To go to A&E

[Chipperton]

I'm really in two minds about this. I know A&E is crazy at the moment, but I am really quite worried about 3 year old DS.

He's been complaining of leg pain for the last few weeks, I decided to 'wait and see' thinking it was just growing pains. Over the last week the leg pain has got worse, he's been holding his leg and crying, calpol/ibuprofen not having much effect (although the pain comes and goes). He's also lost weight, is generally fatigued, has a poor appetite and for the last 3 days, a fever.

I suspect the fever is just viral but I'm quite worried about the leg and the general malaise. His childminder (goes 3 days a week) and nursery (goes 1 day a week) have both commented that he doesn't seem to be himself.

We saw Out of Hours Nurse yesterday who had a look at him and declared that she 'couldn't really do anything' and to see the GP on Monday. So no point going back there.

What he needs (I think) is a blood test. AIBU to go to A&E with him today - he's never been to A&E before (we're not overly anxious parents but we are really worried about this)

Call Ooh doctor. They will guide you, sometimes to see them, sometimes to A&E. From the ooh, they may refer you to peads assessment unit, or elsewhere. Having done it recently and ending up admitted to a ward it was as quick as the A&E route.

With the GP you can just point out
'I haven't been coming in every week with this, I have done the 'watch and wait' approach for three weeks now. My child is needing painkillers every day and so I think this has moved onto a stage where he needs proper investigating, don't you agree...'

If they say 'it could be a virus' then agree and say 'yes it COULD be a virus but after this length of time, and with this level of pain and the effect it is having on his day to day wellbeing, I would like some checks done to eliminate anything else'

Just hold firm. I am sure your GP will agree he needs more investigation though, 3 weeks is a life time for a 3yr old!

Good luck.

I would call 111 and get and OOH appointment at the very least. Failing that, A&E.

He's lost weight, pain is getting worse and you have said he's not himself. I know some posters have said A&E is a waste of time but you know your child. Always trust your instinct.

I hate this attitude of "wait and see", how many people did exactly that and then didn't see another day?

He's 3, he sounds like he is in physical agony, he's lost weight.... I'd be taking him to A&E despite the likely patronising remarks from the staff if an emergency GP appointment wasn't available.

I read an article during the week about a 12 year old girl somewhere in England who was experiencing terrible pain in her bones; Her father brought her to A&E and they said it was "growing pains" but in actual fact it turned out to be cancer.

That's just one of many cases where medical professionals have missed signs of serious illnesses in patients due to a lack of vigilance or care being taken.

It seems the mentality these days is along the lines of playing Russian Roulette with people's lives, don't bother us unless your head is falling off but even then you'd still be told to take some paracetamol and see your GP.

OP I hope you get the medical assistance that your son obviously needs, good luck!

For the pain, you could look up the dose of medicine by weight instead of by age- the dosing on the pack tends to be quite conservative and if you have a larger than average child sometimes it just isn't enough.

My childminder said this. I told her I was feeling uneasy. I can't explain it, I've just got the feeling something isn't right.

He's actually usually pretty well. We've had a few ear infections but on the whole he's robust and healthy. This sudden change in him is quite worrying. It's hard to be rational when you have a poorly child.

I'm sorry your DS feels poorly. It's not an accident though and having waited 3 weeks, it's not an emergency either. GP first thing tomorrow is the way forward, hope you get somewhere and he feels better soon!

You need to get him seen. It could be a number of things, but leg pain, weight loss, fever and malaise are all symptoms of leukaemia in children and I would want that ruled out. So either insist on seeing your GP this morning or call 111. Best wishes

I'd definitely call the ooh gp as they could make a decision to refer quickly or see usual gp. Make sure you list everything chronologically. And that nursery / childminder noticed. Hope he's better soon.

Reading this makes me sound like a bad mum, but my dc when he was about 5 complained of leg pains, mostly at night, we put it down to growing pains so gave him calpol/ibuprofen.

We eventually took him to the GP, she couldn't find anything wrong with him, referred him to a paediatrician, that appointment took a few more weeks (my poor ds) while he continued to complain of leg pain.

Paediatrician was very thorough when examining my ds and took bloods, turned out he was vitamin d deficient so started on vitamin d supplements.

He's fine now.

Shortly after I bumped into one of his school friends (very outdoorsy family) on their way to the GP for leg pain, I immediately told her to ask the GP to test for vitamin d deficiency and yes he was too!!

Sorry this is so long, but it wasn't until my ds had his diagnosis I started to read about how common vitamin d deficiency is these days.

It might not be for your ds but definitely worth asking to be tested.

Good luck.

Call 111 for further advice , they will be able to guide you using the details of yesterday's consultation to make a medical and informed decision in what you should do next . That is something no one on here will be able to do.
X

Can you get an ooh gp appointment today? I agree it's not an accident or an emergency but if you're looking at leaving a 3 year old crying in pain until sometime tomorrow, I think he needs to be seen today.

OP - can he walk on the leg? Is it generalised pain or in a specific part of the leg? Is there any swelling?

Honestly, objectively it could probably wait 24 hours if it's been going on 3 weeks but if you're in any doubt at all, take him. You're not a regular at A&E, who abuses it. Don't feel guilty if you do go. I agree calling 111 might be a good idea if you're reluctant to go.

Christ. My sister is a nurse and she said 'blood test NOW' it's one of the reasons I was thinking to take him to A&E because it could potentially be something serious.

GP first thing Monday. I won't relax until he has some tests. I'd rather be seen as one of those parents than to just keep waiting and waiting.

My son had similar and was taken v seriously and investigated for irritable hip. It wasn't and I can't remember what exactly irritable hip is but the GP sent us straight to A&E. I would speak to 111 and get a medical professional to assess when he needs to be seen.

Hi I'm an a&e sister, I will go against the grain here and say take him. With those symptoms they need to rule out septic arthritis. May be worth ringing OOH doctor to see if they can refer him to Paeds first. Always better safe than sorry with kids. Good luck and hope you get sorted.

I would not wait till Monday if he is really unwell. GP will probably send you to A&E in any case as they cannot do quick tests and x-rays there and then.

We already went through 111 yesterday when he woke up screaming and crying with pain and had a raging temperature. They booked us in for an early appointment, with a nurse practitioner rather than a GP.

She listened to his chest, took his temperature and had a look at his legs. He was crying a lot when she did that. We couldn't tell whether he was in pain or just distressed because a random lady he didn't know was pulling on his legs!

He has no limp. However early yesterday he was unable to weight bear for a short period of time and has done very little walking or moving since Thursday morning. He's basically just flat out on the sofa.

So, there isn't much point going back through 111 because they weren't really able to do much at all when we saw them yesterday morning.

Listen very hard to your gut instinct. Your dc is only 3 years old and therefore you are his advocate. Only you knows your child best.

If you have a serious concern then take your dc to hospital. They will not turn a 3 year old child away with leg pain that is increasingly worse and with his other symptoms.

You know your child. Listen to him and your gut instinct. If it is screaming at you to get him checked then do not wait.

I'm sorry to those who say wait and see, it's not an accident or emergency. Yesterday it might not have been but today it could be. Sometimes it is not as clear cut. My DS was 18 years old and said I was overreacting by taking him to A&E. he had strange symptoms over 2 weeks but one morning my gut instinct was screaming to get him checked out. He was diagnosed that day with a massive brain tumour. I had been to the gp 3 days prior to that who said he was fine (I do not hold this against them, they did not know my child). By this third day a symptom had worsened. When I rang my gp to inform her that I was taking my son to A&E she took me seriously and arranged for the neuro team to be on standby.

What I am trying to say without frightening anyone is that sometimes we have to listen closely to our children, our gut instinct and try and make a sensible decision.

If your gut instinct is saying it can wait til the morning then wait until the morning and see your gp. Go in with a list of his symptoms, ask for bloods to be taken and a referral for an urgent X-ray on his leg. You are your child's advocate so do not let your gp dismiss your worries.

With that update I'd go to a & e

So he's just listless on the sofa ?

He woke up screaming in pain? TAKE HIM NOW.