Forgetting how to walk - A cause for concern?

[CallingFromLondon]

DS is 15 months and has been walking since 8.5 months old.

On Monday he was admitted to hospital with suspected meningitis - Thankfully it was just influenza that had got to his lungs and he was discharged 48 hours ago.

However, since discharge he has been unsteady on his feet and keeps on falling! It's like he's forgotten to walk. He's all over the place.

This is a child who can run and was a confident walker shortly after his first few steps at 8.5 months.

Worth a visit to my GP, perhaps?

I’d take him back to A and E.

A&E.

It could just be that he's a bit woozy from being unwell, but yes, I'd say back to a&e too. Not worth the risk.

Ear infection maybe? I would get him seen again.

He's still very tired today, keeps sleeping etc.

But he's very alert when awake and full of beans. Causing havoc etc.

Appetite brilliant and eating like a pig.

It's not like he can't walk at all... he can. It just looks like he's really pissed and can't do it properly.

He's tripped a few times too but nothing hurtful

I'd take him to the GP tomorrow morning, OP.

Thank you

Going to take him GP in the morning.

A and E

Being in bed and not moving like that depletes your muscles at an alarming rate.

I was in a coma for 4 weeks and couldn't walk at all after. Or even sit up. Months of rehab to walk again. I'd give it a couple of days and see how he is.

If he is eating well and resting, in sounds like normal recovery to me.

Hope he gets better soon In a couple of days, I would also take him to G.P. if not improved, but I imagine her will improve very quickly.

Viral infections can also cause irritable hip in little children which could be making it painful to walk. I don’t think it’s massively uncommon but definitely see the GP

Ring 111 and get advice this evening - I would! Or even go back to A&E - this doesn’t sound right at all!

I'm afraid I would be taking him back to A&E. This is not right.

A bit lethargic after illness - ok. Tearful and tired - ok. But stumbling sounds like something is still not right. Please take him back to A&E. He's only 15 months - you need to speak for him.

A&E. He's only been poorly for a few days which is completely different from muscle wastage after a month long coma. Could be something to do with his ears eg labrynthitis causing balance issues, triggered by the virus. Get him checked out tonight. He's only little.

Please take him to a&e. This happened to a colleague. He lost the ability to walk and talk at 2. He had a brain tumour. Had emergency surgery the next day. Please get checked ASAP.

yes, take him back.
sometimes infections can cause joint infections in children, esp in hips and knees.
good luck.

My ds had something similar before Christmas, one morning he woke up and couldn’t walk despite running around the night before. It turned out it was irritable hip, apparently it’s quite common in young children after a cold and is caused by an accumulation of fluid around the joint. We were told to give ibuprofen and he was back to normal in a few days. It’s still worth getting it checked out though because there’s a very small chance it can be something more serious. Hope your LO is feeling better soon!

@Lampshadylady thanks for this. I had not heard of it but did been poorly with a viral infection but mostly was really upset by her leg hurting her. This explains it.

Your description of him walking like he's drunk and the fact that he's been poorly in hospital with a virus make me wonder if it might be post-viral cerebullar ataxia.

If it is it should resolve on its own but I'd definitely be making a GP appt first thing.

Did he have a lumber puncture to rule out meningitis? There can be cc omplications that could cause these symptoms

I Think it's more likely to be that he's just wiped out with everything that's happened, but best yo bd checked out.

How's he doing this morning @CallingFromLondon?

Also wondering how he's doing, I was having a think last night and there's a couple of post viral conditions to watch out for like guillain barre syndrome and transverse myelitis if it seems to be getting progressively worse.