How high a temp to speak medical advise?

[TheletterZ]

Had a cold lingering for a few days but thought it was on the way out. Yesterday evening started to feel proper off. Got a cough, headache, aches - usual symptoms.

My temp is now 40.5 and I feel rotten, took ibuprofen at 2 and paracetamol at 4 so can’t take any more at the moment. No problem with breathing (slightly tight sore chest but at normal ill levels). Drinking lots of fluids and spent the day in bed.

Had both flu and Covid boosters.

What temperature are you supposed to call for advice? And surely that will just be rest and fluids?

For an adult? I don’t think I’d ever seek medical advice for a high temperature.

Hope you feel better soon. Remember not to cover up too much with a high temp, even if you feel chilly

Ring 111 at ask adobe. Over 40 is dangerous. Do it now

Mm my sisters temp once reached 42 and she was put in an ice bath as soon as we got to ED 😳 I was only 10 so I had to tag along with my parents. Sorry not helpful! Not sure about adult temp but I’d say if it goes any higher I’d give out of docs a call.

I'd only get advice if it doesn't come down at all with both medications (if it drops slightly but still remains high think thats ok too aslong as theres some sort of reduction) I'd be more chilled out if it was me but wouldn't mess about with my children. Hope you're ok x

For an adult, never unless there were other signs of serious illness. Not one day of a cold.

I wouldn’t seek medical advice for a temperature in me or an adult relative.

Thing is, temperature is a normal and natural response to infection, it’s uncomfortable and you naturally feel shit, hence the paracetamol and loads of fluids.

Sounds like you are doing all the right things op. Hope you feel better soon.

Are you on your own? If there is someone to keep an eye on you then I wouldn’t worry. If you are on your own then I’d probably ring 111 for advice.
hope you feel better soon.

Husband is around. Making chicken soup for tea! Will keep an eye on it and if I feel much worse will ask for advice.

40.5 is high for an adult, it would potentially get you blood cultures taken in ED. I would call 111 for advice/referral to at least out of hours GP.

Glad DH is keeping an eye on you. Hopefully you’ll feel better in the morning. And chicken soup is the best thing if you are feeling rough!

I think you need to call 111 at the very least. An adult can get a seizure with a temperature this high (assuming your thermometer is correct). Try removing as many clothes as possible and wiping yourself down with towels dipped in cool water while waiting for medical advice. I am not sure how much help your husband is going to be if you start fitting. Definitely call 111

I think you’ve probably developed a bacterial infection from the initial virus (easy when you’ve been full of gunk) does anywhere hurt? I personally don’t think a sore chest is typical for a cold, could you be developing a chest infection?

You can do a 111 symptoms check online (search 'fever' when you've put your initial details in). It asks loads of questions about how you feel/what's happening then tells you either self help, GP or A&E now (amongst other things). I've just done the one for fever and selected no for everything, result is "contact GP if not better in a few days". May be different for you depending on what other symptoms/medical conditions you have.

Hope you feel better soon

Anything over 40 if lasts longer than an hour your supposed to call gp or go a&e

Really? A&E to see if they will do blood cultures?

This seems very OTT to me for an adult about to cook chicken soup. If drowsy, confused, temperature for hours not responding but someone cooking soup and chatting on a forum??

I don’t even think an OOH GP is necessary.

Yeah do the 111 check online. I once had a temperature and they took me to a&e and gave me iv drugs to fix it, but I also had other symptoms (like I couldn't breathe).
It's so quick and easy and you don't have to go anywhere or sit on hold for three hours, and will tell you if you need real help.

You need to pay more attention to the symptoms than to the thermometer. If you feel truly dreadful, worse than you've ever felt before, then you should seek medical advice regardless of what your temperature is.

If you feel a bit lousy, but you recognise it as being within the realms of ordinary illness that you've had before, then I would just rest up with plenty of fluids and regular paracetamol and ibuprofen.

I'd be concerned if your temperature was still that high after taking ibuprofen and paracetamol but not if it went down after medication.
If it returns after each dose then I eould phone 111.
I had to take my youngest in a few weeks ago because his temperature was that high, he had a bacterial infection in his blood and is still on IV antibiotics.

High temp and tightness/discomfort in chest?
Cold symptoms for a few days which has worsened yesterday?

Could be chest infection brewing...probably wise to get checked out if you can - wither you go out of hours 111 or wait for your own GP on Monday is the question really.

Except that wasn't what the poster said.

You can take more ibuprofen 4hours after the last dose, but no more than 1200g in 24 hours. Take some more ibuprofen, strip off and keep cool.

Very high temperature is often a symptom of flu, mine went up to over 40 when I had flu once, it did go down a bit but I had a temperature for ages. You have had the flu jab but I'm not sure if it completely stops you catching flu. I would rest and take the paracetamol when appropriate and see how you are tomorrow.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fever-in-adults/

It depends on the person. Both times my temperature reached that I had pneumonia and needed antibiotics for 10 days. First time I was quite ill because I thought it was just a cold, second time I went to gp as soon as my chest felt tight and I had a niggly sore back. The temp was about 40.5 both times. So I would call ooh for advice if it stayed that high by tomorrow.