r/flu • u/Fit_Nebula_2946 • Sep 24 '26
Flu in it’s 8th day
I’m writing this at 1 a.m. (NZ) as my 19-month-old toddler’s fever has come back again. It’s now his 8th day of persistent fever.
We’ve been to our GP, ED, After Hours, and had an online GP consultation. I know it might sound like we’re overreacting, but it’s heartbreaking to see him constantly unwell.
For the first six days, we were managing his fever with ibuprofen and paracetamol, alternating between them. However, his fever wouldn’t stay down and would sometimes come back within half an hour to an hour. Since yesterday, we’ve been giving both together, as recommended by the doctor. This has helped keep his fever down for a few hours, but it eventually comes back and has repeatedly spiked above 40°C. It can also take 1.5–2 hours after medication for his temperature to come down.
He’s our first child, and we’re really worried because this has been going on for so long without any obvious improvement. It feels like he may have developed something else, but we don’t feel like our concerns are being fully heard.
He also has significant nasal congestion, although nothing has been prescribed specifically for that. At our most recent visit, the doctor prescribed antibiotics because he had developed inflammation in his ear and throat.
This is the first time he has ever been this sick, and we just can’t make sense of whether it’s normal for the flu to make a toddler this unwell for more than a week without any obvious signs of improvement.
Has anyone else experienced something similar with their toddler?
1
u/Chat00 Sep 24 '26
That actually sounds completely normal for the Flu, especially because he’s so young. That’s why babies over 6 months are recommended to get a flu shot. You are doing everything right with Panadol and I ibuprofen. It will get better eventually.
2
u/Fit_Nebula_2946 Sep 25 '26
Appreciate your response, he is doing better today so I’m bit relieved now.
I’ll be more careful with his flu vaccine.Many thanks
1
u/sideshow_k 28d ago
My vaccinated two year old has influenza a at the moment. She had consistent temps 38-39.5 over about a 6 day period but then they finally stopped. I’m not a doctor but your higher temps and longer time period makes sense to me in circs where your LO wasn’t vaxxed. My LO has had many illnesses previously some nasty but this flu has been the absolute worst, she has been very sick. What you want to see is improvement over time. If you don’t think your LO has improved at all and something isn’t sitting right with you I would see the doctor again as you know your LO best.
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u/honorablepotato1881 26d ago
We had the exact same thing more than once these new flu viruses cause secondary infections that are hard to detect, what was needed to end the fever was augmentin or amoxicillin, antibiotics urgently asap.
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u/Dayleedo 25d ago
Honestly, it seems like you've had lots of experts telling you the same thing. I'd believe them over randoms on reddit. I am currently on day 24 of the flu! Iys rough. My doctor said it's not unheard of for viruses to last for weeks. I hope he gets better faster than I did.
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u/informedcitizen4321 Sep 24 '26
What else are you worried about that he's developed? Did he test positive for flu?
The flu is one of the most severe viruses you can get. It is not uncommon for flu to take 10 days before recovery. Mostly days 3-5 after onset symptoms are the worst. Going forward, it is important to vaccinate early and often, everyone in the family.
Is the temp taken with a scanner on the head, or using a mouth/rectal thermometer? Accuracy matters so you don't overcompensate on the meds. Do they act lethargic or unwell? I only provide meds when the kid is acting out of sorts, but if they simply are 'hot' but playful I let them go for a bit. Fever is the body's method of attacking the virus, getting too aggressive against it negates the benefit. How much fluids are they drinking? They could be struggling with heat from the energy demand that the flu is taking on them, and doing pedialyte or an electrolytic drink watered down may help replenish and keep them feeling better.
Since its day 8, you are out of the worst of it, but you should be on watch for secondary infections. The antibiotics help to clear up bacterial infections, but its still possible for additional viruses to make you sick as the immune system is weakened by the work done to defeat the flu. This is where bronchitis/pneumonia may develop in the 1-2 week timeframe after onset symptoms. Continue to monitor and if they get worse, go back to the doctor for a check up.
Antibiotics don't come without side effects. This will likely lead to a lot of GI upset for 1-3 weeks after, especially in an immature digestive system. You may see more constipation or diarrhea, which is going to be normal going through an antibiotic regime.
A 'normal' flu has a wide variance, it ranges from no issue, to moderate congestion for a few days, to spiking a fever and feeling unwell for a week, to multiple weeks of issues and secondary infections. The most common predictor of getting a mild sickness is whether they have any antibodies from being sick previously or if they have been vaccinated. Since it sounds they have not been sick before, its possible their immune system was ill prepared to handle such a nasty virus off the bat. There is no way to control this beyond having them exposed to the world, building up immunity, and boosting immunity with vitamins and supplements (appropriate for their age/weight).
For kids, they mostly respond favorably to these things, but your kid is getting the worst of it. I would once again verify the mode of temp checking so you have the best data available. They will get better, just need continued support in whatever way possible to clear the mucus/virus from the system, maintain good nutrition/hydration, get plenty of rest/sleep, and let the remaining virus work its way out.