8.5 month old temp and rash on bak of neck

[Alabama100]

Dd seemed absolutely fine today, a bit teethy but nothing out the ordinary. This afternoon i noticed a sort of heat rash on the back of her neck (small pin prick type rash) but other than that normal. Around 30 mins before her usual bedtime she become very tired, falling sleeping in the bath and on her changing mat which she never does. I put it down to the fact she only had an hours afternoon nap today instead of 2hrs. Just as I was getting her down to bed I took her temp with a digital thermometer and several times it read between 39 and 40.2....I have called nhs direct and they are calling me back.

She is now asleep in her cot.

I am very worried now...does this sound serious to you? I can't even bring myself to say this, but god forbid does this sound like menangitus??

I feel sick and want nhs direct to call me back now!

To be totally honest I'd probably take her to A&E to be checked. It's probably just a virus but better to be safe I think. Hope she gets better soon x

It sounds like a virus to me. Dd always gets a rash with high temp of over 40. Always best to get checked though. They will probably send you to OOH but if no appointments soon it will be A&E because she's so young.

Have you given her ibuprofen?

If she's had her jabs meningitis is probably unlikely - viral rashes are very common. The falling asleep sounds more worrying to me; I'd do the glass test on the spots (do they disappear if you apply pressure) and if they don't disappear then I would go straight to A&E.

A heat rash is very common at the back of the neck. Give Calpol for the temperature; that temp is high, but not freakishly so. Other pointers of something serious are loss of appetite, floppiness, difficulty rousing.

Take her to A&E if you're worried or wait until the morning if she is responding to Calpol/Ibruprofen. Sounds like it might be roseola (DD1 had it when she was about 12 months old).

Fever came on suddenly with no symptoms of being ill. Fever last about 5 days I ended up taking her to A&E. As she didn't have any other symptoms, they put it down to a virus. Red pin pricks appeared all over her torso and back, and fever also disappeared. Then she was back to her usual, happy self.

Thank you everyone. Nhs direct said to keep checking temp and to wake up and give water and calpol if it's still high. When we gave her the calpol we opened the blinds and she woke up immediately and sort of fought us and was very strong, so the nurse said that was a good sign that it's not meningitis as she wasn't floppy and was very awake.

I have checked her temp again and it's now between 37.6 and 38.7 so still pretty high.

I am ready to take her to a&e now but oh and nhs direct say there's no need and it's probably a virus.

In two minds because I don't want o take my risks but a the same time if it's just a virus I don't want to disturb her and want her to be comfortable and get lots of rest.

My poor baby :-(

I would keep doing what you're doing and see a doctor tomorrow. They can check for any infection and put your mind at ease if her temp ever goes up an hour after medicine then I would go to a&e. Hope you manage to all get some rest tonight

Thank you spotty will do.

EugenesAxe - I'm not sure your statement "If she's had her jabs meningitis is probably unlikely" is correct?

My understanding is that the vaccinations only provide protection against MenC, and that we are NOT protected from MenB?

I just didn't want anyone to be complacent in thinking that the jabs protect against all forms of this horrible disease.

Disclaimer: I am not a health professional!

Alabama - I agree that it sounds like a virus but go with your gut feel. The glass test on rash is a v important one though.

it's scary isn't it - but keep checking and she'll more than likely be fine

Having meningitis jabs reduces the risk of certain strains of meningitis, but there are lots of different types out there and it can still happen. This is a very good overview of symptoms in babies and toddlers, and this gives a good overview of fever in young children (scroll down to the bottom for the traffic light chart)

The glass test is important, but some types of meningitis(pneumococcal) do not have a rash at all - the glass test can rule meningitis in, it can never rule it out

hope she improves soon

Checked temp again down to 37 hopefully the calpol is kicking in. Thank you all again.

Samosa - no that's why I said 'probably' - I thought the jab had reduced the incidences, although obviously it can still happen.

How is your DD today? Hope she's getting better.

She still has a high temp, but otherwise seems happy and well (eating well, sleeping reasonably well, laughing, playing, full of energy) but her temp has been around 38.4 all day, I have been giving her lots of water and calpol.

We've always found (and been told by doctors) ibuprofen is more affective than paracetamol.

Apparently the ibuprofen gets it down and the paracetamol keeps it down. I am glad she seems to be feeling better

I would take her to the doctor. They may want a urine sampe to rule out a urine infection. I know it is difficult in a young baby, but it is doable.