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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To go to A&E

307 replies

Chipperton · 29/01/2017 06:46

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)

OP posts:

shinynewusername · 29/01/2017 08:46

GP here. He needs to be seen by a doctor today. Leg pains are usually nothing serious but occasionally they are caused by a problem that needs urgent treatment.

Try to get an OOH appointment to avoid a wait in A&E - the GP can refer you straight to a paediatrician. But, if you cannot get seen, it is reasonable to go to A&E.

Hope he is better soon.

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 29/01/2017 08:48

I'd have no qualms about taking a child to A&E with the persistent and worrying symptoms he has.

Those saying 'dont' would you really be as sure if he was your own child?

Original poster

Chipperton · 29/01/2017 08:49

We have two local hospitals one is slightly newer than the other - the newer one is easier to get to and easier to park. Neither has a children's A&E so it will just be the usual waiting room.

I will take the iPad and try to distract him. I think we will have long wait, both hospitals are very, very busy. I think this is probably the worst time of year to need to visit A&E

OP posts:

PlayOnWurtz · 29/01/2017 08:49

Another one saying take him. Have had a child in a similar situation and they have to rule out septic arthritis and other nasties. The majority of children though have irritable hip which comes on with a virus (so fever and unwell feeling) so I hope it's that as rest and analgesia is the fix

AwaywiththePixies27 · 29/01/2017 08:50

OP I understand your predicament. DD has been away on an activity camp and has hurt her foot. She can hardly weight bear on it but the thought of having to spend 4hours in A&E amongst all the football injuries has made me keep her dosed up on pain relief with her leg elevated. We saw a GP yesterday who said if it's still bad Monday to go A&E and get an xray to rule out a break (we don't have a Minor Injuries unit here - one would be a godsend however as it'd free up quite a bit of A&E space). I've been umming and ahhing whether to nip her down today.

Growing pains can be quite painful though, DS (7) had them last year and was screaming in pain at sometimes. We got him checked over at the GPs and then oddly one day about a week later he just got up and was fine. Kids eh?

Go with your gut OP. Hope he's feeling better soon.

bubblemcgubble · 29/01/2017 08:50

Chipperton go now though. Later will he full of Sunday sport injuries. Don't wait.

WhichEndIsUp · 29/01/2017 08:51

I'm glad you are listening to the medical professionals on here OP. Good luck, I hope your DS is soon on the mend.

HarlotLipstick · 29/01/2017 08:51

Totally agree to take him in, my son presents with leg pain when suffering from severe rhabdomyolysis (underlying metabolic condition), there are lots of reasons this could be serious and definitely worthy of a visit. We find ooh Drs a quicker route often though. Please let us know how he is later.

lougle · 29/01/2017 08:52

Sugarlightly well that chart is stupid. I'm an ITU nurse and 99% of my extremely sick patients would have had symptoms in the 'GP' box just before presenting at A&E or calling the ambulance that took them to A&E - their next stop was Intensive Care. Take Sepsis, a major killer. Your symptoms are likely to be fever, sweating, feeling unwell, racing heart, pain - according to your chart, you should make a GP appointment. According to your post, you shouldn't bother A&E. Well, that advice would probably kill someone. They need A&E as soon as they possibly can, and when they get there, they should have antibiotics within 15 minutes of arriving. No sitting around in a triage queue.

A&E is not just for bleeding, choking, blackouts, and chest pain.

Bravas · 29/01/2017 08:53

I'm glad you're going op and pleased all the medical professionals' on this thread have recommended you do so. Go soon before the football injuries start arriving.

Hope your little boy is ok.

Bugsylugs · 29/01/2017 08:53

OP do both hospitals have paediatric department you need to be going to one that does.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 29/01/2017 08:55

To those saying GP will refer on to hospital anyway. Not necessarily. Our GP yesterday didn't refer my DD on and told us to wait it out over the weekend.

Bugsylugs · 29/01/2017 08:58

Pixies if talking about last year you make no mention of temp, lethargy and reluctance to weight bare that from a GP point are indications to refer in. Child yesterday clear history activity and trauma may settle may not. So story very different to OP.

Bugsylugs · 29/01/2017 09:01

Pixie what hopefully dr asked was whether she carried on after hurting her foot on the activity break or whether it stopped her participating? If the first not unreasonable to rest ice and elevate especially if you are not keen on going to a/e. if latter than I would say A/E

Writerwannabe83 · 29/01/2017 09:01

I would recommend you go to a hospital with a children's A&E even if it is a further drive away personally.

Whatslovegottodo · 29/01/2017 09:03

Glad you are going OP.
Good luck.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 29/01/2017 09:05

Sugar I ended up in resus on a Saturday night with a cold (asthmatic and it had gone on my chest). If I'd have waited for the GPs on monday I'd have been dead. I often need hospital treatment with things that are 'just a virus' as my vitals can through the floor very quickly.

lougle is right. When I was last admitted in to hospital. The lady across the way had been dismissed as 'the mardy one with the flu'. She had pneumonia and sepsis. You never can tell, that's what a mothers instinct is for.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 29/01/2017 09:07

bugsylugs yes that's why I said to op go with your gut as she mentioned the temp (its just too early and I forgot to put it in my sleep addled state ).

To me, temp usually is an indicator of infection, so of course blood tests are needed to rule things out. Nothing therapeutic about that batfurger

Miserylovescompany2 · 29/01/2017 09:12

I have attended the GP surgery with a 3YO who hadn't been well for weeks, I'd taken him every week and been told it was viral? On the third week one of his eyes was swollen shut. The GP took one look at him and made an emergency referral to the paediatrics unit. I was told to take him in that day. He was in hospital for a week hooked up to IV antibiotics. Turned out he had cellulitis of the surrounding eye tissue.

They can get you seen on the day.

Given your updates OP, I'd be wanting a GP to see him today. Not a nurse practitioner. I'm actually surprised the NP didnt seek a GP's opinion when he was seen?

So either OOH or and A & E job.

NauticalDisaster · 29/01/2017 09:13

OP, it is difficult to do a blood test on 3 year old but there are a few tricks. Our hospital uses the numbing cream, had me hold him on my lap with his arm to the side and behind us, and a play specialist tried to distract him with bubbles, toys, and singing. The paeds unit will use all their tricks to make it go as easily as possible.

Lolly86 · 29/01/2017 09:14

Paediatric nurse here. Take him in. No one at at A&E will mind seeing a child with these symptoms

minmooch · 29/01/2017 09:14

Sugarlightly according to your chart my son may not have survived that day had I not taken him to A&E. his symptoms fit the go to GP. Which I had done 3 days prior. I took him to A&E because my gut instinct was screaming at me that there was something very wrong. I can only put it down to knowing my own child better than a GP who had met him once in his life. His symptoms were very mild in comparison to the massive brain tumour they found. I got him immediate help because my gut was screaming at me. There is no other explanation.

The guidelines are important. But are just that, guidelines. Knowledge of your own child, their normal reactions to illness, trumps any guidelines.

Cel982 · 29/01/2017 09:16

GP here, OP, and another who says he needs to be seen today, either at A&E or in a Paeds Unit via OOH. Severe leg pain and fever in a small child is a medical emergency, and he needs bloods and imaging fairly urgently.

That ludicrous NHS chart posted above is almost criminally misleading, IMO; I can think of half a dozen conditions off the top of my head that warrant immediate A&E presentation but don't feature on it at all. Like a stroke, FFS.

Sweets101 · 29/01/2017 09:18

If I was you I would take him to A&E

SoupDragon · 29/01/2017 09:20

Sugarlightly according to your chart...

It is not her chart, it is from the NHS. I don't know why people are blaming her for posting something "official"

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