10yr old with back pain and weight loss...

[Whitewhine89]

DS has tonsillitis 10 days ago - high temps and swollen tonsils. Saw GP and we agreed no antibiotics unless it worsened. All resolved in 3-4 days, temp back to normal and tonsils reduced in size.

Since he has been ill, his appetite is virtually zero, he is drinking plenty though. He has lost 8-9lbs in just over a week and he is a dreadful colour. Since Thursday he has been complaining of dreadful lumbar back pain which has improved after being given calpol.

He looks absolutely awful - very pale (or sometimes a grey/yellow colour) with red ringed eyes. He is exhausted yet sleeping poorly. He really doesn't look like his usual robust and healthy self.

I will take him back to the GP tomorrow morning - glandular fever had crossed my mind but his neck doesn't appear to be any different.

Do you think this is just the tail end of a virus and I am worrying needlessly? Not sure how long these things take to get out of their system? I should add that I am not worried about his immediate wellbeing and don't think he needs an out of hours doc.

[FriggyPudding]

Sorry to hear your son isn't well OP.

When you say "drinking plenty", is he unusually thirsty? Hopefully all this is just a virus, but sudden weight loss and thirst would mean a quick urine test for sugars (diabetes) wouldn't go amiss? Hope he feels better soon.

[Whatslovegottodo]

Yes to GP today.
When I had a kidney infection I had lower back pain, could that be a possibility?
8-9lbs is a considerable weight loss in a short time too. Most of my family had regular tonsillitis as children and have never known that much weight loss.
I hope your son feels better soon.

[Whitewhine89]

Thank you. I've got him an appointment for 3pm today and have written everything down. He seems quite bright, then lethargic, then bright again.

I've given him Cola to try and get some calories into him which he has taken. He's not unusually thirsty and is peeing with no probs or pain.

Hopefully the GP can reassure me that it's nothing more than the fallout from tonsillitis. I'm sure when his appetite returns he will be a different boy!

[JohnHunter]

Is the pain waking him at night? Does he still have intermittent fevers? Make sure the GP knows these things (as well as about the weight loss) if so.

[gingerclementine]

So sorry for him and you. DS had something similar and was skeletal and grey skinned for a while. Very worrying. The GP should be concerned by so much weight loss. Ask for thorough tests. Good luck.

[gingerclementine]

If he's able to drink, can you make him more nourishing higher calorie drinks than just coke? Would he tolerate peanut butter and banana milkshake or nutella milkshake? Can he manage some smooth soup with a bit of single cream stirred in?
Would he drink fruit juice or smoothies? Real dairy ice cream?

[Whitewhine89]

Thanks for the replies & apologies for the long delay - had to go to work.

So GP was great today. Took everything quite seriously and has taken 5 tubes of blood for things like glandular fever, kidney function and diabetes. Need to call for results on Thursday.

He still has very little appetite and refusing most things on offer but has managed watermelon and a few Roses chocs. Other than that he is only wanting diluting juice. Trying not to make a big deal of it and making sure he keeps fluids up.

Hopefully once the bloods are back we will know more.

[gingerclementine]

How is he?

[gunsandbanjos]

Get some high calorie stuff into him.
When my daughter was post spinal surgery we gave her a M&S milkshake daily, it was brownie flavoured I think and amazing.
Was a smallish bottle and over 1000 calories!! Was so useful for getting fat and calories into her easily.

[Whitewhine89]

gingerclementine he is much the same today thanks. He has managed half a bag of quavers and a few McDonald's fries (not the healthiest but all he has actually asked for so I have given it to him!)

We picked his sister up from school earlier and he saw his friends in the playground which perked him up. The teacher has suggested I bring him in on Thursday for a couple of hours so he can enjoy the class Christmas party. I think he will love that and I'm happy they will keep an eye on him.

I've bought some calorific drinks (milkshakes, 7up etc.) however he is totally disinterested and only looking for water or squash.

Wish I could get to the bottom of this - he's a boy who can usually wolf down as much as his 15st dad. It's quite alarming to see the change in a couple of weeks and almost 1st down :( Hopefully the blood tests will rule out a few things I'm particularly concerned about.

[JollyGiraffe]

Sorry to hear your DS still isn't feeling well, but great he's managed to eat a little bit.

Fingers crossed blood results all ok, and that it's just a lingering post-bit al illness.

[Whatslovegottodo]

Hoping for good news from bloods tomorrow and hopefully DS will enjoy the xmas party.

[Whatslovegottodo]

How's DS whitewhine?

[Whitewhine89]

His bloods came back ok thankfully - what a relief! He is a bit anaemic and a few other results were at the lower end of normal but nothing drastic. GP putting it down to a virus and they will review him next week.

He managed 1.5 days at school and i hope his appetite is slowly returning- baby steps!

[JollyGiraffe]

So glad to hear bloods were ok!

Maybe being back at school is also helping his appetite if he is using energy rather than resting..!

Great he's feeling a bit better

[JohnHunter]

How is he doing this week and when is your next appointment?

[Whitewhine89]

We have an appointment on Thursday for repeat bloods so results will be available after Christmas. Have started giving him a children's supplement in the meantime, just whilst his appetite is low. Normally he would be a fan of green leafy veg etc but that's out for now so I will persevere! Thanks for thinking of us.

[JohnHunter]

It's great that they're keeping a close eye on him (e.g. repeat bloods) but hopefully there's a scan on the horizon if things haven't dramatically improved by then. Back pain + fever + weight loss + looking unwell is a combination of features that needs thinking about carefully. I would have a low threshold for going back to the GP (e.g. if the appointment is just for repeat blood tests rather than a clinical review) and for pitching up at A&E if things are getting worse or you are struggling to access services over Christmas. DOI: Orthopaedic/A&E doctor.

[Whitewhine89]

Thanks JohnHunter. He is definitely improving slowly - much more energy, eating little and often and his colour is much improved.

The back pain is a strange one... he hasn't mentioned it much at all in the last few days and has had no Calpol for a while either. Giving him a break from asking about his various symptoms and will wait and see what the GP asks him.

I'm encouraged by the fact the bloods were ok and that he seems to be getting better. I'm aware that on paper it looks worrying though. Keeping a close eye on him for now and fingers crossed he keeps getting better!

[JohnHunter]

Hopefully things are improving in that case and it sounds as if your GP is keeping a careful eye on the situation.