SHould I be worried about meningitis - or am I paranoid?

[SouthGoingZax]

Ok, so I know I am paranoid as a child close to me has died from this horrible disease.

WHich is why I am asking for a sanity check. DS (2 yrs 1 month) has been fine all day, chasing ducks at the park etc. Got rather quiet from about 3pm, wailed for an hour at 4pm (I couldn't soothe him or get any sense out of him and usually he us a really good talker). He ate his supper fine and had his milk, he has a temperature of 37.5 degrees c. At supper I noticed his feet and legs were cold - but he did have shorts on. He had his eyes half shut and kept holding his face in his hands. Very unlike him.He was all goose bumps when I put him in the bath and he went straight off to sleep when I put him in bed- seemed very groggy and his eyes were not focusing (sort of flicking from side to side a bit - men do this too if I am very tired) but he did have a busy day and only 20 mins nap. He did manage a couple of games with his brother in the bath.

I gave him 10mls of calpol to bring his temp down. He is now asleep and very sweaty - have taken his temp twice (armpit) but it hasn't been over 37.5 yet. His hands and feet are now hot, rather than cold. No rash. No vomiting.

Should I be waking him to check him in the night? Have I done the right things?

Thanks in advance.

[SouthGoingZax]

Not men do this too - mine do this too.

[BabyJanesDummy]

Call NHS Direct for some reassurance maybe? I know how you feel though, when mine are ill its always at the front of my mind.

[beautifulgirls]

No, you are not paranoid, you are a mother who is just being careful and making sure you do the best for your child. Take a look at www.meningitis.org/symptoms and decide if you are worried about any of these things. Do seek medical help if you are worried and don't feel embarrased to disturb people out of hours if needs be. If you are wrong then so what? Meningitis and septicaemia can kill in hours. You never really think it will actually happen to your own children but our daughter had septicaemia this year - thankfully she is still with us. It took us 3 visits to doctors before anyone realised how sick she really was.

[RitaMorgan]

I'd keep checking on him - it can happen very quickly. I had meningitis as a child, I'd been fine in the morning but unwell by bedtime. My dad wanted to just leave me to sleep but luckily my mum kept checking on me, spotted the rash and then it was an ambulance ride to hospital that evening.

[SouthGoingZax]

Thanks all,
I've just checked on him and he has cooled down a bit. Meningitis website says temp over 38 degrees is a sign so I will keep checking every couple of hours through the night.

many thanks again.

[Lunabelly]

Indeed, keep checking, and as others have said, check the website.

Meningitis is actually quite rare, but as others have said, and as I know from experience, it can come on very quickly. dd3 was fine at 5.30 and in an ambulance at 6.30

IF you do get very worried, call an ambulance. A paramedic told me they would rather it be a false alarm than just one child slip through the net.

I hope your wee boy is ok. Keep checking x

[SouthGoingZax]

He's much better today, thanks all - and has come down with a really nasty cold.

Grotty, snotty, but much more himself!

[alwaysworriedtoo]

Phew ! Thank goodness I am so relieved for you.