Fever not going away

[MN7]

My 4.5-year-old (4 years 6 months) has been unwell for almost a week now and I can’t figure out what’s going on.
It started last Thursday when she came home from school saying she couldn’t walk properly because her legs felt very tired and achy. She also had a fever. I gave her paracetamol (Calpol) and she slept. When she woke up, she vomited twice. After that, she continued to have a fever on and off, so we were alternating Calpol and Nurofen.
On Sunday night her fever suddenly shot up above 39°C. When we called NHS 111 they said it was 39+ and we were really worried, so they advised us to go to an out-of-hours GP. The doctor said it looked like viral gastroenteritis that’s going around and told us to continue Calpol and Nurofen.
However, she only had 1–2 episodes of vomiting and only 1–2 episodes of diarrhoea, so I’m not sure if gastroenteritis fits. The main issue is that the fever hasn’t gone away. It’s now day 6/7 and she still has fever — this morning it was 38.5°C. During the daytime it’s sometimes lower, but it often spikes again in the evening.
We went back to our own GP today and took a urine sample in case it was a UTI, but the test was negative. Our GP said it looks more like flu. Apart from the fever and tiredness, she has only mild “flu-like” symptoms — a slight cough and a bit of a runny nose earlier in the week, but nothing severe.
I’m really worried because the fever is lasting so long even though no other symptom seems to be getting significantly worse. Has anyone experienced something similar with their child? What would you recommend doing next?

Yes. It was adenovirus (confirmed on swabs in hospital). Fever for seven days, croup cough for a couple of days (had steroids for that), but the main thing was the temp and extreme sleepiness. She slept through a finger prick blood test for instance - very hard to rouse. Couple of vomits and loose bowels. Not hugely snotty. Very achy. Terrible sore throat. Best of luck x

Sounds like our situation at the moment with our 10 year old. Started Friday with a temperature and he mentioned headaches and tummy pain. The temperature went up to 38.6. Saturday pretty much the same all day but at midnight he vomited once. Sunday he struggled to keep the temperature down and it went up to 39.4 so we called 111 and saw an out of hours GP who checked ears, throat and chest which are all ok. Apart from the fever he hasn’t complained about anything hurting, he said he felt wobbly though. Sunday night he also threw up once again. Monday a temp pretty much all day (low-ish at 38.1), but brighter in himself as he played with his Lego whereas the day before he spent all day on the sofa. He became congested today (nose). I gave ibuprofen around 4 and he managed to eat his dinner and seemed brighter. But at night a high temperature of 39.3 woke him up and he felt sick (he wasn’t sick). This morning he woke without a temperature but by the afternoon he was complaining of a headache and his temperature went up to 38.2. Praying tonight that he doesn’t get a temperature again. It’s a worry isn’t it? Went to doctors today again and they said that there are some viruses/flu around where fevers are lasting longer than 5 days. Was told to come back Friday if no better. Really hope your little one is better soon

Hi we’re in a similar boat. My dd is 6. I thought she might be brewing something as over the weekend she was very teary over the slightest thing and she seemed very tired. She’s been off school today, lying on the sofa all day saying she’s cold/tired and her temp is going up to 39.2 between medicine! Trying to alternate calpol and nurofen but still stays in the 38s. No symptoms other than a runny nose! Never really had experience of this kind of illness before.

My child has just slight cough, honestly fever is my biggest concern right now. Its day 7 today. Did your child need antibiotics or infection cleared on its own?

Sounds like we really are in the same boat. Her fever is not very high now but it comes back few hours after the medicine. She is having watery stools now and is really not eating well. I hope our children get better soon. Our GP said it sounds like flu where fever stays longer and is main concern than other symptoms.

Aaw bless her. My daughter was same initially, now a bit brighter but not fully though. Hope they get well soon.

She did have antibiotics as the hospital was concerned that there was a secondary infection on top of the adenovirus. But the temperature wasn't the big issue, it just shows the body is fighting something, if everything else is heading the right way I wouldn't be overly concerned as the temp is also coming down. Hope they are much better soon x

This is a bit random but worth checking. When dd was much younger she had a slight stomach bug, got better then a week later started getting a temperature and feeling faint. It was a UTI (possibly a result of the stomach bug). It is worth checking.

My other concern is she just won’t eat, she must feel dreadful! She’s had nothing so far today and just a small croissant yesterday! Day before she had a couple of chips! Fever was 39.1 in the night despite medicine. She seemed brighter when she woke up, temp was normal. But now it it’s back, 38.5 and more snotty today- greeny/yellow coloured. It’s awful! She wanted to go to school when she woke up but I’m glad she’s home considering she’s feeling rubbish again. Lying on the sofa again.

Aah, thanks. Thats reassuring.

Hi, We did get her checked for UTI. It was clear.

Bless her, I hope she gets well soon. My daughter is also not going school since friday. School called saying her attendance is short but how can I send her when she is already feeling miserable?😶 she did have 2-3 episodes of diarrhea since yesterday, I am not sure wether to keep her home tomorrow as well.

My daughter’s attendance looks poor too since we’re only a few weeks into the term. It’s just something else to worry about ontop of everything else! 😭

So true, AT this point I dont understand what to do :(

Hi everyone who previously replied and were in similar boats. I am still worried as her fever keeps on coming back. Its day 7 now.
already got her checked with GP twice, her fever seems to go away with medicine but comes back again. Never happened before, fever for so many days :(
what am I supposed to do?

@MN7 what sort of temperature does she have? And how are you measuring it?

I check with armpit thermometer. It comes anywhere between 37.6-38.6, depends when I have given last dose of calpol/nurofen.

Has she had a throat swab to check for strep A? You can have it without the classic scarlet fever cheeks.

Get an ear thermometer or use the armpit thermometer rectally to get a far more accurate measurement. I wouldn’t be concerned about her having a temperature because flu/ Covid can cause long lasting fevers