My 18 month old has a forehead temp of 38. He is very drowsy and has been most of the day. I put it down to hot weather today but he seems to not be himself at all. He feels very hot yet his skin has the appearence of goosebumps and he keeps covering himself up with a blanket like he is cold. He is quite pale as well. Should i be concerned. He has no rash and doesnt appear to be in any pain just very clingy and seemingly sleepy. not his usual hyper self?? Should i take him to hospital or let him sleep and see what he is like tommorow???
Hi... a kid is who is not himself even if the fever is not there might be having a bacterial infection of viral illness which can be a viral hemorrhagic fever. I suggest you take him to the nearest emergency room to be sure that nothing serious is going on and the can be rest assured. I will suggest you how a viral illness will behave so that you can be rest assured - Fever of few days without any localizing signs could as well a viral illness. Usually rather than fever, what is more important is the activity of the child, in between 2 fever episodes on the same day. If the kid is active and playing around when there is no fever, it is probably viral illness and it doesn't require antibiotics at all. Once viral fever comes it will there for 4-7 days. So do not worry about duration if the kid is active. Regards- 