2 year old fever 39.9

[Whathefisgoingon]

My 24 month old has has a temperature since last night. It went up to 39.9 last night but came down through the night to 38.5ish where it hovered all day, until now where it’s back up to 39.6.

He hasn’t got any other symptoms apart from being super clingy and not so fussed for meals but happy with snacks.

We had covid 6 weeks ago so unlikely to be that but I am concerned about the post covid disease that can rarely happen to children!

Should I be taking him to a&e?

Have you given him anything? That’s the first thing a&e will ask

If it's that high after calpol then I'd be heading straight to A&E..

@pinkcattydude for the most part he refuses Calpol. He did have about 4ml this morning and I’ve just managed to give him about 5ml.

Last night nothing.

See what happens once the calpol kicks in. Ibuprofen always brings down my DS temp more than calpol does

I've only taken DS to A&E once with a temp. That was on 111 advice as it wasn't coming down with calpol or ibuprofen and he was refusing fluids. But if he's not been medicated and temp high, I'm sure their first advice would've been to get the medicine into him.

Glad he's had his dose now, hopefully it does some good

Hopefully that will bring it down. My son reacted Better to Child Nurofen if calpol doesn’t work. Go from there. Hopefully it’s just a bug and he’ll be fine after a bit of rest but if it stays up get some advice

I wouldn't even be considering a&e.

He just sounds like he has a temp. I would watch and wait. Calpol if he is obviously feeling poorly otherwise wait it out. Dr if you can't get any fluids in or temp lasts more than 4 days or so.

Advice is only calpol if they are unhappy. High temp is the bodies immune system working. Leave it to work and they recover quicker.

Try again with the cslpol and if it comes down with that don't worry. Of it doesn't come down then ring 111.

I would only go to A&E if paracetamol and ibuprofen were not bringing the temp down. You can alternate use of those.
A warm bath for no more than 10 minutes can help bring a temp down while you wait for meds to work.

My younger one had a very stubborn temp recently with Covid. Only other symptom really was a headache and tiredness. He's 6 so could tell me but presumably yours probably can't so I'd assume it's that. I'd try calpol and neurofen together and see if that helps.

I would be giving both ibuprofen and paracetamol for a temperature that high. And trying to keep up the fluids. Ice lollies can be good to keep them hydrated. It could be COVID even if he's had it recently, I would test to find out.

Thanks all.

@Legoninjago1 He had covid just under six weeks ago, unlikely to be that again but of course not impossible. DP and I have done LF’s which are negative so even less likely.

And when he did have covid his temp didn’t go above 37.5! He just had a runny nose.

I took dd with a temp because she was lethargic and wouldn’t drink. They gave ibuprofen and used a syringe to give her 5mls of squash every few minutes and it came down. So try that first. DD’s temperatures used to be scarily high with the shakes but ibuprofen and liquid did bring it down (before going up again). I would alternate ibuprofen and calpol but the ibuprofen was more effective. They said if it doesn’t come down to go in. Also check for rashes.

The first thing they'll ask you is if the temperature is brought down by calpol or ibuprofen. Find a way of bribing your child if you have to but try to get them to take the medicine. IME those temperatures are normal, high but not unusual, and they'll normally be fine in a day or 2. If it doesn't come down after calpol or ibuprofen I'd be seeking help.

Its been around 30 mins It’s come down to 38.9 from 39.6 after 5ml Calpol, which is less than the recommended dose for his age but all he’d take. I’m still not pleased so hoping it comes down further.

[quote Whathefisgoingon]@pinkcattydude for the most part he refuses Calpol. He did have about 4ml this morning and I’ve just managed to give him about 5ml.

Last night nothing.[/quote]
I've he has a fever of 39 you really need to be trying harder with the calpol

Use suppositories if they won't take liquid. I'm not sure how easy they will be get at half 7 in a Sunday though but it's a good idea to have some for future use.

I have a 7 year old who has always struggled with his temp. Alternating calpol and ibuprofen (so a dose of calpol then a dose of ibuprofen 2 hours later) was what we were advised after he had a febrile seizure due to high temp, and usually works to keep him below 40 when he's running hot. Then cool (but not freezing cold) flannel on the back of his neck, flat sheet at night rather than any other covers and a cool (but again, not freezing) room. Hope your dc feels better soon.

Oh, and he was also a medicine refuser when he was younger so we had to use the squirting into the side of his cheek method! Not pleasant for anyone and can definitely remember the screaming fits, but it was worth it to bring his temp down.

How is he refusing exactly I have to admit I feel a bit bad, but DS never had a choice it was squirted in the back of his throat as at the time he needed it.

As others have said, ibuprofen far more effective for bringing temp down. In my experience calpol will bring it down slightly but nurofen will bring it down to normal for a few hours. This was the advice of nurses in hospital with my DS. If it’s responding to medication I wouldn’t go to a and e unless any rashes or worryingly lethargic.

Down to 37.7 now.

@pinkcattydude when I do that, he chokes and splutters, so I don’t.

I'd go to a&e and I had this with DS4 2 weeks ago no real signs of illness lethargic but temp kept popping up to 39 plus even with calpol etc. called gp couldn't get an appointment called 111 got told to go to urgent care - turns out he had a nasty chest infection without a cough. I felt dreadful for not recognising it - temperature was the only sign. lovely DR said temp is a sign of something so anything over 39 which is not coming down needs checking. I'd been giving DS calpol and the lowest his temp went was 37. Hope you can get LO seen soon ❤️

Why is everyone so focussed on getting his temperature down? The height of his temperature is not necessarily an indicator of how unwell he is, and bringing down his temperature won’t fix the underlying illness.

“ 1.6.5 Do not use antipyretic agents with the sole aim of reducing body temperature in children with fever. [2013]”

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng143/chapter/recommendations#antipyretic-interventions

Buy suppositories in the morning (not cheap so you can ask your doctor for a prescription. I would only take to A&E if no response from medicine or other symptoms , eg not responsive.