14 year old with temperature

[Ikeatears]

Ds2 had a temp of 38.5 earlier. Complained of feeling cold (unsurprisingly) and having a bit of a headache. Gave him paracetamol, sent him to his room with his own toiletries/towel etc. And checked him an hour later. Down to 37.5 (underarm temp). Still a bit of a headache but not feeling cold and still wanting food etc. No cough or any other symptoms.
At what point do I phone 111?
I'm thinking if his temp doesn't lower with paracetamol or he gets any breathing difficulties. Am I right?

How worrying. I hope everything will be ok. These website explains clearly what to do, you don't need to call 111 unless it gets worst. Just paracetamol, rest, drinks. Has he complained of loss of sense of taste or smell? It has been reported as a symptom however it's not on the NHS symptom checker.

fullfact.org/health/what-do-if-you-think-you-have-coronavirus/
www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-advice/

Just ring nhs 111

My teen (13) had a temperature of 39 and headache two weeks ago.
We managed it with paracetomol and water. He was fine the next day.

Then it came back the following day, sweats, shakes dizzy. Again we managed it as above.

He was fine after. 2 weeks on and now my temp is 38 and my throat on fire.

We never called 111. I think that's just for breathing problems isn't it?

@neveranynamesleft it does say don't phone just with symptoms. I wondered if it's different with kids though?
My gut is to keep him on the paracetamol, keep checking his temp and any new symptoms.
Am I being too relaxed about it though?

@middleager that's reassuring about your dc, hope you're ok though

Just asked, he's reporting no change to taste and smell

Checked him every 2 hours and his temp has been stable until the last hour - up to 39. More paracetamol.
:-(

My youngest DS (5) had a temperature that went up to 42 2 weeks ago and was only dropping to 39 with paracetamol.

I rang my doctors surgery and they rang me back with a telephone consultation - maybe that is an option for you? My friend’s DD was very poorly and ended up in a and e - the doctor was really keen to stress that whatever the situation they would always want a parent to be over cautious with a child and to still contact 111 and emergency services. The wait on 111 can be quite long atm obliviously.

My DS temp did drop in the end and then came back but at a slower level on and off for about 4 - 5 days. After the initial real high he was generally quite well in himself just very tired.

Hope your DS feels better soon.

Thanks @Bighouselittlemouse
Can I ask what advice the dr gave at the phone consult?

Sorry - didn't read that properly- just seen it was a and e

Ahhhh I think I'm stressed! I still didn't read properly! What did the dr advise for your son?

My 14 to has it and had other health conditions so we've been keeping in touch with his medical team. we are doing the same as you, just testing symotoms, that's all we can do for now. If the temp isn't bothering him there's an argument for leaving it but since do feel v ill even with a mild temp.

There is no point speaking to 111 or GP as there's nothing they can do. You can complete the Covid 19 app for him though to provide useful data to the researchers.

Hope he feels better soon

Thanks. Hope your ds is better soon. An extra worry with his underlying health condition.
Ds is usually healthy, if a little more prone than the other two to picking things up.

I don't think I'd call with mild symptoms even for a 14 year old, but at the first sign of anything breathing related I would or if his temperature gets particularly high.
I personally don't give paracetamol for a temperature alone (unless getting a bit too high) as I think this is the current guidance, we only give it to relieve discomfort.
Hope he's better soon. It's a scary time.

@lkeatears

Sorry if I was confusing - for me the doctor said manage at home if I could but if it continued and I was worried to go to a and e. I didn’t in the end.

She also gave me some specific advice on pain relief use etc so it was definitely helpful to talk to her.

@squeakydog really? No paracetamol? I usually treat any temp with paracetamol and ibuprofen (I know it's been advised not to give the latter for CV so I'm avoiding that just in case)

The current NHS guidance is to give paracetamol (no ibuprophen), regular drinks, rest. its important to stick to the latest nhs guidelines, both for treatment and for isolation. it's all on their website. Read it carefully please and any medical advice on a website like this one should not be followed.

@QueenBlueberries thanks, I've continued the paracetamol, I've also read the guidance.
He's sleeping now. Feeling sorry for himself :-(

@Ikeatears I think latest nhs guidance is that a temperature alone doesn't need to be brought down, it's the bodies way of fighting infection. Obviously if it gets too high or you're in discomfort then medicine is useful but if in normal circumstances you had a temperature of say 38.5 and no other symptoms there'd be no need for paracetamol. I'm not a doctor but this is how I understand the nhs guidance.

BUT, I'm talking normal circumstances and not coronavirus. The specific guidance may be different for suspected cases.

But I'd say 38.5 is pretty high. He was certainly in discomfort and the headache alone was enough to warrant the paracetamol. I don't think I'd be happy not to treat the temperature and risk it rising out of control. It's peaked at 39 today but it's settled again now.

@Ikeatears as I understand it (just from nhs website and other similar sources), 38.5 is classed as a mild fever. Looks like anything up to 39.4 for a short period is common in children and although a lot of people do treat to bring it down, it doesn't require it, and the high temperature is to help kill the infection.

Yeah the argument is that the high temperature is the body's attempt to kill the infection, and that by preventing that you allow the infection to linger and worsen. I don't know how that relates to coronavirus though and usually medicate my little one for temperatures if she's a bit under the weather with it.