Toddler ill - do we need a second opinion?

[Snickers94]

Hi all, my dd is 17 months and since Saturday has had a high temperature reaching over 39 degrees. She has a horrible cough which has left her crying/gasping for breath at times but no other symptoms of a cold. She has not eaten a meal since Saturday. Yesterday all she ate was a yoghurt and a custard cream, the day before she managed some veggie straws and that's it.

We took her to the docs on Monday who confirmed she had a red and inflamed throat and that she would take 5-7 days to recover. He said she doesn't need antibiotics at the moment and when I asked if it's a virus he said yes.

I'm conscious she's been unwell for 5 days now and her temperature is still high at over 38 and she's still sleeping a lot and not eating anything. We are making her drink water, giving her calpol or nurofen every few hours and also some cough syrup.

Is this normal for an illness? Is it worth getting a second opinion? I've never had to give her so much calpol/nurofen before. I'm really worried about her not eating.

If you are concerned, get a second opinion. You know your daughter best. One would hope she would be improving by now so will be worth getting a follow up appointment. Hope she feels better soon

Hello,

I don't think you need a second opinion, but if you think she is getting worse rather than better after 5 days or you're concerned about dehydration I would go back to the GPs.

Illnesses progress and what started as a viral illness can then develop a secondary bacterial infection on top of the viral illness, which may then respond to antibiotics. It is still possible it's viral some children take longer than others to shake them off.

I wouldn't be concerned about food unless she was already underweight.

What cough syrup are you using. Most are not advised for young children.

You don't need to supress the temperature - it is the body's defence mechanism and it does not cause harm. NHS NICE guidelines for treatment of children under 5 state this:

Drug interventions to reduce body temperature

1.6.4Consider using either paracetamol or ibuprofen in children with fever who appear distressed. [2013]

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

1.6.6When using paracetamol or ibuprofen in children with fever:
continue only as long as the child appears distressed

consider changing to the other agent if the child's distress is not alleviated

do not give both agents simultaneously

only consider alternating these agents if the distress persists or recurs before the next dose is due. [2013]

Yes absolutely. It's not always a second opinion as such, sometimes just a progression. My three year old is prone to tonsillitis. Often it takes a few days to present as that. No harm at all in getting her checked again.

I wouldn't say you need a second opinion, but I would go back to the GP. It's likely progressed and she may need antibiotics. My GP never gives antibiotics if my DS has been ill for less than 3 - 4 days, which makes sense.

How is she @Snickers94

I would. They should be recovering at 5 days, that’s a long time to remain so unwell.

I am in the same boat nasty virus swept through my little ones nursery we are day 6 of high temp he was seen by doctor today for a check and he said it should settle in few days just to keep pushing fluids. I've been giving extra yogurts, jelly and ice cream

I'd call again tomorrow and speak to a GP, even if it's the same GP. I'd have expected them to be on the mend.

She's had a temp all day, aside from when the nurofen kicks in, and whinges and cries after coughing because I presume it hurts her throat. She also keeps waking herself up by coughing too.

She managed to eat weetabix this morning and again at night, and had a cucumber for lunch (picked out of the sandwich we gave her lol).

I feel so bad seeing her helplessly coughing and crying. Although seems a little happier today!

Hopefully she's on the mend. If she still has a temp tomorrow we will be taking her to the docs for a same day appt.

Seems like there's definitely something going round, one of my friends' baby also has something similar at the moment. Hope your little one gets better soon

My DD had this 2 weeks ago and it's going round most nurseries/primaries just now. Just a horrible week of really high fevers and then a cough, but no other symptoms. Most seem to be getting over it by day 6/7.

It's viral but I did get a blue inhaler for my little one to help beat the cough, as my DD has a history of coughs that last forever!

My DS was exactly like this at 11m. He had tonsilitis & covid.
I got 3 opinions as no one was concerned about how bad it was bar me! 3rd time I seen OOH. He was dehydrated, I had the option to force fluids or go to hospital.
2 days into anti biotics and he improved! You know your baby so follow your instincts! Hope she's better soon, awful seeing them so unwell.

I would be going back, I'd be concerned an infection had formed with her temperature consistently up like that, id want them to check her over again in case she needs antibiotics.