wibu to rush kids to docs with these symptoms?

[SophieofShepherdsBush]

Out on a forest walk with friends. Ds1 and 2 climbing on roots, logs, trees, log stacks. Suddenly ds2,5yrs starts spitting and clawing at his mouth, saying his mouth, Luo's and tongue hurt so so much. He is hysterical, sobbing, bawling, spitting and bubbling at the mouth. Then DS 1, 6.5yrs starts doing the same. I assume either allergic reaction or poisoning....toadstools, berries msybe squashed on the logs they were climbing on.

I leave DD with friend and tear off down the hill with two hysterical spitting frothing red faced boys.

At car I give each a spoon. Of antihistamine and dash off to docs, about 12 mins drive away. By the time I get there thry are a lot better.

Doc checks both, they both have slightly dilated pupils and rapid heart rate, but he decides they are ok. Not sure what has caused it, possible pesticide poisoning, except the pupil dilation doesn't fit that. The kids insist they didn't actually eat anything other than an apple wr gave them.

DH arrives, alerted by friend. He thinks I rushed them to docs unnecessarily and should have just given antihistamine and waited snd watched to see how they were doing. I feel like a dick for taking them to doc, as I wsd there yesterday with ds about something that turned out to be nothing. Am i an overanxious hypochondriac? I'm not, I know im not.

More to the point has anyone any idea what could have caused it? Googling not much help.

Of course you weren't bloody over-reacting. Tell him to STFU, what is the benefit of telling someone that they are too careful about their children's welfare?

You did the right thing

YADNBU! I'd have shit a brick! Are they ok now?

Now im panicking more. The GP had seen them and said they are ok. Now I'm wondering if I should wake them up and bring them to hospital. Even though they seem fine. And didn't actually eat anything strange.
The peanut allergic one did follow the other one, but the symptoms were very real.

There are a lot of Cuckoo Pint around at the moment.

Could they have tried one of those and spat it out and not be admitting to it?

You did absolutely right, given that you had no idea what was happening. If it was a 'known accident' such as a bump on the head, you would know the sensible first aid, and you would know the danger signals that should prompt you to get help. But with an uknown incident I think the only possible option is medical advice. Especially if it might be a poisoning, on any poison label you all see 'seek medical advice'. No suggestions about what they encountered though, hope they're ok now! Dh is undermining you by being critical.

I don't think they would have tried cuckoo pint, that's arum isn't it? They know it's dangerous. Dh thinks it's urea poisoning from forestry stumps treated with urea. Which adds up in some ways too. Im not going to be able to sleep for worrying. I asked had they touched any leaves or flowers, so I don't think foxglove either.

Is monkshood likely to be found in conifer forestbengalcat?

I would give him a flea in his ear - how dare he criticise you for doing the sensible thing? Off with his head!

You carry antihistamine in the car? Wow, that's impressive. You'd be lucky to find a fucking plaster in mine.

I'm quite surprised by your DH. Does he have a limited medical knowledge and perhaps not know that the moment significant allergic reactions happen you have to be careful about anaphylaxis. I would definitely make sure he knows as it if he with them and something happens you want him to make the right decisions too...

I should keep antihistamine in the car too. Good idea. Could it have been giant hogweed? Who owns the forest. I'd alert the rangers incase it happens to someone else.

When DS had his first obvious allergic reaction to food as a baby, his face started swelling visibly rapidly just after breakfast. My reaction was to shove him in the car and rocket to the GP in two minutes thinking that would be quicker than 999 and an ambulance. By the time I ran in with my screaming, half-dressed baby, he couldn't open his eyes. I was concerned about anaphylactic shock-fortunately the reactions were never that serious. A similar response to you.

Hope they're OK now.

I would have done the same.

what a scare! Glad your boys are okay. I don't think you overreacted at all. I think rushing them to the hospital without even thinking "allergy" long enough to give them an antihistamine would have been worse. At least you had your logical head screwed on.

Sounds terrifying. Well done for keeping level headed - I don't think I would have coped so well.

Not dismissing the symptoms, OP. I know they can and are very real. If caused by an irritant or if its an anxiety/panic attack. The reactions are measurable and severe.

Still, I don't think you have anything at all to worry about over the reaction. It was fast but ended rapidly.

Do as you would with any other scare/illness. Monitor them and got to A&E if symptoms return and/or worsen

Thank you. I have checked them again and they seem ok. I'm going to try to sleep. I'm going to be replaying the incident all night I think.

I used to have to take dt1 in to a&e regularly because due to a relatively minor condition he'd develop symptoms which could be the sign of a life threatening complication. Or just a normal symptom. But the consultant said to go in every time because I had neither the training or the equipment so say which it was.

How could you or your DH know that this was the 'OK' kind of struggling to breathe/frothing at the mouth?

Thsnks Bengal and all. I will def aim to go back without the kids and have a look around to see what plants are around. And I knew IWNBU.

Of course YANBU!!!!

Sounds like a sensible response, and tbh even 999 would have been appropriate here.

Glad they are ok.