should i take him to the doctor?

[hairymclary]

yes, one of those posts lol

ds came down with a cold a fre days ago and has been fluctuating between having a high temperature and feeling really cold and clammy.
he has now developed a hacking cough and his nose is so blocked he doesn't even want his dummy!!!
he has hardly eaten anything for the last 3 days. all he has had today is a satsuma, 2 cherry tomatoes, 2 pieces of pasta and a quarter of a slice of garlic bread.
this is a child who normally eats for england.
this evening he was standing up and he was shaking all over. his hands and feet are really cold although he is runnig a slight temperature.

I think that it is just a bug/virus coupled with the non-eating. is it worth taking him to the doctor? will they be able to do anything? the only thing i am worried about is the not eating, how can i help him???

[southeastastra]

yes take him, if it's been a few days, poor thing. how old is he?

[Mercy]

How old is ds?

Ime, going off food is often the first sign of being ill/about to be ill, and often for a few days afterwards. As long as ds is drinking a reasnoable amount of fluids he should be fine.

As for the shaking/shivering/cold hands&feet. My ds tends to do this right at the end of having a temperature/feverish thing - an emergency doctor told me this was quite common in young children and toddlers.

[hairymclary]

he is 22 months.
i think i'll see if i can get him an appointment tomorrow, because otherwise i'll have to wait until monday if it gets any worse

[expatinscotland]

how's his fluid intake?

i think i'd ask for an emergency appointment tomorrow.

[hairymclary]

he has been drinking, but it's been a bit of a fight.
he isn't having as much as usual because he still normally has 2 big cups of milk a day as well as other drinks and he has been refusing thouse

[expatinscotland]

i'd try diluted apple juice and/or flat ginger ale or sprite/7up.

and, yes, i'd get him to the doc's tomorrow.

[Snowstorm]

What about phoning NHS Direct and asking their advice - they should be able to tell you fairly quickly what you need to do and whether you should go and see your GP shouldn't they?

[hairymclary]

we've tried everything water, apple juice, orange juice, smoothies, milk, flavoured milk. he'll have a few mouthfuls and then refuse any more.
will definitely take him to GP's tomorrow though, thanks. i always think i am just being a paranoid mum

[Toothyboy]

Took ds1 (3.6) and ds2 (8 months) to GP on Monday with blocked noses and hacking coughs. GP decided ds1 was fighting it himself (he's almost back to normal now, although still coughing). Ds2 was put on antibiotics as it had gone to his chest.

I'd take him to the GP tomorrow to be on the safe side. Hope he's feeling better soon.