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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

A and E

53 replies

Wheresmymaternalinstinct · 20/09/2026 20:48

Please don't give out to me, I'm not in the UK so it's not the NHS.

DS has been sick for 10 days plus. Bad head cold, pain in cheek, headache and generally crap. Have been dosing him up with nurofen, paracetamol and sudofed. He's no better.

This afternoon, he became very cold, shivering, fever of 38.8, headache severely worse,had a couple of incidents where he said his vision went dark and he thought he would pass out. Temp came down to 38 after nurofen but headache worse.

He is alert and talking.

The outside of hours advice I got was that he probably needs antibiotics, so to try to
A. Get them first thing in the morning from GP
B. Check if I or my family have leftover antibiotics that I can start him on!!!
C. Bring him to A and E if I think he has sepsis or meningitis.

I really don't know. It's a bit of a trek to nearest hospital and I would really rather not go, but what if its sepsis

OP posts:
SillySallySaidSo · 20/09/2026 20:50

How old is he? (No one ever says?)

Wheresmymaternalinstinct · 20/09/2026 20:51

SillySallySaidSo · 20/09/2026 20:50

How old is he? (No one ever says?)

Sorry, 15

OP posts:
likelysuspect · 20/09/2026 20:52

Do you have the option to call an ambulance, what country are you actually in?

BarbaraUsher · 20/09/2026 20:52

Take him to the hospital

EBearhug · 20/09/2026 20:52

I'd want him looked at sooner than later.

SillySallySaidSo · 20/09/2026 20:53

I would get him checked out tonight. He sounds significantly worse and old enough to be quite accurate with how he feels.

ReturnYourParcel · 20/09/2026 20:54

Hmm. I think it would be best to err on the side of caution and take him to the hospital where he can be assessed.

Copiousamountsofpulses · 20/09/2026 20:54

Do not give him left over antibiotics!! I hope he is ok.

Wheresmymaternalinstinct · 20/09/2026 20:55

Thanks all. Going to head in. Will probably be a couple of hours before I can update as we're over an hour from hospital

OP posts:
BillieWiper · 20/09/2026 20:55

If it's an infection then can't he call your country's version of 111 and get a doctor to call back and prescribe antibiotics? I just did that the other day.

cityliving99 · 20/09/2026 20:58

Which country do you live in?

roseymoira · 20/09/2026 20:58

It's crazy how people have to confirm it isn’t the NHS on here, because nobody is allowed to go to A&E if it is

likelysuspect · 20/09/2026 21:01

roseymoira · 20/09/2026 20:58

It's crazy how people have to confirm it isn’t the NHS on here, because nobody is allowed to go to A&E if it is

What are you talking about?

Wheresmymaternalinstinct · 20/09/2026 21:02

I feel like if I go in, it'll be a bad headcold or covid or something, and if I stay home it'll be sepsis. I'm full of doubt either way.

We're in Ireland, there's a GP rota thing for evenings where I live but I just got the world's most useless doctor who left me no clearer than when I called.

OP posts:
Lararoft · 20/09/2026 21:04

Just take him to a&e, the staff would much rather it be nothing too serious than to miss sepsis or similar.

Smallpoxy · 20/09/2026 21:05

likelysuspect · 20/09/2026 20:52

Do you have the option to call an ambulance, what country are you actually in?

Why? It doesn't sound life threating at all.

EppingIsFun · 20/09/2026 21:06

I'd take him into hospital if I were you.

BeetyAxe · 20/09/2026 21:06

Yes just take him- better safe than sorry. Poor boy sounds miserable.

likelysuspect · 20/09/2026 21:07

Smallpoxy · 20/09/2026 21:05

Why? It doesn't sound life threating at all.

Well, OP describe it getting worse, some of the symptoms she describes could imply sepsis, she is a long way from the hospital, if an ambulance attends, it could be there quicker as it might not be coming from the hospital, and they may be able to do obs and tests there and then which could negate a hospital visit.

However, I dont know what country this is or how their health service operate. That might not be an option. OP hasnt said whether there is any emergency unit closer than an actual hospital.

BinNightTonight · 20/09/2026 21:09

I'd take him. I'd rather go in and it be a cold than stay and it be sepsis.

Smallpoxy · 20/09/2026 21:09

C - I would go with c.

MissMoneyFairy · 20/09/2026 21:10

Take him to hospital, I had similar but called GP after 3 days and got antibiotics, 10 days is too long really to wait for medical advice. It started as a sinus infection.

Smallpoxy · 20/09/2026 21:11

likelysuspect · 20/09/2026 21:07

Well, OP describe it getting worse, some of the symptoms she describes could imply sepsis, she is a long way from the hospital, if an ambulance attends, it could be there quicker as it might not be coming from the hospital, and they may be able to do obs and tests there and then which could negate a hospital visit.

However, I dont know what country this is or how their health service operate. That might not be an option. OP hasnt said whether there is any emergency unit closer than an actual hospital.

OP wasn't adviced an ambulance. Patient doesn't seem in actually danger on their life. It's not how you use an ambulance.

LaidOnYourBackWithTheBoyWithTheArabStrap · 20/09/2026 21:17

Wheresmymaternalinstinct · 20/09/2026 21:02

I feel like if I go in, it'll be a bad headcold or covid or something, and if I stay home it'll be sepsis. I'm full of doubt either way.

We're in Ireland, there's a GP rota thing for evenings where I live but I just got the world's most useless doctor who left me no clearer than when I called.

If you think for one second he might have sepsis then you should definitely take him to hospital. Hopefully it isn’t obviously but I wouldn’t take any chances with mine and I think that any doctor, NHS or not, worth their salt would always say better safe than sorry.

Wheresmymaternalinstinct · 20/09/2026 22:51

Well we've been triaged and in waiting room and the little jerk says he feels a lot better now! Hopefully we will be in our way sooner rather than later

OP posts: