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)

I would go to a&e.
When my dd was 2 she had similar symptoms. We went to a&e and she was diagnosed with an inflamed hip. She spent 3 days in hospital on traction with antibiotics.
On here there are always the 'only go to a&e if you are dying' brigade.
However, gp's don't always diagnose correctly and you are the one dealing with your poorly child.

A few years ago I become really ill. At that time I had faith in my gp. I was misdiagnosed numerous times over a 4 week period and became dangerously ill. I was eventually admitted to hospital and spent 17 days there with sepsis and liver failure. If I'd gone to a&e sooner I would have been spared an awful lot of suffering.
Trust your instinct op.

So to summarise.... every medically qualified poster (including GPs and those who work in A&E) has said go. Get him looked at today and I hope all goes well and he's feeling better soon. X

Given the way you were fobbed off yesterday I do think you should go to A & E as he is getting worse. Follow your gut on this one, I appreciate we are all conscious of wasting NHS time these days but it's not like you are considering taking him there because he has just woken up with a sore throat or a runny nose!!!

Hope it's not too long of a wait op

Mumsnet is the same as anywhere when you go online for advice. The medical professionals have all advised you to go to A&E (inc myself, didn't mention at time but am a nurse).
Of course the NHS is stretched, A&E is full of people who perhaps don't need to be there. But the difference between professionals and those who follow rigid advice is experience. There are certain things that ring a bell in our heads, make us think "Hang on a second,that's not right". This boys symptoms are not the normal 'it's just a virus wait it out'. Of course it probably is nothing to worry about, but those of us with actual knowledge can see that it also could be something more that needs urgent investigations that a GP would just send you up to the hospital for anyway.
There is no one in A&E who would mind seeing this child today, fact!

Ok apologies. "According to the chart you posted my son ......."

You knew what I meant. It's a delicate subject for those trying to decide what to do and those with first hand knowledge that had they followed guidelines their child may not have made it. It is difficult to get that through without emotions creeping in.

She wasn't fobbed of yesterday the wrong person assessed who was not aware of what they might be missing or of their deficiencies. This is why primary care is so difficult undifferentiated cases coming in all the time. This is the new NHS it takes 5-6 years to be qualified as a doctor and then another 5-8+ years to specialise on a proper training program. Non doctors who train to do additional roles just do not have this level of trianing

Glad you are going OP. I think you are right to trust your instincts. Hope you get on OK and your DS feels better soon.

Def go, he is getting worse and you can't control the pain

But others can probably spell better than me

Hi Chipperton, another paeds nurse here who also thinks take him to A&E this morning.
I also agree with take him earlier in day as will only get busier. Our paeds a&e unit is often at its least busy between 6am and prob 10am.
I think you sound like a someone has tried different options with health care professionals to see your child and he's still not well and in pain.
This along his symptoms and with the fact he's getting worse rather than better I think seeing a paeds doc in a&e sounds the best plan.
Let us know how you get on.

If you are going to go to a&e go now before the nation is out of their Sunday beds. Hopefully the Saturday night drunkswill be asleep or on their way home, Sunday sports matches wont have kicked off yet and DIY'ers not yet got started.
Hope youre not too long and get some reassurance and peace of mind x

The chart in question was produced by the local CCG.
It would be a useful and informative exercise for us all to look into the qualifications and experience of the membership of our local CCG.
Remember their first priority is to cut costs, usually by outsourcing services to the cheapest bidder.

I hope you are currently in A & E with him, it your local paeds unit.

There have been plenty of good posts on here, but also frankly some ridiculously stupid, dangerous and downright insulting ones.

Therapeutic blood test!!!! What the fuck! That ranks as about the twattiest comment I have ever read on here, and I have read some corkers. Blood tests aren't done for fun. They are done to confirm or exclude suspected serious problems. They are unpleasant for adults, and I have needed plenty ( which I assure you were NOT therapeutic). I am sure they must be especially tricky in reluctant and wriggly toddlers. Stupid comment.

OP, hope you are getting the treatment he needs, and that he is better soon.

Hope your little boy is feeling better soon op. X

This is a GP job. If it's been going on weeks. If the GP thinks it warrants imaging/blood tests they can arrange these. Could he have a bug alongside the leg ache? Get him into GP tomorrow and if you're not happy with his dx the. Ask for diff GP. You can't go to A and E because you don't think your GP will order tests. Emergent issues that have been mentioned would make him very poorly indeed and you wouldn't be asking on here.

I'm a nurse. I would go to a and e if this was my child for all the reasons mentioned by the other nurses and drs on here. If you haven't gone yet, go.

Best wishes and hope all is well for you OP

So good to see all the medical professionals adding their support to the OP here. I hope you have taken your Ds and that he is seen quickly.

Bunny has not read the thread.

All medically qualified posters and HIPs have said go, and hopefully OP has gone.

Are you medically qualified, Bunny?

HCPs. Stupid auto-correct!!

I hope your DS gets seen quickly OP and makes a speedy recovery. x

He's deteriorating therefore it's no longer wait and see.

We aren't talking about a cold - this is leg pain, fever, weight loss and constant need for drugs that should only be used for 3 days

Paediatrician - I'd expect either a GP or A&E seeing this child to ring us up. And we'd see them the same day. Sounds like probably does need bloods, and quite probably xrays. Can't truly assess over the internet (!) but probably needs assessment more than half the kids I saw yesterday.

good luck!

my dc presented similar, had a 'cold' and leg pain.
gp dissmissed as 'growing pain' (wtf is this about?). it didn't get better even though the fever went away after a couple of days.
when dc screamed in pain at night and calpol didn't touch it we went to a&e. turned out to be a case of osteomyelytis.

Hope all goes well OP