DD (15) has bad headache

[TheTempest]

Hi,

DD is pretty tough and almost never gets ill. Maybe 2-3 times in her entire life. She’s been out with her friends this evening and asked to be picked up. she says she’s not been drinking/smoking/ doing anything else and she’s pretty open with me so I believe her.

She’s got a bad headache, says her neck is sore and lights are hurting her eyes. She’s got no rash and can put her neck onto her chest with no issues. She’s a bit pale but no fever.

I’ve given her 2 paracetamol, ice pack and she’s gone to bed with a flat Coke and various drinks. She didn’t even want to eat her maccies! My question is, when do I worry? Should I be taking her to a&e? It sounds like a migraine to me, but I have chronic illnesses so my threshold for hospital is higher than most!

I’ve asked her to wake me up in a few hours if she’s not feeling better and I’ll take her if she needs it. Any advice welcomed, I am struggling with my own judgement!

I hope she's okay. I'm not sure re. Migraine - I've had them on/off since I was 7 or 8 when I first started to experience hormones I guess.

Meningitis is always a worry . A friends sister died and it was so quick. Good that you have sought advice.

My cousin died of meningitis aged 17 after going to bed with a migraine. No one wants to be in a&e on a Friday night but your child has three symptoms that either could be a migraine or meningitis. On the off chance it is meningitis every minute counts it's not a watch and wait situation.

Hope she's fine by morning OP

Just to say viral meningitis often doesn't present with a rash (mine didn't). Every medical professional I saw said the give away was me saying 'worse headache I've ever had' - they ask it on the 111 call as it's so common for people to say. It's not deadly but but feels horrendous so she might not 'get worse' if she has it but will still need to be seen.
Hope she's ok this morning op and hopefully nothing!

Hope your daughter's doing a lot better now, OP?