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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to ask you to 'diagnose' my son please?

25 replies

RagamuffinAndFidget · 13/07/2012 11:56

DS1 hasn't been 'right' since last Friday, at least. He's tired and grumpy, his skin looks pale but his cheeks often seem flushed, and he has bags under his eyes some of the time. He's seen a Doctor (on Monday) and was prescribed amoxicillin (sp?) because the Doctor said his ears seemed a little red, one was worse than the other one, and his tonsils were a little enlarged. During the course of this week DS1 developed a red, itchy, bumpy rash and has seemed to have quite itchy skin at times. Over last weekend he seemed to lose his appetite quite dramatically, which is unlike him, although he is eating more normally now.

He's not so tired and worn down that he can't do anything - he happily took part in his swimming and Tae-Kwon-Do classes yesterday - but he doesn't really seem like his usual bright and chirpy self sometimes.. and not just at times when he would usually be tired, IYSWIM?

Sorry this is a bit rambly, I'm a bit worried about him TBH. I will phone the Health Centre and get an appointment if you all yell at me and tell me I'm rubbish for being on here rather than seeing a Doctor, but I just want some opinions on whether I'm being overly worried or not?

OP posts:

worriedwretch · 13/07/2012 11:59

i'd say YABU taking him swimming with poorly ears

get him back to the GP

FreeBirdsFlying · 13/07/2012 11:59

I would make an appointment for him.

Impossible to say what it is over the internet.

HecateHarshPants · 13/07/2012 12:04

Sounds like he needs to rest, to me.

After you've been ill, you need some time for your body to recover.

Let him have sofa time, knock off the activities for a few days, let him rest.

If he's no better in a few days, or if he goes off his food again, or has a temperature or is complaining that he feels ill, or if he still has the rash now, I'd say take him back.

But I am not a doctor or nurse, this is just my view as a mum. It's how I'd play it if it was my child.

ratspeaker · 13/07/2012 12:06

A child that is unwell and has sore throat and earache isn't going to be their normal chirpy self.
If his throat was sore he'd not feel like eating.
Thats what kids do when they feel unwell
I wouldn't let a kid with sore ears swim
The red itchy rash could be a viral rash or it could be a reaction to the antibiotics
But as was said above internet diagnosis is impossible.

gordyslovesheep · 13/07/2012 12:07

ask a qualified medical professional - YABU to expect somebody to osmo diagnose him vie the interweb

and let him REST if he is ill

Moominsarescary · 13/07/2012 12:09

Ds1 and3 come out in bumpy itchy rashes with amoxicilllin, they are both allergic to penicillin

valiumredhead · 13/07/2012 12:09

He sounds like he needs proper rest - no wonder he's grumpy if he's unwell and going to swimming and Tae kwon do - give him a proper break while he recovers.

If he doesn't perk up after rest take him to the GP.

sugarice · 13/07/2012 12:12

My ds2 is allergic to amoxycillin and came out in a terrible rash. Your ds needs rest not activities. I would phone the GP and discuss the rash and book an appointment if necessary for him to look at it.

Thumbwitch · 13/07/2012 12:12

Pretty much what everyone else has said - why on earth did you take him swimming?

Let him rest, I would say make sure you finish the course of antibiotics but having seen Moomin's post, perhaps not - take him back to the doc asap and get him more thoroughly checked over.

SparkyTGD · 13/07/2012 12:12

Agree with Hecate

He's a bit poorly & needs some rest, would only go back to docs if he gets worse or if it persists for more than a few days.

Original poster

RagamuffinAndFidget · 13/07/2012 12:17

He asked to go to his classes, and was quite upset when I suggested he stay at home. Swimming involves either DH or me helping him move about the pool and Tae-Kwon-Do is just lots of games (3-5yo class) so neither is particularly strenuous, so I figured if he was well enough to get upset about missing out then he was well enough to go. It was also his last swimming lesson of the term yesterday and he'd have been upset to not say goodbye to his friends before the summer.

Not that any of that was really relevant to my question.

Moomins that's interesting, DH is allergic to penicillin so I wonder if maybe DS1 is as well? He's only had amoxicillin twice (this is the second time) so could it be a reaction even though he's had it once before and didn't seem to react?

OP posts:

eastendywendy · 13/07/2012 12:22

Are you sure he isn't having an allergic reaction to the antibiotics? A pharmacist should be able to advise.

Other than that I'm not really sure what you mean - he's not that ill, he's eating and drinking. He's tired because he's been ill, surely?

eastendywendy · 13/07/2012 12:24

Ds had a reaction to penicillin after hed had it several times with no problems.

TheSpokenNerd · 13/07/2012 12:28

Asking to go or not...swimming pools and poorly ears do not mix. I sounds like he's generally run down with an ar infection and a reaction to something...go back to the GP.

DeWe · 13/07/2012 12:33

Slapped cheek?

When his cheeks are red, is there a sort of white band round the lips?

You can have a sort of blotchy rash elsewhere too with slapped cheek.

Dahlen · 13/07/2012 12:44

If the rash is bumpy, like hives, then I'd have thought it's most likely to be an allergic reaction to something. Possibly the penicillin - 10% of the population are believed to be allergic to penicillin to a greater or lesser extent. Could be anything though, even pollen at this time of year.

I think many kids are tired and a bit run down at this time of year. Many of them are just limping towards the end of term.

In your shoes, I'd just let him rest and keep an eye on him. If he starts wheezing, the rash gets worse or he goes drowsy on you and difficult to rouse (not just sleepy because he's ill), then get straight back to a Dr. If he's not better in a few days, also go back. But rest will probably sort him out.

worriedwretch · 13/07/2012 13:06

Can I just say - you saying that swimming isn't strenuous Is complete crap. As an adult - to walk around in the water may not be - but for a child?

girlywhirly · 13/07/2012 13:14

If a child has been to the DR and is sick enough to have been prescribed medication they should rest and recover at home. It's basic common sense. Taking antibiotics can make people feel less like eating, and his immune system will be struggling if he then goes to do swimming and Tai Kwon Do, even if you claim he wasn't exerting himself. Swimming with an ear infection and sore throat is definitely out of the question.

You need to get him seen again and a different antibiotic prescribed if necessary.

Original poster

RagamuffinAndFidget · 13/07/2012 13:23

worriedwretch If you'd read my post properly you'd have seen that it's a parent-toddler swimming lesson - we go in the pool, we hold onto him, he splashes and sings songs. He didn't put his face/ears anywhere near the water and he wasn't doing anything by himself/swimming any strokes.

Thanks for the replies which have actually been helpful. I will take him back to the Doctor and see if he needs a different antibiotic. Does anyone know if they will test to see if he is allergic to penicillin or if it will just be assumed? DH is quite seriously allergic so if DS1 is having reactions it might be useful to have something on paper, so to speak.

OP posts:

eastendywendy · 13/07/2012 13:35

They'll put in on his medical records. They won't test ime.

Smellslikecatspee · 13/07/2012 13:45

You can develop an allergy to anything anytime, doesn't matter if you've had it once or 50 times.

It would be worth mentioning to a doctor/having them look at it and if he is developing an intolerance each episode will be a bit worse.

I know you don't think its relevant but no way should he have gone swiming, he could have gone along and said goodbye without getting in.

If it was an ear throat infection while the ABs would have kicked in after 36-48 hours the ear canal and drum could still have been swollen and compromised. There is a possibility that he may have picked up a secondary infection, that is keeping him low.

On reflection I would go see a doctor, explain that hes been on the ABs for 4 days, show the rash and tell him that LO has been in the pool again.

Better to do it today than have a poorly boy over the weekend.

worriedwretch · 13/07/2012 13:52

Im very glad "He didn't put his face/ears anywhere near the water and he wasn't doing anything by himself"

so just merrily sharing bugs around then

you know best OP... hope your son is better really soon

sugarice · 13/07/2012 14:18

Hi Raggamuffin ds2 was a baby when his allergy to amoxycillin was detected. They didn't test him as such. He was very difficult to rouse [almost unconscious] and the rash was bright red and all over but not raised and itchy looking, the doc took one look at him and said he was allergic. Hope your boy is better soon.

Moominsarescary · 13/07/2012 16:27

Both mine had amoxicillin before and were fine, ds1 was 4 when he had a reaction and ds3 was about 10 months

Thumbwitch · 14/07/2012 00:50

My DH's dad was allergic to penicillin. As far as we know, DH isn't, but when I mentioned it to any doc re. DS, they automatically decided not to give him any penicillin-based antibiotics, just in case. He's never been tested.

There are other antibiotics available - once it's in his notes, then make sure he doesn't get given any penicillin-based ones again.

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