Fever and head/neckache.

[AmazingBouncingFerret]

Im unsure what to do. My DS who is 3 has had a temp of about 38/39 since yesterday, which I have been controlling with Calpol. He is now complaining of a headache and rubbing the back of his neck.
Im assuming the worst. Should I take him to the OOH or just keep an eye on him?
He hasnt eaten anything but fromage frais and is still drinking.

i would take him to A&E tbh, always better to err on the safe side.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childrens_health/934627-Is-there-a-headache-vomiting-slight-temp-bug-doing-it

Dose him with the right amount of ibuprofen, give him plenty to drink and keep an eye on him. It's doing it's rounds at the moment so you may find he throws up later/tomorrow and had diarrhoea aswell.

Do watch out for other things though, if he's unable to bend his neck so his chin's on his chest (IYKWIM), unable to stand a bright light, gets sore legs or a rash that doesn't go away when you press it down with a glass then he needs medical help.

I would keep a VERY close watch and immediately anything worsens, take him straight to A&E. Hopefully it is nothing but don't take a chance, meningitis can move quickly. Check him during the night as well.

From experience, children with meningitis, even in the early stages are very unwell, they are lethargic, pale and not eating or drinking, they are obviously very unwell. There's alot going around at the moment, there's no harm in getting him checked over by the out of hours, it's what they are there for. I would definetly take him if he gets worse though. If it helps you to relax then it's worthwhile taking him now.

I would go to the out of hours Doc.

That's good to know Belle,

I think if she took him now they wouldn't be able to tell either really would they - that awful story about the 2 or 3yo who died in the night, the drs said they wouldn't have known initially.

I didn't sleep when ds was ill. It's worrying for a parent. Children can become really ill so quickly, doctors do miss things because of this so it's important to get help if something changes in a child's condition.

Thank you all so much for your replies.
I had dosed him up with calpol not long before I posted so he perked up just in time for bed! He was well enough to do his bedtime routine of "dont shut the doooor" so hopefully its not anything particulary nasty.

No wine for me tonight just incase it warrants a trip to OOH.

Childrens Ibuprofen (if you have it) is alot better at reducing a temperature then calpol, you can alternate the two and it's safe to use them together (just give ibuprofen first, then calpol a few hours later if you see what I mean). Ibuprofen shouldn't be given to children with asthma though as it can bring along an attack.

Thanks Belle, I have everything but ibuprofen. Bloody typical.
I checked on him 15 minutes ago and his temp is down again. So hopefully I was just overreacting due to him rubbing the back of his neck.

my son had a headache that hurt when he moved his head IYSWIM, his neck wasn't stiff though, as long as he can bend his neck so his chin can touch his neck without any stiffness then this should be OK. It's good that his temp's going down though.