At what temp do you get worried?

[Whoareyoumyfriend]

Ds1 (5.9) has had a fever of over 40 (mostly aroind 40.6 - 40.8) for 36 hours now. It comes down with calpol and nurofen but he's SO sick. Doctor said it's just a virus and to ride it out but bless him. He is prone to fevers this high but never for this long.

My younger boy has never ever had a fever this high so I'd panic if it were him!

The key is that I'd does come down with meds, even though it hops back up again.

Space them out so you can cover the 24 hours and wait it out.
His temp is very high but if it goes below 38 with meds it's ok.

What are the other symptoms? Is he sleeping? Does he settle once meds have kicked in?

Keep hydrated with water/ juice

We always say 'treat the child, not the temp' ie some kids are prone to v high temps, some are very sick with lower temps. It's more about the other symptoms as well, rather than the temp itself iykwim

It's coming down to about 39-40 with meds and does perk up.

It's pretty much a covid type bug. Although his covid test was negative.

He's definitely very sick when meds wear off. I had to carry him to the toilet this morning

Poor little one,no advice just wanted to say hope he feels better soon! x

Whenever my son gets tonsillitis (not as much now, but was frighteningly regular between 2-4) he would often spike up to 40c. It's horrible and medication would only bring it down a little bit. Some kids are prone to getting high fevers with viruses/infections, my boy could battle through without batting an eyelid until about 39c and was then floored!

I would spend days (sometimes a week) alternating calpol and nurofen every two hours and working out when was the best time to give a dose.

Have the doctors ruled out ear infection/tonsillitis? Those are the two things that caused my son to have sky high temps. I'd say if it's not coming down to mid-fever by tomorrow (ie still in the 39-40 bracket after 4 days) I would get a second opinion.

Generally though high temps are horrible but unless it's going from normal - high in a rapid time, it's very much a case of riding it out with as much medication, fluids and rest as possible.

My son had this when he was the same age, he actually fell asleep on the toilet he was so poorly ! Doctor said the same thing, viral and nothing they could do. High temp for about 5 days then it suddenly just broke ! I do find ibuprofen better for a fever than Calpol myself. Hope he feels better soon

Is he drinking?

You know your child best and if he's really poorly compared to previous illnesses then I'd be concerned. I called 111 one time when my DD was just so listless and tragic and unlike her normal self age around 6. Think they actually sent a doctor round. I recall she ended up with antibiotics as he found an ear infection but there was more going on than that. She was so poorly for about 2 weeks, and really quite weak once she got going again then a few months later a lot of her hair fell out. Not to bald patches but about 50%. It went very thin. Then I had to cut it all short to stop the big fuzzy halo and rats tail ponytail look.

Is his temperature higher at particular points of the day? Higher at night for example?

Telogen effluvium is what the hair loss thing is. Basically, the body stops doing some of the non-critical functions to maintain the critical functions. So, some of the hair follicles temporarily stop functioning and the hair dies and eventually falls out. It does grow back eventually - little soft baby hairs which produce the fuzzy halo.
Happened to my daughter when she was little and seriously ill too.

Yes to spacing out the paracetamol and ibuprofen meds to give them regularly throughout the day.
But...alternating every 2 hours (as mentioned above) is far too much and will result in an overdose

Fever spikes every time the meds wear off. We are giving medication approximately every 4 hours. He's super lethargic and sleepy when the fever comes back but isn't too bad with meds. Still having fever spikes of above 40. It's been more than 48h now

You sound very rational so if you aren't happy then try and get him seen by OOH tonight, you will worry more when it spikes again at 3/4am, so you might get an earlier appointment if you start now.

The fact he's had previous temps but you're posting for advice tells me your gut is worried, go with it.

I think I'm just always on watch with this child. He often gets quite sick and then either rallies or dips. It's just a case of wait and see if he ends up in hospital. He's never majorly poorly but sometimes enough for an overnight admission. I like to think I'm rational. I'm usually quite cool headed about illness. But I hate the watch and wait. It feels stressful and lonely

I've been there. My dd was a very poorly child, sometimes you think they are going to rally and they don't, sometimes the opposite, you won't always guess it right.

I would call 111 just for reassurance, it's the longest temp he's had and 40+ is a worry point.

I’ve had ones like this a few times; one time we ended up in hospital but only because DD stopped eating and drinking so in hospital they gave calpol and fluids though a nasal tube. Once she was drinking and eating they sent us home even though temp was still high as they weren’t worried when it’s only a temp and feeling ill.

The fever persists. So it's now been 4.5 days of fever. Today was slightly lower at 39.8 but its the first time he's had a fever below 40 since Sunday lunch. To add, calpol and nurofen does take it below 40.

He has an appointment with the nurse practitioner tomorrow at 8am. It's all they would offer us.