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Original poster

3 year old with flu

77 replies

Not111 · 14/12/2019 05:49

I don’t know where to turn really!

3 year old DS has flu. I had it last week and just getting over it, been horrible.

Anyway - I’m not sure what to do. Nearest out of hours is an hour away which DS isn’t really up to. It’s staffed by nurses who have always been a bit drippy to be honest and just tend to send kids to A&E. DS is DEFINITELY not up to sitting in a norovirus-ey A&E on a winter Saturday for several hours.

And anyway even if I did go, all they’d do is give calpol surely!?

I can’t ring 111 for advice as they will just send an ambulance or send us to A&E. They don’t seem to give actual helpful advice.

Really don’t know what to do!!

OP posts:

user1480880826 · 14/12/2019 07:09

@eurochick the NHS doesn’t offer it because it has limited resources, not because having the flu isn’t horrendous. There is a reason lots of large employers including government offer it for free - millions are lost to the economy every year from flu related absences.

If more people had the vaccine then those in at risk groups would also be better protected - babies who are too young to be vaccinated, people with auto-immune problems. It’s a no brainer.

Montgomerystubercles · 14/12/2019 07:11

My 3 yo had a bad reaction to the flu vaccine this year and effectively had mild (ish) flu. She had a temperature for 7 days (up to 40C) vomiting and generally wiped out. We took her to A&E as she was also complaining of a sore neck at one point but once they ruled out anything more serious they said as long as she was drinking enough and therefore passing urine ok to just keep alternating calpol and nurofen every 4 hours as there was nothing more to be done.
It's horrible when they are so ill and there is so little you can do, I feel for you. Watching her lie half asleep on the sofa shivering and pale for days was awful. We are on day 11 now and she is mostly recovered, but still tires easily, last night she asked to go to bed at 6 with no bath as she was too tired, which is not like her at all (although potentially the only good thing to have come out of it!)
Hope he improves soon x

OytheBumbler · 14/12/2019 07:12

DS temp has been between 38.5-40.2 since Tuesday. Calpol or nurofen brings it down for 1-3 hours but then it’s up again. I don’t feel I can keep giving it at the levels I have been but I can’t just not give it with a temp that high?*
*
This is what you need to tell 111. If his temp isn't being controlled then he needs to go to hospital. They can give more medicine than you can safely give at home.

I dont think you should second guess them. If his fluids are all fine then they might just advise continuing as you are but at least you'll have that reassurance.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

3 year olds Behaviour & development Children's health General health

TheCatInAHat · 14/12/2019 07:13

Don’t worry about using the max dose of paracetamol and ibuprofen in the short time, if there are no other contraindications. He’ll be really sore, achy and the fever will make him feel rough- keep on top of the pain relief so he can rest and recover.
Important to keep fluids up- syringing water or squash into childs mouth can help. I do this with my DD.
Keep him cool- dress lightly but don’t sponge or use a cold bath to cool him down.
Check he is still passing urine regularly.

I think a sustained high temp over a period of days is always worth a review at the gp. They can check there isn’t a secondary bacterial infection on his chest or in the throat for example. But do say you think he has flu- they might isolate him or prefer to do a home visit to reduce transmission risk.

Have a read of the sepsis risk checklist online to keep it in mind if things change and trust your instincts if you think he needs to go to A&E.

If he wants to eat anything, this is a good thing. Encourage little and often to keep blood sugar stable.

Montgomerystubercles · 14/12/2019 07:13

I should also say an unusual reaction-she was unlucky enough to probably already have a viral infection at the time which meant her immune system was slightly compromised, it doesn't normally do this. She will still be having her flu vaccine next year, as will the whole family.

OytheBumbler · 14/12/2019 07:15

Sorry my first paragraph above was a quote from the OP. It didn't bold

Karen410 · 14/12/2019 07:16

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LittleSwede · 14/12/2019 07:18

I would want him to get check, maybe pack a lot of comforting items, a pillow and just go to A and E. Or OHH?

Just for a little bit of reassurance, I took DD with flu to A and E whilst visiting DM in Sweden a couple of years ago. She was 3 at the time, 40 degree fever, all sleepy and totally out of sorts. Got to A and E, got checked over by doctor and was told I could even fly back to the UK with her the following day if I wanted to, as long as I alternated Calpol and Neurofen to keep fever down. The high fever continued for about 5 or 6 days and then she suddenly perked up. Was very worrying at the time.

I must point out that DD HAD had the flu nasal spray that year but the strain of flu she caught was not covered by it. DM caught flu (and developed pneumonia) from me too and she had also been vaccinated. So the vaccin isn't always a guarantee not to catch it. That said, I now always make sure we all have the vaccine as it should at least reduce the risk a bit.

Hope your DS is ok

Linda42069 · 14/12/2019 07:20

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Looneytune253 · 14/12/2019 07:20

111 can also give you an out of hours docs appt or an appt at a walk in centre

Karen410 · 14/12/2019 07:22

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Kimbo1974 · 14/12/2019 07:26

My son was the same, I rang 111 and they said give it 10 days just Calpol and fluids

EleanorLavish · 14/12/2019 07:27

Ugh, flu is the worst. I’ve had it 3 times!!
In my experience it can take 6 weeks to fully recover. 5-7 days to get over the worst, but even though you might feel better after that, it’s weeks before you feel 100%.
Maybe just be aware of that with Christmas coming up, so many events, get together etc. They might not be up to it all.
Hope the wee mite starts to get over it this weekend OP, it’s tough.

eurochick · 14/12/2019 07:27

Ok @user1480880826. I'm not sure why you are quite so obsessed with my vaccination status. I'm happy not having the vaccine myself. I don't know anyone in my generation who isn't immune compromised, etc who does. The fact that I have had flu and am recovering in fairly short order suggests that was the right choice for me to make. You can make your own choice.

OP I agree that if you are on day 5 of high temps that are not being controlled with over the counter drugs it is worth a call to 111.

WhenYouCantRunYouCrawl · 14/12/2019 07:28

Can you ring your GP when they open and ask for advice? Mine are pretty good for that.

In the past I've been told it's fine to give Calpol beyond the 3 days it says on the bottle.

If he's alert, taking on fluids and passing urine ok then I wouldn't be worried about the temperature personally, especially as it does come down with medication.

Newbie1981 · 14/12/2019 07:28

I think that temp is too high to not go to a and e. It's annoying but you will have peace of mind. Hope they get better soon.

The person talking about jabs is a massive tool.

Original poster

Not111 · 14/12/2019 07:30

Ok I might give them a call. I’m not going to A&E though. Thanks everyone.

Feel so rough myself still, but at least I’m better than I was and can function now. Just seems to hit little ones so hard :(

OP posts:

PixieDustt · 14/12/2019 07:31

I agree with a&e.
But the OP won't go as it sounds like it would be a waste of time and 111 don't give any advice... funny that when I've phoned them they've always given good advise. By the looks of it on this thread you just don't like taking any advice. Why ask for it...
Hope your child has a speedy recovery though.

Original poster

Not111 · 14/12/2019 07:31

My GP surgery is closed on Saturdays sadly.

OP posts:

Mrscog · 14/12/2019 07:37

111 should be able to direct you to your nearest out of hours GP service rather than A&E.

DippyAvocado · 14/12/2019 07:40

Call 111. They will tell you how to make an out-of-hours GP appointment, or sometimes they can even make it for you.

NigesFakeWalkingStick · 14/12/2019 07:51

111 should have an OOH surgery where he can be seen - if only just to check out chest/respiratory wise. Sometimes flu can go into the chest and cause pneumonia so it's best to check, but I fully understand why you'd want to avoid A&E!

Although the temp is high, temps itself aren't an issue unless they are severely dehydrated or unable to keep medicine down - it's when the temp lowers and spikes rapidly which causes febrile convulsions, so whilst it's scary (I have a 3 year old prone to high temps so completely understand) so long as it's not wildly varying it will be a matter of keeping on top of it as much as possible and offering fluids constantly.

I really feel for you - my DS has had a lot of winter-y viruses since turning 3 in September and they always make me worried.

Sunshinegirl82 · 14/12/2019 07:59

111 have always sent me to an ooo GP service? Our one is at the hospital but it's not part of a&e. I took DS2 last week and we were the only people there and were seen immediately. Maybe it varies by region.

Flu is god awful so it may well just be running its course but some kids do need hospital support to fight flu even if they can't treat the flu itself if that makes sense (IV fluids, oxygen etc) so they can do more than just calpol if necessary.

Now it's daytime I'd call 111 and get him seen. I hope he's better soon.

INeedNewShoes · 14/12/2019 08:13

I completely understand OP not thinking that a trip to A&E is the best course of action.

If the temperatures do come down with paracetamol/ibuprofen and he is drinking enough to avoid dehydration and eating a bit then I wouldn’t feel A&E is necessary either when rest is important for the DS and important for OP recovering from flu.

I had flu last Christmas (despite having had the vaccine) and got shingles after it as I was so wiped out.

drspouse · 14/12/2019 08:17

I would say out of hours GP rather than A&E or drop in. Without wanting to scare you, they may want to admit him.

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