2 month old has temp of 38 - shall I call 111 or take him to A&E?

[dreamerkr]

Just as above. 2 month old DS has a temp of 38. Whole family is down with a cold and a temperature and he’s caught it off us. Shall I call 111 or take him to children’s A&E? Or shall I wait 2 hours to call GP and ask for an appointment (although they’re crap and won’t give an appointment until after a few days or a week). I gave him calpol. He also has a cough (sometimes) and a blocked nose.

Try your GP first thing. I wouldn’t Clog up A&E. most GPS would find a space for a sick infant.

Is calpol bringing the temp down? you could also use nurofen which imo lowers their temperature more effectively. If his temperature can be managed then I don’t think there is any call for a&e

Do you not still have a midwife or health visitor? I would call them, probably quicker and they can add you to their rounds.

Doesn’t sound like he needs to go to A&E. Is the temp coming down with Calpol?

Nurofen can’t be used until 3 months so OP don’t do this, unless advised by a medical professional.

@GiltEdges ah sorry - I didn’t know/remember that

GPs are supposed to prioritise seeing infants i think? Are you sure they wont be able to make a space? I've always been offered a same day appt for DD, even when I've had to wait weeks.

There's advice on what to do here: www.nhs.uk/conditions/fever-in-children/

Thank you so much guys. I called 111 who told me to call GP as soon as they open so I’ll do that. He does seem a little less warm after I gave him calpol around 45 mins ago.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/fever-in-children/

You’re doing the right thing

Glad things sound like they’re under control OP.

Id be worried about them catching something else in A&E!

it sounds like the calpol is helping, I’d also do lots of skin to skin. Your body can help baby to regulate their temperature.

Midwife remit is up to 28 days at most.

Health visitors deliver the Healthy Child Programme - vaccinations, feeding, growth, sleep etc. Not acute issues. They will say to go to the GP.

Are you in the uk? Midwives discharge at 28 days in England and health visitors don't see sick kids.

OP a baby under 3 months with a temp definitely needs to be seen by a gp. You mentioned a cough so it could be the start of bronchiolitis, its rife at the moment.

Under 3 months with a fever is often an a&e visit, take a bag ready for an overnight stay to your GP appointment in case they send you straight there. And if the GP can't see the child today go to a&e instead.
I'm always the absolute last person to say go to hospital but in my experience 111 usually advise going when a small baby has a fever.

Fever under 3 months needs to be seen by Dr.

We've just had something similar with my baby, when her fever hit 38 we went to a&e as advised in the bronchiolitis leaflet the GP gave me (as under 3 months).

We had a 5 day hospital stay. Our timeline was this-

Congested nose and sneezing for a couple of days
Sunday cough started
Monday GP, diagnosed bronch but said breathing ok. Advised it would probably get worse
Tuesday lunchtime a&e. Watched her deteriorate whilst there
Tuesday evening admitted to HDU, on oxygen, ng tube and IV antibiotics for pneumonia as well
Christmas Eve discharged

Please do watch your baby carefully, and take them in. They deteriorate so quickly at this age, but do also recover quickly. DD is practically back to normal now however DP and I are pretty traumatised by the whole thing! I hope he's ok and you all feel better soon.

In my experience, a fever in an under three month old is taken pretty seriously, as it isn’t very usual and can be a sign of underlying infection.

With our five week old, we called 111 on a Saturday, they booked us a slot at A&E, we were triaged right away, put in a separate room, and admitted a few hours later for three nights. They started him on antibiotics whilst they ran a gamut of tests to check him for underlying infections. Luckily he didn’t have any and his swab came back positive for an adenovirus, so we were discharged after three days.

I was completely unprepared that we’d have to be admitted, so I’d agree you should pack a bag when you see the GP just in case. I didn’t even have a phone charger and ran out of nappies and baby clothes from the changing bag pretty quickly!

Another one to say prepare to be sent to hospital, either A&E or if you are lucky a pediatric day assessment unit. GPs use this traffic light to assess risk in kids under 5. My experience is that if your DC scores amber they'll discuss possibly sending you in and red we've been sent in. A fever of 38 and over in a baby under 3 months is red. www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng143/resources/support-for-education-and-learning-educational-resource-traffic-light-table-pdf-6960664333&ved=2ahUKEwiojovt5Zv8AhWGd8AKHYpIBBQQFnoECDUQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1PvX0XMBllCvuDwFayWzKC

I took him to GP who checked his temp and it was normal at that time around 37. GP said to continue giving him Calpol and he will get better. They checked his chest etc and everything else was fine. However, DS has got a fever again (not too high but it’s 38).