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Original poster

On day 4 of 2 year old's 40 degree fever

203 replies

AlexaStop · 22/05/2021 07:04

Hi, my poor DS has had tonsillitis and a fever of 40 degrees since Wednesday. It comes down to about 38 with calpol and ibuprofen so I've been alternating these but like clockwork once it wears off it's straight back up. GP diagnosed bacterial tonsillitis on Thursday and he's been on antibiotics since then. Took him to A&E paeds ward last night after he started having some convulsions who also confirmed nasty tonsillitis case and said convulsions are due to very high temp. They said we can come straight back to the ward if he gets worse.
Do we just ride it out? I'm concerned it's not getting much better and also worried about the constant stream of paracetamol and ibuprofen he's been having - I've stayed to the time limits but this will be the fourth day in a row of it.

Hasn't eaten since Wednesday but is managing to drink some things (water, milk), nappies wet and few cases of diarrhoea yesterday. We have a difflam spray but it makes him vomit every time. Poor thing feels so miserable and just wants cuddles but I also have a 10mo to see to. Any advice is welcome!

OP posts:
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Cleverpolly3 · 22/05/2021 21:57

He looks less flushed on his arms. I love their little hands and arms so scrumptious
Hope he gets some rest and you do too

Puntastic · 23/05/2021 00:19

I hope he's much improved by the morning.

x

JassyRadlett · 23/05/2021 00:26

Oh the poor little man, and poor you. Hoping you’re all getting a little rest.

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Clymene · 23/05/2021 00:43

Poor wee thing. Tonsillitis hurts like a mofo too so he must be really suffering. Hope the new antibiotics kick it into touch

Original poster
AlexaStop · 23/05/2021 00:49

He had a couple hours sleep but has woke up uncomfortable at 39 degrees again. Just giving him ibuprofen and another dose of antibiotics now.

OP posts:
SeaToSki · 23/05/2021 00:59

Stay on top of them for the results on the culture from his throat they are growing to see what bacteria he has there. The first antibiotic is a broad spectrum, and since it didnt work, he clearly has an unusual variety in there and might need another medicine adjustment based on what they grow

Hope he picks up in the morning.

Original poster
AlexaStop · 23/05/2021 01:14

They should have the result of the culture on Monday.

Temp just hit 40 again. It will be his bedtime calpol wearing off. He's also snoring really loudly which is unusual but probably due to the swollen tonsils?

OP posts:
KurtWilde · 23/05/2021 01:41

Oh bless him! Yeah that snoring will be his enlarged tonsils. My DD has quite large tonsils all and is a real snorer!

summerisler · 23/05/2021 03:34

How is he doing now, OP? Poor little mite - it sounds like he’s really going through it. I hope you’re ok - it’s hard to see your little one so poorly.

Original poster
AlexaStop · 23/05/2021 04:31

Temp is back down and he's asleep but snoring very loud and seems to be having some apnea episodes, it's as if his tonsils are so big he's struggling to get a big full breath and it startles him to wake up. I've rolled him into his front which seems to be helping for now

OP posts:
ZombiePara · 23/05/2021 04:40

I known it's difficult with a small one (heck, I dislike a change in sleeping position if unwell!) but sometimes sleeping slightly raised up helps with tonsillitis as it lessens the tongue interfering while asleep.

Again.. keep an eye on his breathing and if you arent happy with it, call the ward/pop in.

Tonsils can be quite a risk to the airway, but because everything relaxes when asleep it does make it sound awful!

Fingers crossed that the new antibiotics work (they sound more like what I've been given for tonsillitis before)

Original poster
AlexaStop · 23/05/2021 04:44

@ZombiePara thanks I have propped a pillow up behind him so he is raised, but still having the loud breathing and apnea episodes. I'm recording some on my phone so I can play back to Dr if needed.

At first I was worried it may have been a reaction to the penicillin but as he has no other symptoms I'm thinking it's obstructive sleep apnea (my 4am google diagnosis..)

OP posts:
NameChange30 · 23/05/2021 06:20

You must be exhausted Flowers

cocoloco987 · 23/05/2021 06:27

I find tonsillitis the most stubborn thing and takes much longer than anything else to respond to anti biotics. Dd once had a stubborn high temperature that calpol wasn't touching. Took her to a&e where they gave her it in suppository form which really got it under control. This was not in the UK though so not sure if it's something that they do as standard here but the effects were so quick and effective. Worth asking about any alternatives to get temp down after so long.

shenanigans5 · 23/05/2021 06:36

Reading this thread I’m a bit worried for him. It’s a long time for a little one to be fighting a really nasty bacterial infection. Pen v is hard to get into kids and giving it with food/milk can reduce how effective it is. If you’re struggling getting it in and he remains unwell (high temp etc) today I think they should consider giving some iv antibiotics on the ward.
A prolonged bacterial infection in a very young child is a sepsis risk.

shenanigans5 · 23/05/2021 06:39

I actually wouldn’t raise his head to sleep. You don’t want to constrict his airway since the swelling seems very significant. Do the ward know about the apnoea? I think it’s important to tell them that his airway/breathing is compromised during sleep.

BitOfAFaff · 23/05/2021 06:45

Bless his little heart Sad.

I would be inclined to take him back to hospital. I think he needs IV ab's. It's a long time to have such a high fever.

They should've changed his ab with diarrhoea. Sounds like he could have be having a small reaction to penicillin.

Hope he feels better soon x

Springchickpea · 23/05/2021 07:30

Is the apnoea new? As in has he always had apnoea or is this from the tonsillitis? It is likely that the tonsils are so swollen that they are obstructing his airway. They’re probably ok at the moment, but it can get quite serious - we have had dexamethasone (steroid) in a&e for this before (my stoic 4 year old approached the booking desk and stated ‘my tonsils are blocking my airway and I might die’ 😳). I think at the very least you should call the ward this morning (and maybe evening too if you’re not seen) for a chat. They are reluctant to start IVs, it’s not nice for the child to be cannulated, but sometimes (in my non-medic) view, they wait two long and it’s all just a bit too stressful waiting for them to turn that corner. I have experienced that twice with tonsillitis, and once with a 10mo and a raging uti. The oral abx can be quite slow, but once they are working the child should pick up fairly quickly. I myself have a history of horrific tonsillitis and I always find that after 24 hours of pen V I am a different person, even if it will take a further couple of days to feel completely better.

Springchickpea · 23/05/2021 07:33

And just to add my full experience in: this may be the start of his journey towards tonsillectomy. It might not be, but for us, aged just about 3 and a very acute bout of tonsillitis requiring IV abx set up a pattern of repeated infection that lasted the next 18 months. Having his tonsils removed was the very best decision we made. It was just a month or so after the ‘I’m going to die’ statement, which was the point at which I could do no more waiting.

BitOfAFaff · 23/05/2021 07:40

Also agree with other PP's about the apnoea. If this is new you need to get him seen too.

mommybear1 · 23/05/2021 07:48

Hope your little one is feeling a little better today OP and you have managed to get some sleep.

BatleyTownswomensGuild · 23/05/2021 07:55

Goodness me this thread is harrowing. Your poor little boy, OP. Keeping everything crossed that he turns a corner today.

SquirtleSquad · 23/05/2021 08:00

DS1 was very similar as a young baby, in and out of hospital with tonsillitis, so many nights awake watching him sleep with a ridiculous temperature.

I hope he's settled and that fever breaks soon but please do keep phoning or going in whenever you feel he needs it. You seem to have a good sense about you when things aren't quite right.

Thanks
KateTheEighth · 23/05/2021 08:06

I hope he turns a corner soon

From what you've said of his tonsils and snoring I think I'd be trying to see out of hours if he isn't a bit better today

Original poster
AlexaStop · 23/05/2021 08:20

Thanks, yes the snoring and apnea is new tonight. I called the ward after my last post and spoke to a doctor who said it sounds like obstructive sleep apnea because his throat muscles will have relaxed in deep sleep. I let him listen to him on the phone. He said to make sure he doesn't sleep curled up and raise him slightly which I did. He said if he seems to have difficulty with his breathing while awake then to bring him back in.

Unlikely to be a reaction to penicillin if there's no rash or swelling.

He's still asleep just now so will see how he is when he wakes up shortly. Temp ok at the minute probably due to the ibuprofen during the night

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