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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.

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?

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:
drspouse · 14/12/2019 08:17

(But the GP can fast track that).

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 14/12/2019 08:20

Tbh I wouldn’t go to A&E either, as long as the calpol etc is brining down the temp and you get liquids into your LO then hospital won’t do anything further. If he stops drinking then go as there’s a risk of dehydration- obviously keeping an eye out for anything unusual eg a rash. Having had the flu a few times it is awful, it’s not a bad cold by any stretch of the imagination and so it can seem shocking to be so ill but all you do at a drs waiting room is spread it round.
Good luck OPFlowers

Original poster
Not111 · 14/12/2019 08:26

Thanks everyone.

I’d love to see an out of hours gp, but round here they’re staffed by nurses who are quite apathetic and just send you next door to sit in A&E if they’re not sure.

Think I’m going to just see how we get on today. Had this with one of the others 2 years ago, I was taking her to the gp daily after her temp wouldn’t come down for 6 days and she couldn’t walk far or eat, they diagnosed flu but told me to keep her at home and stop bringing her in.
Day 6 another GP had her admitted to hospital. That night her temp finally came down and she started eating and I looked like a total time waster. Hence why I’m reluctant to do the same now.

He’s just got up and seems a bit perkier. Will keep crossing my fingers that we turn the corner soon.

OP posts:

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gamerwidow · 14/12/2019 08:31

If you can’t keep the temperature down then take him to A&E. it’s a pita but flu can be really dangerous and needs to be taken seriously. If the temperature is responding to paracetamol and ibuprofen and he is ok in himself then you can wait and see.
Hope he is better soon.

drspouse · 14/12/2019 08:33

The drop in centre is different to the out of hours GP. 111 can get you an actual GP appointment.

Bramblespoint · 14/12/2019 08:35

Sounds like you are doing all the right things.

Keep pushing fluids - any food he fancies if you can get some sugar into him it will give him energy.

Keep an eye on temperature and how much he's weeing.

Other than that it's TV iPad and lots of cuddles.

Fingers crossed he turns a corner soon.

SpiderCharlotte · 14/12/2019 08:39

OP please, at least, call 111. You may get some good advice. But, and I don't mean this unkindly, is there any point in asking for advice on a forum when it's medical advice that you need? If he's been so ill since Tuesday, I think I would have contacted the GP yesterday when they were open. You need proper medical advice, not the internet.

DippyAvocado · 14/12/2019 08:58

An out of hours GP is different to the drop-in centre. If you call your local surgery they often have a number for the out-of-hours service on the answerphone message or a number on the website if you are so against calling 111.

I'm not sure why you are posting? You seem to want validation that it's ok to leave your poorly toddler without any medical supervision. Most people have told you to get medical advice which you should always do if such a young child has been unwell for several days.

BercowsFestiveFlamingo · 14/12/2019 09:06

I'm a nurse, please get your child medical advice. Flu can kill. I understand not wanting to go to A&E but at least call 111.
I think I remember you from the threat of SS by 111 as you refused an ambulance or A&E then. He could have pneumonia or another infection on top of the flu. You are risking his life by not getting him medical attention.

gamerwidow · 14/12/2019 09:24

Ps your say your reluctance stems from your experience with your older child but in that situation they needed a hospital admittance. Go and fight his corner if he isn’t getting better.

DonPablo · 14/12/2019 09:34

Who cares if anyone thinks you're a time waster? You child is pretty poorly, no one can doubt that! And no doctor minds seeing a very poorly small child. You're obviously concerned. My advice would be to listen to your instincts and get him checked over. Even if it means A&E after ooh.

Hooe he's better soon.

Wolfiefan · 14/12/2019 09:38

I wouldn’t want to drag him to A and E. But calling 111 could offer you some reassurance. I did with a very little one and there was an OOH clinic at a small local hospital.
And the vaccine? Wasn’t available here until very recently (shortages?) through the NHS. Plus it doesn’t cover all strains.
I hope he feels much better soon.

Robs20 · 14/12/2019 09:39

I would dose up on calpol/ nurofen regularly and try to get an ooh appt. monitor his fluid intake and urine output - if urine output stops please take him to a&e straight away. Hope you are all feeling better soon!

Sunshinegirl82 · 14/12/2019 09:44

It doesn't help now obviously and I don't mean it in a condescending way but if ever my DC are poorly and it's a Friday I do tend to try and get in to see our normal GP during normal hours to avoid an OOO appointment.

If they've been ill for a few days and it gets to Friday (and they're not obviously on the mend) I always get them seen. If the OOO provision is as bad as you say in your area then I think going forward I'd definitely be getting them seen before going into the weekend.

Disillusioneddaisy · 14/12/2019 09:54

My son is older and he has been very ill this winter with various bugs. I don't think he had the flu but he had a high temp, vomiting, aches, coughing and incredibly lethargic. His temp only lasted a day or two and was managed with calpol and ibuprofen during this time but had it gone on any longer I would definitely have had him seen. If you're unsure the only sensible thing to do is get medical advice. For all you know another infection could have taken hold hence why it's taking him so long to feel better. I'm a massive worrier and I would always get medical advice when dc are ill

ConstanceL · 14/12/2019 10:04

Definitely call 111 at the very least OP - they can get you an out of hours GP appointment. We had to do this last winter when DS had a nasty chest infection and we got an appointment that evening in the next village. I wouldn't mess about with flu, as BercowsFestiveFlamingo says flu can kill.

Buyitinbamboo · 14/12/2019 10:13

I'd call 111 too. My 3 year old had pretty much the same symptoms a couple of weeks ago, although it wasn't flu. Temp of 40 didnt come down with calpol, started wednesday and still had it by the sunday. 111 didnt send us to a&e. In fact when I first called on the Thursday they fobbed me off. Eventually on the sunday they gave me an out of hours appt and she got antibiotics for tonsilitis.

Pipstelle · 14/12/2019 10:20

Flu can and does kill lots of children every year. I get not wanting to go to AE and you're likely right it will be a giant waste of time BUT you'll have done all you could. I'd take him.

Frlrlrubert · 14/12/2019 10:21

To those banging on about fly jabs - we got a letter from the trust saying 'book yours now' but GP has no stock!

Branleuse · 14/12/2019 10:30

I think if youre managing to bring the temperature down for a few hours at a time then that is great. Keep trying other ways too. Cooler room, sponging him down. Removing layers. Plenty of fluids, ice lollies. Im not sure if the doctor would be able to do much as its a virus.
Do you think hes over the worst or getting worse?

TheCatInAHat · 14/12/2019 10:34

Don’t sponge a child down to cool them. It can cause shivering which sends the temperature higher.

Schoolchoicesucks · 14/12/2019 10:58

OP you're fine to carry on with the max doses of calpol and nurofen and staggering them so he gets one every 2 hours. Sounds like he went 6 hours at one point without anything so unsurprising his temp peaked.

I understand the reluctance to go to A&E. If the meds are controlling his temperature and he is drinking and urinating and no other symptoms of say sepsis or pneumonia (not sure why a pp brought that up but maybe I missed a post) then I would be tempted to ride it out until Monday.

Jeleste · 14/12/2019 11:02

Since you dont want to go to A&E and are just st looking for things you can try at home, i suggest vinegar socks to bring down the temp.
Soak socks in vinegar, put them on child, wrap them with towels so it doesnt leak through, but the child in bed.
This always helps for fevers in our house.

Lowbrow · 14/12/2019 12:00

I would get an ambulance, if you child is not improving I wouldn’t take a chance.

SD1978 · 14/12/2019 12:06

Has anyone- you or your child actually been diagnosed with flu- or is that your assumption of the symptoms? If you so t feel like you're comfortable then you need to call 111 for an OOH appt. if you don't need that- maybe get swabbed to confirm in case it's something else?

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