When would you take your toddler to the doctor?

[Itstheimplication]

I have health anxiety so I’m pretty hot on these things, but DS had his flu vaccination end of last week (he’s nearly three so had the spray).
they said he might get side effects within 48 hours.
he got sniffly the next day, lots of congestion which triggered a congested cough (he has cough variant asthma they think and inhalers so everything like this triggers a cough) then he got a temp the day after.

he’s been tired but then seemed better yesterday and today although still got a fever around nap time and bed time when he was most tired.

he hasn’t been eating loads but has been grazing here and there, ate more today but mainly cereal, snacky things, plain pasta. He’s still drinking plenty.

he also got an upset stomach Saturday which has continued on and off throughout the weekend, been worse today.

weve been giving calpol when needed (if he seems in discomfort or distressed by the fever) and tag teaming it with nurofen when he’s been worse over night but trying to let his body do it’s thing as it fights it off.

did a Covid test today just incase but it was negative. I’m wondering whether to take him to the doctors tomorrow or leave it til it’s been five days of fever. Calpol does bring it down and during the day he’s mainly quite bright, playing, running about and jumping around etc so I haven’t been overly worried but I think I expected him to start properly seeming better now and tonight he seemed to be worse again when he was tired.

i know nobody can diagnose him here and wouldn’t expect them to but just wondered whether you’d leave an extra day continuing with ice lollies/snacks/ smoothies etc and calpol as needed, or whether you’d take him in tomorrow.

I'd be happy enough to give it another day, it all sounds usual enough. He maybe picked up another virus and his body is just working hard to fight it all off. As long as you're happy his asthma seems well controlled? None of the rest of it would worry me too much. But he's your child so you know best what's normal for him.

Thanks for your opinion :) yes his asthma is only in the form of a cough, he hasn’t got a wheeze at all, no retractions and the cough isn’t any worse than any he’s had in the past it’s just very congested sounding!
his fever also isn’t as high as it has been in the past either (when he had tonsillitis a month ago it went to 40!)

Think I’m going to call tomorrow, couldn’t get an appointment today. He’s still got an upset stomach and low grade fever and today is day 5. Poor thing.
Poor us too, we’ve come down with whatever it is as well!

Presumably he has a virus, I do not understand what you would be taking him to the doctor for? Unless his symptoms become concerning (very high temp, dehydrated, rash etc.) or you feel his asthma is uncontrolled, what would the doctor be needed for?

The fact you all have the virus means it is just a virus that needs to run its course. In these circs, I would not take my child.

If you have come down with the virus too, then please don't go to the doctor's surgery and infect everyone in there. There is nothing a doctor can do for a virus other than tell you to keep his temperature down which you are already doing. If you get better and he doesn't then take him.

Hi OP, sorry to hear he's struggling. If you've also caught it, it's very likely to be a virus.

The best advice for a virus is plenty of fluids and rest. Stay home if you can to prevent spreading it further.

Hope you get sorted soon

I wouldn't go to the GP for what you are describing. A combination of flu jab and what sounds like one of the many viruses going around. He's eating, albeit less, drinking and playing. If you have picked up the virus too then definitely don't be going to the Dr and spreading it.

Sounds likely to be a simple viral infection, in which case you are already doing everything right. Take him to the GP if he has had fevers for 5 days, or sooner if he is becoming more unwell.

The reason I was going to take him is
yomorrow he would have had a fever for 5 days, varying between mildly elevated (38
ish) and closer to 39. Normally his fever breaks after 3-4 days and it hasn’t although he seems to be coping okay with it except when he’s tired which is to be expected I guess! I wasn’t going to go in I was going to call and get a video appointment for
advice.

Posted too soon… but seems like most of you would leave for another few days so I’ll see how he is and judge.
DH and I don’t have all the same symptoms but feel pretty grotty. Could have sworn it was Covid but apparently not.

Personally I wouldn't be worried about to take him to Dr and to be honest I doubt my doctor's surgery would see him unless you were really concerned about his asthma. You say he's drinking plenty and is managing some food.

Yes he is. I probably sound insane but I have pretty severe health anxiety so me leaving this for five days is pretty chilled for me 🙈
I always get a bit freaked out because the one time I didn’t take him in he ended up in hospital with a really awful virus as he went downhill so quickly!

thanks for the balanced views, I know nobody can make the call for me so I’ll bear all these in mind and keep and eye on him.

to be honest if it wasn’t for the number in the thermometer and the fact that it’s lasted five days I wouldn’t be worried

I would take him as 5 days is a long time to have a high temp.

Also, better to have him checked, even if it's for your reassurance.

Hope he is better soon. I understand health anxiety, and it's awful.

I always follow the NHS advice if in doubt:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/fever-in-children/

I wouldn’t take my child to the Dr with what sounds like a lingering virus.
My 3 year old was unwell last week, he had 5 days of fever/lethargy/lack of appetite. He was also snotty and had a cough. Covid test negative. He’s on day 11 now and still snotty/coughing. Apparently there is a lot of it in the nursery at the moment. I would only have taken him to the GP if his temperature wasn’t coming down with calpol/ibuprofen. A GP can’t do anything for a virus.

during the day he’s mainly quite bright, playing, running about and jumping around etc

^^
That is why you don't need a doctor. I have had low grade fever for 4 weeks now from this virus thats going around but there's nothing a GP can do except advise rest, paracetamol and fluids. However I would suggest you need to see a GP to get counselling for your anxiety as its pretty bad if you think a child running around playing needs to see a GP.

OP says they've also caught it so it was a virus and nothing to do with the vaccination.

OP I wouldn't take a toddler to the doctor's if they're happy, jumping around and still eating and drinking. There's nothing the doctor can do, what are you hoping for?

@adiosamigoo yes I did and these aren’t all on the list. As someone who has seen a close friend’s young child nearly die from flu I don’t see how you can call it a unnecessary vaccination.

@Pixiedust1234 im on meds and in counselling so there’s not much more they can do, I’m managing it as best I can. Unfortunately it’s linked to a loss which is why it’s manifested as health anxiety so anything to do with DS is a big trigger. Thanks for your post though, it’s often reassuring to hear a balance of views to get a more reasonable picture than my mind will give me.

Firstly it wasn’t an injection, it was a nasal spray. Secondly, why was it unnecessary? My child has asthma and the asthma nurse strongly recommended having the flu nasal spray as early as possible. Thirdly, it’s highly unlikely the symptoms are anything to so with the nasal spray, especially as the rest of the family have now come down with it.

I guess it was just wondering if it was something like an ear infection that’s bacterial not viral and just coincidence that DH and I are also ill as we don’t have the same symptoms

thanks @WaddleAway anti vaxxers are everywhere it seems

I don't think he needs the doctor

How do you know it's unnecessary?
Arsehole