Am I right to wait until morning to take 2.5yo to the doctor? Please help.

[PetyrBaelish]

My son is 2y6mos. He started to get unwell on Saturday night and he seems to have got progressively worse.
I have had a nasty chesty cough for the last 2 weeks and although I tried not to pass it on I assumed he caught it because on Saturday evening he started chesty coughing as well. He went to bed around 8 and woke me up at 12.30, crying. I went to him and he was very hot to touch so I gave him some Calpol and cold milk and he went back to sleep. The next morning he slept until after 9 (so 13ish hours, he normally has about 11) and woke up with a raspy voice but seemed alright in himself.
Yesterday:
He normally hardly ever naps any more, but about 3 hours after waking up he was rubbing his eyes and getting irritable. He refused any lunch, and was falling asleep by 1 so I put him in bed. I went in to check on him regularly, he kept waking up, crying and going back to sleep. He seemed hard to properly rouse and a bit confused. He was on and off very hot and when I took his temperature it fluctuated between 37.6 (ok) and 38.6 (not ok) with an under arm thermometer.
He slept the whole afternoon and night.
Today
He woke up a couple of times in the night and I got up with him at 4am, but all he wanted to do was flop and cuddle and wouldn't eat any breakfast. I could tell he couldn't stay awake and he was nodding off. I kept trying to tempt him with different food but he was really shaking his head and going "no" to even treat-type food. He fell asleep at 9am so again I put him in bed. When I heard him rousing at 2pm (he was asking for more milk) I got him up to give him a wash, brush his teeth and change his clothes. I was really worried that he hadn't eaten in 24 hours so I sat him on my lap and spoon fed him some soup and soldiers. I got up to wash up and he fell asleep at the table! I tried to get him interested in his toys but he lay down on the rug and went back to sleep. I could tell he was hot again so took his temperature, he was 38.1. Eventually I let him lie on the sofa and watch telly for a while, he dozed in and out. Near bed time I gave him some Calpol and made him some scrambled egg, but he took one look at it and threw up most of the soup he ate earlier. I gave him a quick shower and put him to bed again with water in a little sports bottle, he has been flat out since. My DP came back from work just as he was coming out of the shower and tried to play peepo with him under his towel, DS was smiling and playing along, holding the towel over his face about to pull it down to peepo but then suddenly fell asleep under the towel.

I am really worried that he was sick when his problem was so clearly respiratory before, could he have a virus that is spreading? I am taking him to the doctors tomorrow definitely (unless he wakes up with a dramatic improvement) but I am worried that it could be something like meningitis and that maybe I should contact out of hours or take him to the hospital? My DP thinks he just needs to sleep it off. I do have a habit of Googling things and getting a bit paranoid. He is sleeping soundly right now so part of me thinks he might have a point, the other part is thinking 'what if'.

Sorry if this is rambly, I am tired and worried.

[Polly99]

Has he been drinking?

[Dontrocktheboat]

I would call NHS direct now and get some advice - they (in my experience anyway!) will probably offer an out of hours appointment and at least you can set your mind at rest. There may be something going on like an ear infection which requires antibiotics.

[PetyrBaelish]

Yes, not as much as normal but not little enough to be a major concern.

[TheDrunkenBotanist]

I know people mock but call nhs 24? This was me on Sat eve so ended up at an Out of hours clinic- dc has ear infection thats doing the rounds so got penicillin suspension.

[OpalIridescence]

I would call 111 and have a chat with them. They will be able to advise you correctly and you will feel reassured if it is nothing.

[SheRaaarghPrincessOfPower]

So chesty cough for two weeks, but has since got worse, has a temp, isn't eating, floppy, and sleeping most of the last 2-3 days? How much water is he drinking?

Id definitely take him to out of hours tonight. It could be a secondary infection, but it's impossible to tell over the Internet.

There's been some weird sick bugs going around that sound similar, but given he's had a chesty cough for two weeks and has a temp, I'd have him seen.

[Ohyesiam]

Are all the temperatures you mention under the arm? T this method doesn't get to core temperature, and he is actually hotter than you think.
I would want him checked out tonight. If you call NHS direct they will tell you to have him checked.
Best of luck

[guineapig1]

I too would ring your out of hours service for advice and if necessary push for him to seen tonight. Please don't feel that you are wasting their time by contacting them tonight. My sil is a gp and always always says that if parents have concerns she would rather see small children (if only to confirm something viral and send them on their way with calpol) and reassure them than think that they are reluctant to seek advice.

[Dontrocktheboat]

I mean 111 (think was nhs direct last time I called!)

[SheRaaarghPrincessOfPower]

Sorry, that last sentence had a bit cut off. I mean that because of his recent history, and now because he's so sleepy....

[Polly99]

If he's been drinking water I'd be inclined to wait until morning as this has only been going since Saturday. The caveat is if your gut is telling you to get it checked. If so, follow your instinct.

[PetyrBaelish]

I have said that if he wakes really upset or has a temperature again I will try and get an out of hours (he is in a very deep sleep right now).

I am interested that people are saying ear infection - like I said it seemed very much respiratory (he is still coughing with a runny nose) and now he is being sick. I will look on NHS choices about it.

[DeathMetalMum]

I'd give out of hours/111 a ring.

Dd2 sleeps a lot and her temperature spikes usually over 39 when she is ill. The first few times it happened it was quite worrying but I've worked out that's how she deals with it.

[mumsy2015]

I would give 111 a call if you are concerned. The level of temperature is not a good indicator of how unwell a child is. If he is sleeping so much, lethargic and not you are struggling to interest him in things then it could be something serious. It may also be nothing at all to worry about so speaking to someone may put your mind at rest. It sounds like you are very worried and I don't think you will get much sleep unless you speak to someone- you may have to drag him out of bed and have a disturbed nights slerp if they think he needs checking out but that's not such an ordeal in the grand scheme of things is it? I hope he is feeling better soon.

[PetyrBaelish]

Yes all of the temperatures are under the arm.

[123bananas]

Definitely phone 111 to see if they can get you an OOH appt. The lethargy is worrying along with low grade temperatures and a cough it could signify an infection that requires treatment.

[TheDrunkenBotanist]

The ooh doc I saw gave the same reasoning as guinea rather see for nothing than not for something.

[228agreenend]

If you are worried, I would take him straight away, especially as he has been so sleepy.

[SignoraStronza]

Sounds like a nasty virus. Not much to be done, other than keep him regularly dosed with Calpol and Nurofen. Antibiotics aren't routinely prescribed for ear infections now, as most are viral. You basically have to let things run their course.
This might be useful.

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/888/opendoc/251341&ved=0ahUKEwiI6-fYlYnTAhWRF8AKHWb2CN0QFghlMBE&usg=AFQjCNE5gahlBqMqpk_4RgBV3dvBdl4gVg" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/888/opendoc/251341&ved=0ahUKEwiI6-fYlYnTAhWRF8AKHWb2CN0QFghlMBE&usg=AFQjCNE5gahlBqMqpk_4RgBV3dvBdl4gVg

[SheRaaarghPrincessOfPower]

I would take him straightaway tbh.

[DeathMetalMum]

Symptoms also sound similar to when my dd1 used to get tonsillitis, exhaustion; high temp, vomiting and refusal to eat. It was always bacterial so needed anti-biotic's.

[Bobbins43]

I'd take him in. The not being able to stay awake or be roused easily would worry me. Try and make an appointment with the OOH service or children's A&E?

[Eppia]

Does he normally sleep a lot when under the weather? To be honest, I would want him seen tonight. Is he rouseable?

[Quartz2208]

Ring 111 they should go through the things to look out for and tell you what to do

[Tigerstar123]

We had similar the other week with my 13 month year old. Got emergency Dr appt and sent to hospital. Turned out poor thing had acute tonsillitis. Best to get the little one checked out as if they need penicillin, best to be on it sooner so it can be working. After the hospital gave my lo meds, he was so much better even within 24 hours.