel worse than they need to.

No, just in PJs on the sofa

Given her age, it could be flu, it could also be glandular fever.

That temperature for 48 hours wouldn’t concern me. I’d just make sure she we hydrated and comfortable but yes, I would also give ibuprofen.

My teenager also has a temp of 39 since yesterday although it’s come down to 38.5 now, I’m making sure he’s drinking and giving calpol so he doesn’t feel shit. But that’s about it at the minute. He’s been in bed since he got home from school.

If she’s eating and drinking and watching tv tbh I’d just carry on as you are. If she’s got a very sore throat she may well have tonsillitis but they don’t always treat it with antibiotics as it often clears up by itself.

I also wouldn’t be concerned by the temp. She obviously must be feeling pretty rough but so long as she’s okay in and of herself, a temperature is just the body’s response to illness. She may have the flu or just a nasty virus - there are lots going around where I work at the moment.

Fevers don't always need to be brought down. She's 12yrs old, not 12weeks. If she's fine in herself drinking, peeing, etc then you might find she gets better much more quickly if you allow her to be hot.

The fever makes the body very inhospitable for the bugs. It is its purpose. Generally people medicate fevers for comfort more than anything.

Obviously if not drinking, is not alert that's a different matter and you should seek medical advice.

But in the words of the lovely Dr Beachgem10 (who is fab) "Treat the child not the fever."

Hope she's on the mend soon.

NHS had just text to say due to a high volume of calls and emergancies her case is closed.

So she will just be going to bed and hopefully another nights sleep will improve things.

After ibuprofen she is now 38.7 (first time under 39) so I guess that a small improvement... but thermometer is still doing the 3 beeps to say very very high temp...

Thanks for all your tips. If she's still 39+ tomorrow I'll try again, but this (lack of) call back has literally taken all day, from 10am, when she woke, to "having her case closed"

A lot of flu about. As others have said, the fever itself is not an issue at her age although I appreciate it would make her feel really rough.

The main thing is that she’s drinking and weeing , alert and not confused, not in respiratory distress etc. Eating is a bonus.

Our house has flu at the moment and I really sympathise.

If I were you, I wouldn’t spend another day on the phone unless she deteriorates. Sounds like standard flu which, although horrible, I wouldn’t seek medical assistance for.

Hope she feels better soon OP.

Have you used your phone torch to have a look at tonsils? If they’re swollen and have white spots it could be strep which needs antibiotics. If they look ok then it’s probably a viral sore throat.

Yep can you check throat anything white or yellow would need antibiotics but other than that it sounds a lot like the horrible flu that is about so just give ibuprofen and paracetamol to manage the fever and lots of liquids

DD took quite a while to feel normal after flu

Flu and RSV is rife at the minute.