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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do I need to take her to A&E now!

82 replies

suchafuss · 17/11/2016 21:28

DD aged 10 has a UTI for past 2 days. Took a sample in to Drs who refused to do a dip test as they are expensive even though she had antibiotics 5 days before for same. Not called me today and DD is now in pain. Given Calpol and loads of water but not sure if I need to take her to A&E. The AIBU is would I be to take her?

OP posts:
PleaseNoMoreMinecraft · 17/11/2016 22:06

Dip tests are very cheap (pennies), maybe they didn't have very many left or something?

It sounds like the antibiotics might not be working and you probably need some different ones. If she was a baby I would say A+E for sure, but since she's 10 it should probably wait until the GP in the morning (although if she gets worse or gets a high temp - above 38 degrees - then do take her in).

Tell the GP it's urgent, and make sure they do a dip test this time, and if they can't then they should send a mid stream urine sample to the lab for microscopy, culture and sensitivity (MC+S) to check whether it's a UTI, and if so which antibiotics this particular bug is sensitive to.

user1472419718 · 17/11/2016 22:06

If she is in pain and calpol isn't helping, she needs to see a doctor tonight.

Call 111, they will be able to give you the best advice on if you need A&E or OOH.

Starlight2345 · 17/11/2016 22:08

I would ring 111...Not sure has GP sent Wee sample off.

How much pain is your DD in?
Does she have temp.

Was she on anti botics for past 5 days for UTI?

CocktailQueen · 17/11/2016 22:09

Ring your GP's OOh number and see if you can get an appt with an OOH GP this eve.

It's not for A&E, is it?

teenyrabbit · 17/11/2016 22:09

Call 111.

Admittedly I have been to a&e for a uti, but that was after ringing 111 who told me to go straight there. I was in so much pain I thought I was dying honestly.

If she's in that much pain, I'd probably go. Ring 111 tho definitely.

teenyrabbit · 17/11/2016 22:09

Oh I'll add that I didn't know it was a uti causing the pain! It was just unexplained pain!

amysmummy12345 · 17/11/2016 22:11

Hope she's ok OP

EweAreHere · 17/11/2016 22:13

Surely a dip test is a lot cheaper than what the GP's surgery will be billed when/if you have to take her to A&E! And they are billed for it...

londonrach · 17/11/2016 22:16

If kidney has been effected or high temperature no messing around a&e visit. Wheres the pain. Shocked a dip test not carried out. If pain bad and around the back where the kidneys are a&e. Phone 111 or oos gp at the very least. (Not doctor just suffered from uti that effected my kidney and meant i passed out and spent 2 weeks signed off uni)

NellieEllieMummy · 17/11/2016 22:18

EweAreHere - no they aren't. The CCG is billed for it.
Suchafuss. please don't go to A+E, it is not an accident or an emergency, your out of hours GP accessed via NHS 111 can deal with this.
Urine dipsticks are cheap - but not always clinically indicated if a barn door UTI, but they aren't always accurate. MSUs will be affected by recent antibiotics but can be useful if symptoms are not resolving.

LumpySpaceCow · 17/11/2016 22:21

I'd ring 111.
Dip tests are pennies, they probably meant sending it off for culture to see if it grows any bacteria and if so what antibiotics it I'd sensitive (these tests are more expensive). The GP mustn't suspect a bacterial infection. If she's getting worse though - high temp etc then she may have one. Hope she gets sorted x

Benedikte2 · 17/11/2016 22:31

If the pain feels like she is being kicked in the back by a horse she needs urgent attention as the kidneys are involved. If it's pain on urinating but no retention then keep up the fluids and ring 111
Good luck.
Please do inform us of the outcome OP

pugsake · 17/11/2016 22:35

OP not trying too scare you but DNeice (who 1) got hospitalised due to sepsis. A water infection caused it.

2 paramedics and 2 doctors missed it Angry

Far better to be seen and not need to be then not to be seen and need to be.

The rule with children (or so I've always been told) is you can never waste the hospitals time getting them seen. They would much rather see them.

Mrsmorton · 17/11/2016 22:38

pig if all of those people missed it, I think anger possibly isn't the right emotion? It must have been rare or presented unusually etc. Why be angry because medical professionals aren't omnipotent all knowing individuals? If you've never "missed" anything at work or in your personal life then maybe you should become a HCP?

OP hope you're both ok.

happy2bhomely · 17/11/2016 22:52

My 12 yr old dd complained of pain when passing urine and had lower tummy and back pain.

I called out of hours and they made her an urgent GP appointment at the hospital. I expected to be given antibiotics, but when they tested her urine they said she was severely dehydrated ( I don't know how, she had drunk 3 litres in 12 hours) and admitted her for fluids, antibiotics and observation.

The doc told me to never be too careful with any sign of infection. It can lead to sepsis, which is often missed until it is too late. 'Every year in the UK there are 150,000 cases of Sepsis, resulting in a staggering 44,000 deaths – more than bowel, breast and prostate cancer combined.' (Sepsis Trust)

Try out of hours first of course, but if you have no luck, get her seen by a doctor tonight, even if that means going to A and E.

OhTheRoses · 17/11/2016 22:52

That doesn't really sound like you MrsMorton. Would be fine if medics sometimes accepted they were wrong and didn't act omnipotent. If the op was told a dipstick was too expensive, that's a case in point really.

pugsake · 17/11/2016 22:55

It's pug and I doubt anyone would let me lose with a syringe somehow.

Yes I am cross as it happens. Not helped by the fact the same hospital (different staff) tried to kick the same SIL off the maternity ward Monday morning. 15 minutes before DNeice2 was born with the cord around her neck.

Some HCP are shit as the thread on here the other week proved. I digress as this isn't helping the op. I realise your a HCP but I'm sure you wouldn't be happy in similar circumstances.

Original poster
suchafuss · 17/11/2016 23:00

Thanks everyone and sorry for not coming back sooner. She is managing to pee after drinking lots of water and no fever. Recommended Calpol so thats what she's had and is now sleeping. Will take her to the drs 1st thing and its good to know that a dip test is not expensive. Will be insisting on these in future. However she does seem really prone to them she might ask to be referred to the hospital

OP posts:
mum2Bomg · 17/11/2016 23:04

If she continues to be in pain and doesn't sleep I've found that sitting in a luke warm bath and literally downing water offers some relief, even if she pees in it. Sorry if that's TMI but it really does help - just make sure it's not hot water.

bunnyfuller · 17/11/2016 23:06

Hi know it sounds silly, but check her bum for worms. My eldest kept getting 'UTI' that would wake her screaming about 10pm and calpol did nothing. She kept saying her wee wee hurt. Kids aren't good at describing sensations. Worth a peep! Obviously if she's puking and has a temp it points to the UTI and the OOH will see her pronto with no vile A and E wait to be seen/tested/discharged. You won't be out until 5-6am now. If she's behaving normally other than the pain I doubt she's heading to sepsis. Sick kids, big sick kids, very fast look like proper sick kids.

heatherwithapee · 17/11/2016 23:06

Definitely keep a close eye on her. DDs friend had urosepsis recently - a UTI which didn't clear up with antibiotics got into her bloodstream and made her very ill very quickly. She ended up on all sorts of drips and tubes in high dependency. It could've been a lot worse.

And yes, if she's prone to UTIs ask GP to refer for investigations. DDs friend was found to have a kidney abnormality which makes her probe the them so now takes preventative antibiotics.

pugsake · 17/11/2016 23:08

DD1 used to get them a lot. She ended up having to have a dye injected and some sort of scan on her kidneys. There turned out to be a little scarring and that's what was causing it.

Touch wood she's grown out of it now.

Pleased your DD is feeling better.

Myusernameismyusername · 17/11/2016 23:18

Dip tests are now seen as not very reliable so they are used far less than they used to be. In elderly care this is the case. So your GP wasn't being very truthful about that they were expensive when they cost about 2p.
I hope she's better soon x

Cucumber5 · 17/11/2016 23:35

Dip tests are 50 percent reliable. Most reliable method is microscope. It is likely that she needed antibiotics for longer to properly treat the infection.

Cucumber5 · 17/11/2016 23:39

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