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URGENT how long can a 3yo have a 100F + temp?

27 replies

justwanttotalk · 21/11/2009 19:03

DS started to get poorly yesterday but was up all night last night very hot and unwell and unable to sleep. We've been giving the usual calpol etc to bring temp down and also sponging him with damp sponge. His temp was 100.3 this morning, around midday dropped to 99.7 now it is 100.7 and he has woken really confused and crying, he'd only been asleep for an hour. What should I do? Should the meds have taken his temp down by now? I'm on hold with NHS direct. Please advise asap thanks

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ShowOfHands · 21/11/2009 19:07

Sorry hang on I don't understand fahrenheit...

38.1

Okay as far as temps are concerned, I don't worry about them alone as I see them as a sign of the body doing its job and just avoid lots of layers/duvets etc. I certainly wouldn't worry about 38.1.

I would, however, look at my child and if he was unwell, unable to sleep and confused then that would be all I needed to know. He needs to see a doctor. Look at him first, not the thermometer.

ilovesprouts · 21/11/2009 19:07

my little boys had that to took him to the docs,and hes got a upper resp tract infection ,he slept most of the day wont eat just drinking ,hope hes ok

AnyFucker · 21/11/2009 19:08

oh dear

has he been drinking enough ?

if you don't get a useful answer from NHSD I suggest you call your emergency GP service

or take him to A+E before the Sat night pissed-up fighters start coming in

Pinkjenny · 21/11/2009 19:09

My dd had a temp for four days a couple of months ago, only brought down by Calpol and then it would shoot back up. No other symptoms! She was tested for a urine infection but was fine.

justwanttotalk · 21/11/2009 19:09

I'm phoning the flu line now as instructed by nhs direct, I agree he needs to be seen

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justwanttotalk · 21/11/2009 19:11

he is drinking a bit but we have to really force it on him.

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AnyFucker · 21/11/2009 19:12

he needs a doctor to look at him

herbietea · 21/11/2009 19:16

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MmeLindt · 21/11/2009 19:19

If his temperature has not come down despite giving calpol then I would try to see a doc, particularly if he is disorientated.

Hope he is better soon

justwanttotalk · 21/11/2009 19:22

swine flu line says he has swine flu and gave number to get tamiflu. I'm not happy though with just that so on the phone with out of hours (on hold)

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MrsHappy · 21/11/2009 19:24

There is a cough/high temp/loss of appetite thing going around. The temp lasts for days (6 in my DD's case) and we found it barely came down from its peak of 39.9 with both calpol and ibuprofen, which was very worrying, especially as she was not drinking much. Definitely get him seen since he is confused, but it could well be that virus in which case there isn't a lot you can do but try to get him to drink and wait for it to pass. I hope he feels better soon.

MollieO · 21/11/2009 19:29

Ds's paed at that age was only concerned if temp went over 40.

You can alternate Calpol and Nurofen to bring the temp down.

PixieOnaLeaf · 21/11/2009 19:34

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aoifesmama · 21/11/2009 19:42

DD (7mo)started with this early last week. We took her to the local WIC who first said "its swine flu", I said "I don't think it is" and was informed neither did they but thats what they've been told to say. Took her to A+E who diagnosed a throat and upper resp infection. We both caught it and have found out that its doing the rounds here. Only today - about 10 days on - is her temp consistantly normal. Do get him seen (they only gave more ibruprofen/calpol though)

justwanttotalk · 21/11/2009 19:59

he's had nurofen, calpol and benolyn and no change. he's making more sense now, we were just talking for ages. It was when he woke for the first 20 mins he was very out of it.

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carrieboo75 · 21/11/2009 20:17

My middle sons temp always used to shoot up to 104 when ever he was ill and docs where never worried as lon as it hadn't shot up to that from normal in the space of 15 min. Getting him to spend time in a tepid bath while eating an ice lolly always worked well . Go with your judgement, if just temp hold out, if other things happen then out of hours doc. Do not get fobbed off with swine flu so many people are being misdiagnosed (myself included) and only a week latter being considered for much needed antibiotics. Good luck.

whifflegarden · 21/11/2009 20:24

Yes, definitely alternate calpol and nurofen in the meantime to get his temp down. DD (6yrs old) had 40 temp for about 5/6 days last week, which would come down with medication. Our GP, as well as her god father who's a neonatologist advised that it's more effective to alternate.

Hope you are able to see a doc asap. It can be very worrying.

bubblagirl · 21/11/2009 20:28

my ds always gets temps of 102 if unwell they say if this goes on longer than 2 days seek medical advise 38.1 wouldn't worry me at all he may just need more fluids ice pops are great way of getting fluids down 37.5 is normal range so its not overly high get some more fluids in don't use cold water but warm water and don't have fan directly on him as this makes the body temp rise

bubblagirl · 21/11/2009 20:30

i mean warm water to bathe or on flannel on head etc but the temp is not overly high if slightly under the weather it always takes my ds little longer to come round from sleep if he seems better now and it was just from waking just push fluids and see how he goes if gets any worse call gp out to see him

RumourOfAHurricane · 21/11/2009 20:32

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ShowOfHands · 21/11/2009 20:52

Hope he gets better soon. It sounds like a normal virus- tired, mild temperature. It is a very mild temperature, the meds are probably keeping it mild and like somebody else said, it's not the number anyway, it's the speed at which it rises that is a problem sometimes. No layers, lots of rest and fluids. Sounds like his body's fighting a little infection. It's horrid isn't it?

DaftApeth · 21/11/2009 21:47

That temp wuld not worry me with my two. I might not even give meds if they were ok in themselves.

His disorientation would worry me a bit though. If he is ok now, I'd give him a cuddle and re-settle him.

When was his last med?

alypaly · 21/11/2009 23:39

my DS1 had a temp of 101-102 for over 10 days when he was 7 and was never admitted to hospital.
We were told that if the tem is constant ,it is not as bad as a spiking temperature with massive fluctuations as this can (not will) cause a fit. So we just persevered with calpol and ibuprofen and antibiotics til he got better.A Little worrying though.

justwanttotalk · 22/11/2009 11:12

Just wanted to give an update - his temp broke last night and he slept (as did I!) so today he is much brighter. I'm worrying now that he's been given tamiflu he doesnt need (had 1 dose) and they wont prescribe it more than once, so if he really does get swine flu what will we do?

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alypaly · 22/11/2009 14:29

check with your doc,but i would be tempted not to carry on with course if it was my own child....but do what your doc advises...ring up and find out