Should I relent and take DD to Doctor?

[JimbosJetSet]

DD is 2.5. and has a history of chest infections. Ten days ago she started with a temperature, cold like symptoms and a rash. The rash and cold have gone now but for the last 5 days she has had an awful cough that comes in boughts during the day and wakes her up hourly at night, sometimes coughing to the extent that she gags. She continues to have an occasional slightly raised temperature. No wheeziness though.

DM and MIL are both insistent that I should take her to the GP. I am inclined to think she has a nasty cold that will get better in due course. But I also have a real fear of taking myself or my DCs to the Doctors for fear of wasting their time - partly because I was told on one occasion by a GP that I was doing just that when I took DD there.

Is my worry about bothering the Doctors unnecessarily clouding my better judgement or should I just wait and see if she improves herself?

[Sirzy]

Of course you should take her. A cough is stopping her get more than an hours sleep at a time and is so bad she is gagging.

I would ask about a ventolin inhaler to try to see if that helps.

[wizzler]

If you are worried take her.
My Dr. would NEVER say I was time wasting... I would be very about that.

[Hassled]

Yes, take her. I had a similar exchange with a GP years ago who made me feel like shit and I was reluctant for years to take the kids to the doctors. And it was when I had pharyngitis (I think) and couldn't speak and my dangly-down thing in my throat was massive and completely grey and a locum said "why on earth did you wait so long before coming in?" that I saw sense.

There is a balance to be had - if it's just a cold and you know it's just a cold, don't be a timewaster. And this may be just a cold - but you're not sure, and you're worried, the cough sounds nasty - get her seen.

[GColdtimer]

You should take her, she might need antibiotics.

[GColdtimer]

Sorry presses post to soon. My 6 year old niece has just been diagnosed with pneumonia and my db was told off for leaving it so long.

[Lones80]

I think you should take her. I used to worry about time wasting, but then DS got pneumonia and spent 10 days in hospital. Now I'll go to the Dr if I'm even the slightest bit concerned - they've never once told me off for wasting their time.

[DeWe]

Dd1 had pneumonia really badly where the only outward symptom was a sore shoulder. Doctor couldn't believe she could even stand up her levels were so bad. Take her.

[Poledra]

I'm sorry about the doctor making you feel bad. My GP has always said that they would rather see a toddler unnecessarily than risk missing something serious. Take her - she's only little and can't tell you how ill (or not!) she is.