When would you take your child to see a doctor when they have a fever?

[ZaHaK]

How long should would you wait before taking your child to see a doctor if they have a fever of 38°C or higher, or a fever above 39°C, and when would you be concerned that they might need medical evaluation for a possible infection e.g. Antibiotics?

My child has had a fever of 39C and been on antibiotics (Amoxycillin) twice in 2 months and i usually take them to the doctors after 2/3 days. I was speaking to my work colleague who has had 3 children who have never needed antibiotics. I am not sure whether i am too quick to go to the doctors or is 39C temperature after 3 days worth contacting the GP for?

All 3 of their children have attended nursery and mine started 2 months ago.

You don’t mention any other symptoms?

Does calpol reduce the temp?

NHS website says:

advice: Call 111 or your GP surgery now if your child:
is under 3 months old and has a temperature of 38C or higher, or you think they have a high temperature
is 3 to 6 months old and has a temperature of 39C or higher, or you think they have a high temperature
has other signs of illness, such as a rash, as well as a high temperature
has a high temperature that's lasted for 5 days or more
does not want to eat, or is not their usual self and you're worried
is dehydrated – such as nappies that are not very wet, sunken eyes, and no tears when they're crying

The NHS guidance is five days so I normally wait five days unless I have other concerns (like breathing difficulties). My youngest is prone to this and has needed oxygen as an impatient before. The last time we went to A&E was on the fifth day and he needed antibiotics for a chest infection.

Other symptoms being lethargic, cough etc

yes but only by 1C

My child isn't poorly now... but i just wondered whether I am too quick to go to doctors and whether the doctors is then too quick to prescribe antibiotics.
I was just surprised none of my work colleagues have needed antibiotics ever... even though they go to nurseries.

As long as calpol bringing it down and no other infection sign eg stomach pain, obvious pus etc I’d wait until day 5.

My eldest is 15 and has antibiotics once 🤷‍♀️

@ZaHaK Have you been advised in the past to alternate Calpol and Ibuprofen? My eldest is fine with just Calpol but my youngest needs Ibuprofen about 30 minutes after the Calpol for it to have any real impact. I would speak to a doctor before you do this though…

Me too

no symptons you say, so well in himself? And calpol bringing down temp, yes I’d def wait.

appetite? Sleeping ok?

This was revelatory to me when I was told this by my GP for my second child!!

I think I would leave it a few days, and if they weren’t improving, getting worse, or have other worrying symptoms then I would go.

It doesn’t matter what other people do. If you feel the need to go, then go.

If they hit day 6 of fever without any obvious cause, they must see a Dr - we were recently told this by multiple medical people (OOO GP on day 2, then A&E on day 4, then actual GP on day 6) when ds3 (8) was incredibly poorly with a very high fever.

Beyond the age of 1, I've never taken mine to the dr primarily because of fever. My youngest used to regularly get a temp of over 39 with pretty much every illness. It always came down at least a bit with calpol or nurofen though.

When they've had antibiotics it's always been because of other worrying symptoms on top of the fever thats led us to get medical help.

You know your child and you know when they aren't right though, so I'd always trust your instincts and any good doctor will agree.

My son (8) recently had flu and had a temperature for 5 days - at some points it was 40 and was only going to 39 with calpol and ibuprofen together. He was still drinking and weeing fine - I monitored at home, and would have taken him only once we got past 5 days. IHe also had a chesty cough and very lethargic, but I felt that because he was passing wee and drinking, it wasn't too bad. He has only had antibiotics once in his life, after open heart surgery

Poor love

does his surgery make him more vulnerable to infections?

Nope not at all - this was the first time he had ever been that sick!

Would you religiously give Calpol for 3-5 days at 4 hour intervals with nurofen on top?

I personally gave calpol then ibuprofen 2 hours later then 2 hours later calpol and repeat. I set an alarm during teh night to deal with it

If it helps we have been told by HV when our son was born and I now see it’s on our GP website too to use NHS Healthier together for any illnesses and ailments in children. There is a website and app and it tells you whether you need to see GP, an and E or treat at home etc. This may be useful to you in the future

I don't have a thermometer at home for this reason.

I take them when their symptoms become concerning, super drowsy, not eating or drinking. A temperature by itself wouldn't concern me unless it had been several days.

Lucky enough to have never had antibiotics for either child.

The free Fever Friend app is brilliant for helping you decide when to let it run its course vs see a doctor.

I would leave it 4 or 5 days if just a temp and they didn’t seem to be getting worse. My DS is only 20 months but is prone to tonsillitis so has had 4 lots of antibiotics. Whenever he gets this his fever is very high and doesn’t come down at all with Calpol or Nurofen, that’s when I know he’s really poorly. He also just seems obviously ill and gets worse not better. A lot of the nursery illnesses just make him grouchy and he perks up after the Calpol.

You got unlucky a bit too maybe. For Calpol to not work is unusual. My kid is 1.5 and has never had fever above 38 for more than 3 days. So your kids are picking up some nasty bugs too.

Antibiotics totally wreck their gut, I get so sick when i have to take any, so I avoid them if I can.