Teenage son has temperature after falling

[Beurla]

Hi I'm prone to panicking so I am not sure whether to take him to get checked out.

So three hours ago he fell over a curb and hit his hand and head off the ground. This was at school at lunchtime.

He has bruising around one eye, a small bump on the head beside that, and a swollen lip on that side. He also has very sore hand but can still move fingers. His nose was bleeding after it.

He says he never lost consciousness or got sick or dizzy or anything.

I gave him peas in a pillow to ice it, however after a while he went a bit cold and shivery but hot an so put on a jumper, but now he has a high temperature according to the thermometer. He is definitely tired but can stay awake and is talking to friends on his phone etc. Definitely tired though. He is refusing to go to the doctors, but I could probably get him to go if needed.

Should I just keep an eye on him, or take him? Could the fever just be because of icing his head for too long?

I am rubbish at this sort of thing!

Has he vomited ?
Is he eating normally ?

I’m in south east and it’s boiling hot!

can’t imagine wearing a jumper and not having a temperature

what about where you are?

No he hasn't vomited. He hasn't asked for anything to eat since, but I think he had had some of his lunch before it. He's drank some water.

Has he complained of a headache ? Do his pupils look the same ?

We are in Scotland and it's 17 degrees 🙂🙂

He says he hasn't had a headache the whole time since it happened. Hopefully his opposite hand got most of the impact.
I just checked and his pupils are the same.
He is really tired and keeps yawning. I think he's not supposed to sleep though?

I’d call 111 rather than asking us lot, where advice will range from “A&E, now” to “are you always this anxious” (there’s always one). 111 might land somewhere more useful.

It could be a bit of shock from the accident. That can cause a temperature but for a bang on the head, I'd take him to minor injuries or A&E to be on the safe side.

Might he have had a temperature/started getting unwell which actually caused the fall?

He is most likely fine, but as he is drowsy (well all teenage boys are always tired but still), I would want him to see a doctor for peace of mind. Was the nosebleed cause by impact to his nose area? Poor lad.

He is less drowsy now but his temperature is still high.

Been on hold for ages to speak to 111.

What’s “high”?

Ranging between 38.2 - 39.7 on my digital thermometer (one of the forehead ones) xx

Big range.

any paracetamol taken?

I also thought whatever caused the temperature also caused the fall. Could he have an ear infection affecting balance? Ear infections don’t always hurt.

Forehead thermometers are notoriously inaccurate. Have you taken your temperature with it?

A temperature isn’t a sign of a head injury. If he’s been awake alert and orientated throughout with no headaches, balance problems, loss of memory or vomiting I wouldn’t be immediately concerned. However you should monitor for any changes and have a low threshold for getting him seen.

Get him checked. Tell him sometimes you just have to do as you're told. He's probably fine but you are better safe than sorry.

NHS says call 999 if you have a black eye without direct injury to the eye - what caused the eye bruising mentioned in the op?

Also reference to difficulty staying awake.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/head-injury-and-concussion/

Yeah I never know about those thermometers. It seems to be accurate if telling you you actually have a temperature, but not exact in how high. He is hot to touch.

Did you get through to 111. I'd get him checked out. Temp is sign of infection somewhere.

Thanks. Yeah I phoned 111 and they sent him to A&E.

Yeah my temp was 37.0 but his was 38.2 - 39.7 highest. However his temperature didn't last for long.

Turns out he has a metacarsal(?) fracture of his hand.

Glad you've been checked, and good to get the hand looked at. Wishing him a smooth recovery