HELP - sick toddler, 39.3 temp and rapid breathing

[Firstimemam]

I've come home from work, played, bath, milk and bed. He was quite unsettled so went in at 10:30 before I was going to sleep and he is so hot - 39.3 temperate and he's rapidly breathing, whinging, crying etc. We've given him calpol and on the phone to 111 but nobody is picking up, should I go to A&E straight away or wait for 111?

Sorry FTM panicking :,(

He's 13 months 💙

This nhs link has some really good guidelines www.nhs.uk/conditions/fever-in-children/ are there other symptoms

With a temp that high I’d go to A&E.

I would probably err on the side of caution and go to a and e xx

Could be bronchiolitis. I would call out of hours for advice. Is he / she passing urine as normal and drinking normally?

When you say rapid, how fast. How many breaths are we minute?

He started having a cough this morning but it wasn't too bad, and I didn't notice anything in the evenings. I usually feel a fever coming but this one I didn't& his temp is very high.

Per*

I'm still waiting for my call to be answered, is it because of the time?

Possibly.

How fast is he breathing.

Go straight to A&E

No, it can often be extremely busy at all different times. Then call back wait v long as well.

It's the rapid breathing that would bother me, not the temperature (unless it does not come down a bit after Calpol).

Have you given him paracetamol and or ibuprofen?

Any flaring of the nostrils, or pulling in under the ribs, or does it look like the skins being pulled in above his sternum.

Sorry you did give calpol. If worried and breathing is rapid take to a and e
Best to be checked

Can you count their breaths per minute? If more than 40, dial 999.

Link for the British lung foundation advice www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/signs-of-breathing-problems-in-children/when-to-call-999

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/spotting-signs-serious-illness/

Is he using his stomach to breath. Is it going in and out when he’s breathing, if so go straight to A&E it means he’s really struggling

If he's got a high resp rate, esp if any other symptoms of respiratory distress, along with the high temp, call an ambulance.

Really likely it's something like bronchiolitis, but he must be seen if his resp rate is high.

BTW, don't drive to A&E. Car seat positioning exacerbates breathing issues (I know this from bitter experience)

Definitely A&E. My then 23 month yr old Dd was hospitalised with bronchiolitis. Fast breathing and a temp that doesn’t come down with calpol needs medical attention

I can't believe how many have said A&E... Rapid breathing is 100% normal with a high temperature. It's always the giveaway with mine when they are starting with a fever. The OP hasn't even given an hour for Calpol to kick in, and NHS advice is actually not to wake them for a high temperature to administer anti-pyretics and to let them sleep. A fever has a function. It doesnt sound like OP is describing a wheeze, hasn't mentioned a cough or other respiratory symptoms? Just a high temperature. Yes they can make you anxious but they are not dangerous.

What will likely happen now is OP will drive to hospital in a panic from these replies, Calpol will kick in before they are triaged, and then sent home or have to be observed for several hours while everyone is exhausted only to be told it's likely viral and too early to tell what. I think NHS advice is to see a GP if the fever persists after 4 days, or it doesn't go down after Calpol and ibuprofen.

Try not to panic OP.

I'd expect his temp to have lowered by now, so would take it again and count the breaths as pp have suggested.

Ds1 had a temp of 40° several times over a week a few months ago. Terrified me tbh, but took him.to the Dr who said fevers are doing a job.