DS has temperature and headache and very smelly wee.....sorry TMI

[WhatFreshHellIsThis]

Is this normal flu/cold type thing? He's very miserable and is complaining of a headache. He is eating but only tiny amounts, but his nappies absolutely reek. He's drinking fluids, as much as we can get into him. Anyone else having the same thing with their DCs?

He also makes really weird wailing noises if you disturb his sleep, like nothing I've heard him do before.

[DoNotAsfinishedXmasshopping]

UTI? It can be quite a generalised unwellness in LOs.

I would get him checked by GP.

[mrsdisorganised]

my dd has recurring urine and kidney infections with similar symptoms, get you gp to check for you, hope that is of some help.

[scrooged]

Little girls are more likely to get UTI's then a boy due to their differing anatomy. I have only ever cared for one baby boy with a UTI in 2 years. If he has a fever, even a mild one or is rather snotty then this would be using up most of the fluid he is drinking. Do get him checked out though if he's ill and you are concerned. They may ask you to try and get a urine sample so they can check it. It is very rare for boys to get a UTI but not unheard of.

Keep up with the fluids. I hope he's feeling better soon.

[WhatFreshHellIsThis]

thank you - i've been a bit worried by the combination of headache/dislike of being touched/fever but tried to call the Meningitis Trust helpline and they're busy. Must be that time of year.

He's in bed now but when I picked him up to carry him up to bed he just started wailing, but not with words, just noises, it was very odd.

[scrooged]

I would call NHS direct and see what they say. Does he have an aversion to bright lights (look away)? any rash? have you taken his temp?

[ilovemydog]

Poor thing - are you going to take him to Children's Hospital?

[scrooged]

Having had dealings with NHS direct before and having had patients with dealings with NHS direct also I would be inclined to take him to your local Childrens Energency department, especially as you think this could be meningitis. NHS direct can be off the mark so it's better to get him checked.

I hope you get it sorted and he's OK.

[WhatFreshHellIsThis]

I just spoke to the Meningitis Trust helpline and they weren't very sure what to advise - she'd just started saying something about keeping an eye on him for the next hour or so when she cut me off accidentally

he has complained about the light a couple of times, but only when he's just woken up, which is probably normal, and he's been watching telly this pm so I would have thought that would be painful if his eyes were hurting, wouldn't it?

no rash - have been trying to take temp but have one of those stupid ear thermometers and I can't get it register. Am in two minds about what to do, suspect if I call NHS Direct they'll just tell me to take him to A&E, whatever the weather, won't they?

[WhatFreshHellIsThis]

I don't know if I'm just being hormonal and paranoid though

[scrooged]

There are different types of meningitis, the severe one makes the rash which is meningicoccal scepticemia, there's also viral meningitis and bacterial meningitis. I have seen a child with bacterial, mild temp, no rash, no aversion to bright light, sleepy, mild temp. It can be hard to diagnose so it does need a paediatrician. The child I cared for was given antibiotics by the GP for something else which kept a lid on things. It could be the flu but if he's not himself, has a headache and is behaving differently then I would take him to the hospital so he can be checked over by a paediatrician. It may just be flu but it should be checked.

[ilovemydog]

Not necessarily - I called them once after DD banged her head. The whole situation sounded sooo dodgy. We had moved out of the house as the kitchen was being installed, and weren't at our usual address. And I didn't know the address of where we were, just 'North Wales'

They asked me specific questions, and didn't suggest going to A & E, and that it was OK to give her Calpol...

[WhatFreshHellIsThis]

I just went up to check him and try to take his temp using the underarm thermometer. When I tried to put it under his arm he yelled 'No!' really loudly and pulled the duvet round him.

I think I might wait till 9pm when his last lot of paracetamol will wear off and see if he wakes up - last time it wore off he woke up wailing and really hot, so it'll give me an idea of whether he's got any worse or not.

Have noticed he's got a very red ear, could it be an ear infection? He's never had one of those before so I might not recognise the symptoms.

[WhatFreshHellIsThis]

scrooged I'm not disregarding your sound advice, I'm just trying to work out what my gut instinct is telling me as opposed to what my panicky pregnant hormonal anxious mother state of mind is telling me, iyswim. last thing I want to do is wake him up and drag him out in the FREEZING cold if I'm just being paranoid mum.

[Sycamoretree]

I would lay money on this being a UI. DD had the same thing - it went away for a day then came back, we ignored - at our peril. She got her first febrile convulsion a day later and was in hospital for 4 days with a severe UI . Is it wierd smelling, a bit pear drop like, rather than just strong plain old wee? DD's was def different smelling than just strong wee....

[WhatFreshHellIsThis]

it does smell a bit odd, i wouldn't say pear drops though, although it's hard to describe. but it's very strong smelling.

[WhatFreshHellIsThis]

I just went and sniffed my son's bottom - not pear drops, more acrid sort of bitter smelling.

one of his eyes is really red all round the socket, but not the other one. it's all very odd.

[scrooged]

It's alright. I'm a mum too so I know that it can be tough. If he's reluctant to let you take his temp then this is a good sign. You should worry if he's docile and compliant. He could have a red ear if he's been lying on it, I can tell when my ds has a temp as his ears go red.

Do try NHS direct though, they are accurate most of the time, they have a computer system that flags up problems but are not there assessing your child in person, this is where things can go pear shaped. Some of them assume that a child with a swollen sore leg has got it stuck in their cot bars without being there so you have to trust your instincts.

Boys very rarly get UTI's by the way, if he's hot and has a runny nose then his urine will be concentrated because of this. It is normal.

[scrooged]

What do you mean, red around the socket? Is it red and hot around the eye lid?

[WhatFreshHellIsThis]

just got back from out of hours doc - she reckons it's just a virus and to keep giving nurofen/paracetamol. he does seem to have perked up more from nurofen than he did from paracetamol - he's currently unlacing DPs shoes having told him off for wearing them in the house.

off to bed now.....completely shattered.

his eye is red all round the socket, looks quite terrifying!

[scrooged]

It's good you got him checked out. Keep a watch on that eye though, if it becomes hot and is still red then you need to take him back straight away.

I hope he's feeling better soon.

[ilovemydog]

Oh good.

[WhatFreshHellIsThis]

what's the hot red eye a sign of, scrooged?

I ask just out of interest - DS is a lot better today, still tired and a bit hot, but fine when he's got calpol/nurofen inside him and much more himself.

he woke up about 8 times in the night asking for water though so I'm still shattered!

thanks for all your advice

x

[scrooged]

A red eye, which is hot and swollen is a sign of periorbital cellulitis, which is an infection of the skin and can get rather nasty if left intreated. It' a kiddy illness.

[WhatFreshHellIsThis]

oh that does sound nasty. well DS' eye is a lot better, he's just grumpy and snotty now, and has really nasty nappies

he's currently asleep on the sofa while I do some work. aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh bless him.