What to do with baby with high temp and bad cough / chest??

[andyrobo237]

DS has a raging temp of 39.1 and has been around 38.8 plus all day - lowers slightly with calpol / nurofen, but he seems to be in pain (he is 13 months). He looks so pale - I have opened his bedroom window and cooled his room down - the temp gauge is showing 18 degrees so that is ok, but he is burning up.

He has had a sore throat since yesterday, not eating much and has been drinking, but refused bedtime milk. I gave him Nurofen at 7pm after his milk, but his temp has not lowered much.

At what point should i think of going to A&E . Walk-in Centre (typically DH is out - at least in his car so not drinking and DD is snoring in bed!)

Any advice appreciated!

Have you tried phoning NHS direct?

I'd be in touch with out-of-hours GP or nearest medical place ASAP. He could have some sort of infection, which would need dealing with fairly quickly. Even if it's a virus he needs the temp dealing with. Use mum-instinct, if you are even thinking he needs medical attention then get him seen as soon as you can.

With such high temperature despite calpol and nurofen, I would think an infection was likely, and would take to out of hours.

How is his breathing?

I would undress to nappy and t-shirt, and make sure his cot is raised so his breathing is easier (if he coughs)

Try sponging him down with tepid water. That should help bring his temperature down. But I agree with Gigglewitch, trust your instincts.

think that you should ring the out of hours GP and see if he needs to be brought in... they dont really tend to give anything unless he has got a chest infection....would be best to keep him off his milk anyway...with his body being warm it may curde in his stomache so giv him some juice or cool boiled water to keep him hydrated

just had a peek at your profile - the walk-in and out of hours are pretty good round here, so you should be able to get him seen quickly. Is there a neighbour / friend / relative who could babysit DD until your DH gets back?

If I was you I'd definitely try to get him seen if you can tonight. It is the fact that he isn't getting much relief from the meds that is significant.

IME NHS direct will send you to emergency docs if you are at all worried with a child of that age - they are very much 'mother's instict led' with babies it seems and that says a lot about how important your own instincts are.

My DD2 has had exactly this three times. Although what she initally had was viral, she also developed a bacterial infection in her chest and needed antibiotics. As soon as she was given those things improved. Still had the high temp for a few days but was able to drink better and responded better to meds.

I would go with your instincts, I am in a similar situation and have decided to just keep a close eye on him.

Fwiw I phoned NHS direct when Ds had a temp of 39.6, described symptoms etc. They told me to just keep an eye on him, and it was probably teething, which I was a bit at, didn't think teething could cause such a high temp.

Antway he was fine, but if I'd been even a bit dubious about him, or he didn't seem quite right I would have gotten a second opinion.

Btw my Ds was up and down all night last night, and really poorly today just sitting on my lap.
He isn't showing any odd symptoms atm (asleep fingers crossed).

Does your ds seem himself despite temp? It's not only temp you have to go on, but if your at all worried I'd try and get your Dh back and take him to out of hours.

get him seen - high temp all day and now refusing a feed - time for a medical opinion I think.

Thanks for all those - DH didnt get back until midnight, and after an hour of giving him Calpol his temp went down from 39.2 to 38.5 - still high, but he was sleeping for bursts of alf an hour.

Had big fight with him at 4am to get him to take Calpol - had to pin him down! He seems a bit brighter today but still has a rasping cough - will see how he is later, and try to get to see GP in the morning if he is no better.

He has had milk at 5am this morning, but refused food - even his favourite scotch pancake - so I guess his throat is sore. He is sleeping now, but has been a bit clingy this morning -hopefully he is on the mend now! Will give Nurofen when he gets up.