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Children's health

Dd crying in pain over sore throat :(

26 replies

paranoidpiggy · 23/07/2009 19:10

I don't know what to do really. My dd is 5 and had a very sudden onset of fever last night, along with a very barky cough, headache and general yuckness. I suspected swine flu tbh and called the GP who said to bring her in (the surgery was deserted btw, never seen it so empty), looked in her ears, throat listened to her chest and said, no just a cold. She did have a very high temp though so he sent us home with calpol and nurofen. For the last 2 hours she has been crying with the pain of her throat She can't open her mouth for me to have a look, she says it hurts too much, and her cough is back and much worse. Temperature also not going down. So what do I do???

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ScarletBear · 23/07/2009 19:18

NHS Direct?
A&E?
To be honest, go with your instincts - if you're not looking forward to the night, or she's been crying for over half an hour, without the pain getting any better, take her down to A&E - sore throats in small children get a lot worse very quickly.
Let us know how it goes!

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yappybluedog · 23/07/2009 19:29

a bit [shocked] that the Dr said not SF with those symptoms

Try the new SF helpline?

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MinkyBorage · 23/07/2009 19:30

what yappybluedog said

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paranoidpiggy · 23/07/2009 19:31

yappy I was really surprised too. She was freshly dosed up on Calpol though and made a beeline straight for the box of toys so I think she appeared better than she actually was iyswim. ANd I bet they have seen their fair share of paranoid parents in the last week. I am still convinced she has it though, we have been in contact with several people who have had it confirmed, and I've never seen her like this. Can't get through to NHS direct. What will the Flu helpline do? If she can get tamiflu I think I'd like her to have it tbh, anything to help her feel better

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paranoidpiggy · 23/07/2009 20:31

Will they insist I'm mad if I take her to A & E? Calpol not bringing her temp down, just given some nurofen. SHe is whimpering on the sofa I used to get very bad tonsillitus so know how painful that can be but combined with the temperature and the cough it's really concerning me. Still no answer from NHS Direct

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CarGirl · 23/07/2009 20:34

sounds likely to be tonsillitus to me quite possible that she has that and a virus (not nec SF though)

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MinkyBorage · 23/07/2009 20:50

I'd get her in to a & e if I you really are that worried. If she does have sf and gets tonsilitus on top then it won't be very pleasant for her! Call ahead and tell them that she may have sf although the gp has diagnosed tonsilitus.
What would you do if she was this ill and the sf worry wasn't around? You should do whatever you think, it doesn't matter at all what they think.
How's her breathing?
They won't think you're mad btw. Hope she gets better v soon.

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MinkyBorage · 23/07/2009 20:51

how about out of hours gp? They'll have a number on the surgery answerphone

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paranoidpiggy · 23/07/2009 20:55

That's just the thing minky, I would still be worried if there was no big hooha about swine flu, but I don't think I'd take her to A & E. The GP only diagnosed a cold, but it is definately more than that. I am worried because they missed a serious tonsil infection with me that ended up with me in hospital for a week . I think the nurofen has kicked in, she's watching Rocky Horror on sky but I am definately going to take her back tomorrow. No sleep for me tonight I think

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MinkyBorage · 23/07/2009 20:59

Ah, hope your night is OK, and she's improved a bit by norning.

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DesperateHousewifeToo · 23/07/2009 21:57

Dd had a very sore throat, huge swollen neck glands and high temp last week (turned out to be scarlet fever) but, the point of my post, is that she seemed to find neurofen much more effective than calpol.

If neither medicines are bringing her temp down she should be seen by someone.

What is her temp, btw?

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unavailable · 23/07/2009 22:08

If it is a bacterial infection, gargling with diluted tcp can be quite effective. It wont do any harm if its isnt bacterial either.

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paranoidpiggy · 23/07/2009 22:10

JUst taken it at 37.9. That's after nurofen though, and she has cooled down in the last half hour or so. Couldn't find the thermometer before . SHe looks dire. She's sleepign in my bed so I can keep an eye on her in the night but her cough is a kind of choking cough- it sounds like she's about to be sick even though she assures me she's not.

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Elibean · 23/07/2009 22:14

Glad its come down, poor love. I'm amazed the GP dismissed SF as a possibility

Hope she's ok through the night, and better in the morning - throat pain is horrible, and I would take her back for 2nd opinion (with different doctor!) if no better in the morning.

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paranoidpiggy · 24/07/2009 07:55

OK the saga continues. I rang NHS direct last night at 2am (the wait was horrendous, even at that time of the morning) and the latest thinking seems to be croup. She got no more than about half an hour sleep at a time before waking up crying in pain. Her temp is 39 this morning. I am definately going back to the GP this morning, I just hope we can get through. The surgery is only on the next road, so I am tempted to just take her there.

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yappybluedog · 24/07/2009 09:15

oh poor thing, hope you can both get some rest today

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Ledodgy · 24/07/2009 09:27

Oh bless her. it sounds like she may need antibiotics for her throat. Even if it is swine flu, tonsilitis can be a secondary infection.

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Elibean · 24/07/2009 09:52

Can you take her there in car, have her sit in car while you run in and tell them you have v sick child in car with possible flu/tonsillitis? Our surgery would just make sure a back room was available in order to isolate, and have her seen straight away.

Poor love, sounds awful, and tbh I've not heard of throats that sore with croup...do get her seen asap. Good luck, xxx

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Elibean · 24/07/2009 14:12

How is she now, pp?

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paranoidpiggy · 24/07/2009 14:41

Been diagnosed as croup. I think there was some query over the diagnosis as the doctor disappeared for 10 minutes to speak to one of the more senior doctors about it. Not been given anything for it, just been told to put her in a steamy room to see if it helps
I don't know. It's the panic that is really bothering me- every so often she'll just cry out and start coughing. Also this- I was so concerned last night that I went on the flu checker. They gave us a number to go and pick up Tamiflu. I wonder how many people are putting symptoms in and taking that stuff unnecessarily. Doctors was deserted again, and there were only 4 doctors names on the board, out of a surgery of 17

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sumomum · 24/07/2009 14:52

My DC was diagnosed with croup this week also. I too suspected the dreaded swine flu but temp was always easily controlled by meds and he did seem to perk up when it was lowered.

5 days after the raised temp & flu like symtoms he still has a cough (but not so loud & sore). Triage nurse suggested I read about the condition on patient.uk, apparently the web page is an up to date resource GP's use. It's advises that it's better to take them outside in cool air rather that steam rooms to ease symptoms.

Hope your LO makes a speedy recovery, it's awful when they are unwell.

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paranoidpiggy · 24/07/2009 15:11

Thanks sumomum. I remember having croup whenI was small, I slept with a dehumidifier by the bed for about a week. I have taken her out for a walk today (with her looking very ill in her brothers buggy). I'm concerned that even with medicine every few hours she still has a fever. The highest it's been is 39.2, but it goes down to about 37.3 about an hour after medicine. She is lying on the sofa again. I'm just thankful ds seems alright. I don't know what I'd do if both of them were ill

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Elibean · 24/07/2009 17:55

Barky cough certainly sounds croup-like, but I have to admit I still can't help being surprised - unless she's prone to croup and has v small airways (my neice did), then 5 is unusual for a first attack. And when dd had it, she was hoarse but didn't have a fever or much of a sore throat - certainly not to crying point.

Do totally agree about the over-prescribing and panic though, think at least half of all Tamiflu takers atm are misdiagnosed!

Hope she feels better v v soon.

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Ledodgy · 25/07/2009 19:42

How is your dd today Piggy?

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paranoidpiggy · 25/07/2009 21:06

Much better thank you Has a very hoarse voice though which is quite novel for such a chatterbox . Still has a slightly raised temp but is sleeping soundly and not really been coughing at all. Still feeling a bit delicate I think, but such an improvement. She seems to have a bit of an upset tummy though

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