Very high temp in toddler

[Littlepoppet1]

DD has been generally not herself all day and now has a temp of 40. Gave Calpol a hour ago and it's only come down to 39.9. Obviously I'll be taking her for a covid test first thing in the morning but I just wondered at what point I should worry if it's very high overnight?

Pre covid I'd probably have already called 111 but I think they are just gonna tell me to get a covid test? How high would it need to get before they agree she needs to be seen regardless? Just putting her to bed at the mo as she's exhausted but I'm thinking of just calling them anyway for advice...wwyd?

How old is she?

This just happened to be niece as her GP saw her outside... also if you have to go to children’s hospital they will still see you and you just wait in a separate room.

Not coming down much with calpol isn’t ideal, can you also give ibuprofen and see if that helps.

Any obvious rashes?

Sorry completely forgot to say how old she was! She is 2.5. She has no rash or anything. She does have a tooth cutting through but doesn't seem to have been to bothered by it really!

If you would normally ring 111 then do it.

I would definitely be calling 111

How unhappy is she? You know her best. If she goes to sleep I'd check her temp again in 45 mins and give nurofen if it's still high. If it doesn't come down after paracetamol and ibuprofen I'd phone 111. It's always the case that it will spike in the night, so you may as well phone at a reasonable hour than at 3am (been there!)

Give her a warm bath for max 15 minutes, this can help bring a temp down while meds do their work. You can alternate ibuprofen with paracetamol too. If the temp remains high then you may need to go to A&E with her.

I'd ring 111 and see if you can order home tests to arrive tomorrow

My DC have had 40+ temps with tonsillitis before - any suggestion of a sore throat? For some reason ibuprofen works better with them than paracetamol so if you have/can get hold of some kids nurofen then try that. If that doesn’t bring it down then call 111. From memory when I’ve had to take mine to OOH they’ve said they like the temperature to come down to 38.something before they send you home so I would use that as a bench mark. But I think the general issues are whether it comes down with medication, and how ill they seem in themselves. f you’re worried at all then call 111.

Yes, 6pm and 3am seem to be peak temperature times! Don’t do cool baths or anything but do strip off some layers. You can alternate calpol and ibuprofen. This sums it up really: www.nhs.uk/conditions/fever-in-children/

Thanks all! I have phoned 111 and they are getting the GP out of hours service to call me back within 2 hours. She is asleep now but temp still high 😕 hate it when they are poorly!

How is she? Asleep I hope

When mine have had temps over 40 it’s always been tonsillitis or UTI. I hope she’s ok OP and you’ve heard from the GP.

I thought UTI as well. DD's temperature used to go dangerously high when she had a UTI. I would try and get a urine sample.

I hope she feels better soon