Urgent help - requesting additional tests for toddler

[BigBadBarri]

Sorry for the click bait but I’ve got a doctor appt with toddler at 11am

He was born during the first lockdown so is just over 2. I’d say we have had literally days or weeks of being well, otherwise consistent colds, coughs, chickenpox, ear infections, viral rashes, temperatures etc.

Hes now unwell again with something else, high temperatures, vomiting, complaining of sore arms, legs and back.

I wonder whether to ask for additional tests to be run - if so, what? Blood tests but what would they show up?

Does this sound normal? I’m starting to get worried about him being consistently ill and if it’s an indication of something else.

Bump?

What is the appt for?

Is he at nursery? Or have siblings at school?

Appt is for this bug he has now but also to request further tests if needed

yes at nursery, no to siblings

It is normal. My daughter was so ill when she started nursery pre covid times, and covid has made it so much worse with all the isolation and social distancing. They have such a shit immune system now that everyone (but especially kids) are catching every single bug going.

You could ask for a blood test but in my opinion it is totally normal at the moment.

Blood tests for children would be via the hospital. Doctors are more worried if a child gets no colds etc as that is more worrying with a non working immune system. Colds and getting ill are the immune system working and fighting off infections.

But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t need seeing today, with those symptoms it sounds like he does need seeing.

OP no advice - maybe I can just bump for you. my DS is same age and in nursery. We had a run of illness when he started nursery - probably for about a year but that’s passed by and he’s not been unwell in months.

In your position I would also push to get him checked as it doesn’t sound right to still be unwell that often.

let us know how you get on

I'd ask for a referral to a paediatrician and full bloods to check the standard things.

I completely disagree that this is normal. DC2 is nearly 2 and has been ill at times, sure (particularly after starting nursery) but nowhere near that much.

GP won’t do bloods on a 2 year old. You’d need a routine referral to paediatrics.

Its normal to have back to back viral infections in childhood. The immune system is constantly encountering new things it isn’t dealt with before. I don’t think it sounds like any extra tests are indicated tbh.

If your child was repeatedly requiring hospital admission for serious illness caused by what should be normal childhood bugs then they’d maybe look in more detail but if they’re getting sick, but can be managed at home by parents and calpol and then they recover, that’s totally normal.

Thanks everyone, we are back and the GP couldn’t have been nicer. She did a full check and said what he’s got now is viral so to keep treating with calpol / fluids / rest as per usual, nothing particularly concerning there

However she said she’s happy to refer for additional bloods given the frequency of infections, very likely to just be normal and they’re seeing a lot of it but she understood concern and has referred me to the local hospital to book in blood tests.

Really nice to be taken seriously, I am 95% sure it’s nothing and all fine but would feel terrible if it turned out to be something more and I just hadn’t asked

Thanks for the advice on this thread

How did you get on with the bloods op
mom so worried about my little one xx

Any update for either of you @BigBadBarri @Fightingtobepositive? My 2.5 year old has had a permanent snotty nose since November. Actually cleared up for 48 hours in December and I cheered before it started again. We've been away for 4 weeks in Australiasia visiting family whilst I'm off on maternity leave and he again had 48 hours of it clearing up but the hot weather has done nothing for his 4 month snotty nose. Last winter he had a cough for 6 months. We saw a Dr in New Zealand who prescribed antihistamines in case of an allergy but one week in and snotty nose persist. Peak summer here.