rapid heartbeat mass vomiting rash fever

[Cherys]

Apologies in advance for TMI but I'm worried - they've had dozens of bugs but I've not seen anything like this before.

My son (7 yrs old) was sick over twenty times last between midnight and five am, most of it dry retching as he'd brought everything up but it was bone shaking. Now he has a fever (38.3) a rash around his eyes and on his face and incredibly speedy and strong heartbeat. I rang NHS direct who said it was a virus, but my two have had viruses before and they were nothing like this. Our surgery is very dismissive of viruses and understandably asks parents with sick kids to stay away.

Could it be food poisoning? He's eaten the same food as the rest of us and we've all been fine.

Can anyone reassure me that this is a normal bug that's going round, or should I take him to A & E? DP working from home today and has just gone off to surgery to try and persuade them to do a home visit.

Really worried now, as well as knackered, as had to get up after 1 1/2 hours sleep to take my other son to school.

[moonmother]

Sick kids staying away from a Doctors surgery????

What the hell- thats what they're for- I'd tell them either they get a doc out to see him or I would sit in the Surgery Reception till a doc will see him.

There are a lot of nasty vomiting bugs going around at the mo, but if it's worrying you then I would get him seen.

Mother's instincts are rarely wrong

Hope he gets better soon

[Angeliz]

I agree, Docs or A+E, (i'm surprised NHS direct didn't say that too!)

[Flightattendant]

It could just be a bug, we had something like this a few weeks ago...took about 3 days between others catching it iyswim so it might well be silimar thing.

The rash will be broken blood vessels from force of vomiting, with all likelihood, though of course can't diagnose as am not a dr. but this is very common.

I would not be too concerned about heartbeat, and the temp is not massively high for a bug - mine had temp and so did I when I got it!

Try feeding him small amounts of water, or squash...a teaspoon at a time, or licking an ice lolly often gets a little liquid into them when water makes them sick again.

Hope he is Ok very soon.

[Marne]

We had a nasty stomach bug last week and dd2 was sick over 25 times in 12 hours, lots of retching and bile (not nice at all), she recovered very quickly though (withing 48 hours of it starting). She couldn't keep anything in (not even water) for 12 hours.

She also had another bug 2 weeks before (poor dd2) which started with vomiting and then a fever, she also had the rash and it turned out to be Scarlet fever (after taking her to the gp 4 times we finally got an answer).

If the doctor refuses to see him at the surgery then demand a home visit (i'm sure they will change their minds and let you take him in), we took dd2 to the GP's and they gave us a side room so we didn't pass the bug on in the waiting room.

[Cherys]

Thanks for all your replies.

Marne - that's exactly what my son's illness is like. My husband went into the surgery and they agreed to see him after hours, at lunchtime. They said it's a virus too. He's home now, sleeping, having had a few sips of water. Thanks everyone for the support.