Temperature in 18 month old

[crispychicken12]

Hi,

DS is 18 months, picked him up from nursery at 1pm and they said he'd been his normal self, ate plenty and seemed fine. Had a decent nap.

Literally within half an hour he was irritable, hot
And drowsy. Incredibly clingy, not himself. He would find things funny and have a giggle now and then but overall he was incredibly cranky and miserable.

He is refusing all drinks, just wants to have cuddles. He is chewing things and his red in his face. His temperature at the highest was 38.9 and he's hot to touch.

111 weren't concerned and advised me to call a walk in centre for some advice.

Since, he's had some more calpol and gone to sleep. The last week or so he's been talking himself to sleep and has been generally cheery but tonight it took about 5 minutes for him to sleep and he only drank about half an ounce of milk.

I can't see any rash, is this really how bad teething can get? I'm so worried.

Have you booked him in for a Covid test? Temp is an official symptom so you need to book him and your household isolate until you get results.

It is probably just a bug he's picked up from nursery and keeping with Calpol and trying to get him to drink and he'll hopefully perk up soon.

@NerrSnerr I have lateral flows I can do first thing before I can get a PCR. 111 never advised to test. No one else is showing symptoms or leaving the house.

He's got no other covid symptoms, he's never had a temperature this high before

I'm sure you need a PCR not a lateral flow as the LFTs are less accurate. Even though it's unlikely to be Covid it's on the symptom list so needs to be ruled out.

@NerrSnerr I can arrange a PCR. Should I be checking his temp hourly?

PCR is booked first thing tomorrow. Isolating until we get the results. Hoping it's a 24 hour thing. I've never seen him sick before

Hopefully it's just a bug he's picked up from nursery. My two (4 and 19 months) have had their fair share of colds, bugs, ear infections. My eldest was a horror for ear infections when she was a baby/toddler and regularly had temperatures of 40 degrees.

Do you have any ibuprofen (baby/child nurofen)? You can alternate ibuprofen and Calpol every few hours. This usually works with mine to keep them comfortable while they work off the bug. Hope he feels better soon

Check his tonsils for white spots. Always the cause for high temps and misery for my toddlers.
(Still go for PCR Covid test though)

I would check him in the night and have calpol/neurofen in a syringe ready to go (rather than trying to sort it out bleery eyed at 3am) as you might find his temp shoots up in the night. My DS regularly had high temps when starting nursery. We would often sit up with him whilst the Medicine kicked in, taking his temp every 15 mins until it had come down. Keep him in thin/lose clothing and minimal covers. Plenty of cuddles and sips of cool drinks if you can. (Ice lollies are also a winner for getting fluids in!) Call 111 back if his symptoms get worse or his temp won’t come down.

That sounds very normal for the sort of bugs my DC got when they were toddlers. DS memorably hit 40.5 degrees one night and I thought he was going to burst into flames!

Obviously ring 111 if you’re still worried, but keep trying to get fluids into him when he wakes up and alternate calpol and ibuprofen as suggested above.

I wouldn’t worry unduly but definitely check him regularly and get the PCR test. Also check tonsils as PP suggested. If he’s refusing liquid, do syringe some water/milk into his mouth to make sure he doesn’t get dehydrated. NB as long as you know he can have it (isn’t asthmatic for example), ibuprofen is generally better for getting high fevers down. Hope he feels better soon.

Sorry I should be clear - don’t syringe liquid while he’s asleep!!

Aww hope he's in. It's so worrying when they're ill. Fluids, Calpol/neurofen and rest will sort him in a couple of days I'm sure. Mine will always have an ice pop even if they're refusing fluids and is a good way to cool them down and give them a bit of sugar too.

Hope he's ok I meant. Damn autocorrect

Ahh I am currently lying next to a 4 year old with a 39 temp, it’s rubbish when they are unwell.

The calpol should bring down the temp, if it doesn’t then that is a worry and I would phone 111 again, if above 40 then consider A&E.

Chances are it’s just a bug though. Hope he gets better

It’s horrible seeing your own with a high temp I’m a children’s nurse and still had a flap when my little boy first had high temp! You’ve done right thing don’t panic about checking temp constantly you will know if you need to but do check him regularly and alternate paracetamol and ibuprofen as pp said unless he can’t have it at least 2 hours in between doses preferably 3 and if giving ibuprofen try to give with milk or a snack) Worst viral infection my son had resulted in 4 days of high temps and refusing go to eat and drink we tried everything it was horrid! Thing that worked best randomly was watered down yoghurt - he normally loves jelly , watermelon, ice lollies but wasn't interested! I harassed gp but was pre covid so easier to do! My little one did have random one off high temps with teething even though medically it’s not recognised in my experience it does happen so fingers crossed it’s just that but def right to get pcr done. Hope you all get some sleep and don’t hesitate to call 111 again if you’re worried