Suspected scarlet fever but can’t get through to 111

[redjellyshoes]

My DD aged 6 has been feeling unwell for a few days - sore throat, very bad cough and a high temperature on and off.

I realised this afternoon that she has “strawberry tongue” i.e. white coated with red spots. So I think she has scarlet fever.

The UKHSA advice is to call 111 to get antibiotics but I’ve now been on hold for almost 2 hours with no answer.

I’m not really sure what to do - can I wait until morning and call GP at 8am? Or at what point should I just take her to A&E, how bad does she need to be? She’s unwell but not to the extent that I’d be really worried about her if it weren’t for the recent news.

Sorry to ask this on MN but not really sure where else to go if 111 won’t answer me 🤷‍♀️

When DD had scarlet fever (several years ago) we only knew after we got her blood test results 4 days after she was seen by GP.

If they’re ‘just’ seeming ill in a way you would normally wait for a next day GP appt then no reason to take her anywhere tonight, especially given the temp/weather.

Hope she feels better soon

Scarlet fever can be nasty but plenty of kids recover from it no bother.

If your DD is ok in herself (excepting the temperature) then I'd be tempted to just contact the GP in the morning while being prepared for a trip to hospital overnight if she suddenly deteriorated.

Do you have an urgent care/walk in centre? I would take her there because it can go downhill very quickly so I wouldn’t want to leave it until tomorrow.

hope she feels better soon!

Dc has SF. Over 20 chemists it took to get antibiotics in a large city. I even sat calling every one on Google!
Its fucking madness.

Media say no shortage but there is. Even my GP said it and evry chemist said they couldn't order it.

I’m not sure I’d take her to A&E unless she went downhill as there’s massive wait times and it’s not really an accident or emergency unless she’s really unwell. I’d keep trying 111 and keep an eye on her tonight and speak to GP first thing tomorrow.

Don’t panic for starters . Keep calling 111 and you will get through.

I'd keep going with 111, but I'm sure they won't advise A&E as things stand. Only a tiny percentage develop sepsis, but its better to treat with antibiotics from the outset.

I don't know if this is right or not but I read something the other day that said some pharmacists can prescribe antibiotics so maybe worth seeing if there are any late night ones near you.

Sorry, I know it may be irrational but I would be going to A&E if she had a strawberry tongue and a temp.

Again it may be deemed as silly on here, but I just wouldn't risk it at the moment with a potential wait for the right antibiotics, better to be seen quickly at the start of the symptoms.

Is there a temperature?

Chemists cannot prescribe antibiotics, but if you tell the GP receptionist that you took her the pharmacy and were advised to contact the gp by the pharmacist it is more likely they will give you an appointment, this may be on the phone and may ask for photos but then they may be able to send the prescription to the pharmacy for you.

if you suspect scarlet fever, don’t send her to school tomorrow, it is highly contagious.

It depends how ill she is. When mine had it she was sent home from school one day as she had thrown up but went to GP next morning when I saw she had a rash.

I'd just monitor and try to get a GP appointment tomorrow.

If she really deteriorates, then sure A&E, but at the moment it doesn't sound like an emergency to me.

I really don't think A&E is appropriate for childhood bugs. Its literally one of the things the GP is designed for. The queue would be kind, and yours be unnecessarily adding to the problem.

I hope she's feeling better soon

We are on our second bout of SF this year here. The strawberry tongue is what DS was diagnosed on the basis of in the summer. This time he had a throat swab. Was very quick. Swab at 09.30 Weds morning and results at 17.30 Friday.

What are your chances of seeing GP tomorrow? If you can do so I'd wait on hold to 111 but if you can't get through get in the GP queue first thing in the morning.

I waited 80 mins for 111 on Friday because we had to get a different antibiotic prescribed. One pharmacy had some amoxicillin so we had to get prescription changed from phenyoxy wotsit penicillin to that via 111.

@redjellyshoes I've just been through thus with Ds7. He had a trmp Monday afternoon, GP Tues a.m. throat swabbed but Dr thought viral. Tues 11.30pm I noticed he was covered in rash and temp was high and not coming down with cslpol. Called 111, was told I'd get a call back within 2 hours. Went to Drs 9.10am weds and got antibiotics. 111 called back 6pm weds night.🙄

Hes pretty much back to normal now but didn't eat for 3 days and I struggled to keep his temp down.

I did know that my GP are very good, I called at 8.35am abd saw them at 9.10.

Emergency department.

I know someone who died from this.

Thank you all. As it turned out, 111 answered about 5 minutes after I started the thread! It wasn’t very useful though, they took her symptoms and said they’d call back but it likely wouldn’t be until at least tomorrow afternoon as they’re so busy. I know it’s not the fault of those who work there but it does seem like a fairly pointless service now they’re so overstretched.

I’ve decided I’m going to monitor her overnight and call the GP as soon as they open tomorrow morning. She doesn’t seem unwell enough for A&E at this point in time. I’ve just checked her tongue again and I’m sure she does have scarlet fever based on the photos online.

To answer a few questions:

• she doesn’t have a temp right now although she did yesterday, it’s been on and off for a few days
• I won’t be sending her to school
• we do have an urgent care centre nearby but I hadn’t thought of that - good idea!

Thank you for the warning about potential shortages, as luck would have it I have a day off tomorrow and DH is WFH so happy to drive wherever I need to go to get antibiotics.

Of course knowledge is power but I'm very, very concerned about what the recent Strep A publicity is going to do to the already overstretched system. Normally A&E wouldn't be a consideration for SF but how many parents up and down the country must be thinking the same re: A&E? Not to mention all the additional people on hold to 111 and who will waiting to see GP tomorrow for AB.

Personally I'd wait it out, unless DD gets worse. A&E waiting times could mean you'd end up seeing the GP before you get AB in A&E anyway.

I really don't think A&E is appropriate for childhood bugs. Its literally one of the things the GP is designed for

I would normally agree 100% but kids are dying from it ATM, kids that are seeking help and being sent away.
GPS near us are a nightmare to get into ATM and antibiotics are running out that was my only thinking of it. But yes ordinarily I agree with you.

OP sounds like you have a great plan in place and I hope she feels better soon

The shortage seems to be the liquid, ds has the tablets and has learnt to take them in yogurt 1 tablet 4 x a day rather than 2 syringes of foul tasting liquid 4 x a day

Go on your GP website tonight email them, or fill in whatever form they need. They'll pick it up fast especially with the strawberry tongue. If you can add photo that would be useful

That sounds like a good plan OP.

We used the NHS 111 website, booked a nurse call, who in turn got the doc to call us (at 0505!). Saw OOH GP at 10 this morning, on antibiotics.

Standing in the chemist today the pharmacist said to the lady in front that 111 can prescribe medicines and send that prescription to a chemist of choice but what she also said to that lady was that it’s only good if the chemist has what you need.