Would you second guess this diagnosis? Help a panicked mum!

[gnomas]

DS is 2.
He's had a cough for 6/7 weeks that hasn't really bothered him and been quite minor.
About a week ago, my good sleeper started getting distressed 70% of the night and crying hysterically in intervals and we couldn't figure out what was wrong.
On Thursday, he had a minor convulsion due to his temperature being 40+. Took in an ambulance to A&E. (This was at lunchtime and apart from the no sleeping and cough, no other symptoms that morning, he was happy).
He had mottled skin, breathing heavier and shaking (in a shivering way).
Ibuprofen and paracetamol brought his temperature down and he was playing.
They did urine tests, a chest X-Ray, looking in his ears and checked in his mouth (no bloods), and waited for his temp to go back to normal.
They said it was a throat infection and discharged us - with the advice to give Calpol every 6 hours and Nurofen every 8.
He's having both painkillers in the morning, Calpol again just after lunch, Nurofen at tea and Calpol at bedtime.
At just after lunchtime yesterday and today, he's completely deteriorated (literally just when the Calpol is due).
Yesterday, he had another minor convulsion and got better when he had early Nurofen (paediatricians advice, they said they wouldn't worry).
Today, he was just very cold and shivering and grabbing his mouth in pain. He's asleep now.

I've rang them again and they've said it's all normal but I'm just not sure and feel like they're making me feel crazy! I've posted before about this too because I'm just getting panicked. They're insisting that this is normal with a throat infection and all signs pointing to that and it's all okay but I'm not sure how to believe it's definitely a throat infection!

He's telling me (in actions) that his hands are sore and his mouth is sore (can't tell if it's his lips but I think it's his tongue). His skin is still slightly mottled with a blotchy red rash that's just come up on his chin/neck. He's his happy self most of the time but in this period at lunchtime where he's just having Calpol and not another dose of Nurofen, he completely deteriorates.

Should I be pushing harder or just accepting what they're saying given he's happy and playing 70% of the day? He was up a lot of last night grabbing his mouth and ears in pain.

Sorry about the long post

He won't let me look in his mouth at all either (even when he's sleeping).

Does he have any blisters on his hands? I wonder whether it could be hand, foot and mouth. Is he eating?

Who are you speaking to?

If it were me i would be going to out if hours... when my dd was 8 weeks old she had a temp and very sleepy but the docs didn't think it urgent enough and made us wait 2.5 hours for the duty doc to see us.... who promptly sent us to children's hospital... she had a urine infection and in hospital on iv for 5 days. I wanted to trust the doc but should have trusted myself

Basically trust your instincts. It you think something is not right then push for more investigations. It might be he needs antibiotics.

If you are unhappy, please just go to a walk in centre or A &E. They are probably right but it’s not an exact science so just take him. Better to waste their time than feel worried. Write down any questions and write down what has happened over what time period so you don’t miss anything. Hope he feels better soon.

@Racecardriver none. One of his hands is now cold and one of them is really hot and so red it looks like he's wearing a glove!

That really doesn’t sound right. I would go to A&E

Do you have a children's hospital near you? I had a somewhat similar but different situation with my DS (DS refuses oral antibx and had a high temp that was dangerous, they kept telling me to hide it in his food which doeant work) and I took him to one of those and they sorted it very quickly.

Is there a reason you don't appear to be giving him the full daily dosage of painkillers?

@CanILeavenowplease I've been putting off going and making phone calls to the paediatrician who dealt with him because the average wait is about 2 hours and I barely want to take him to the shop when he's feeling this awful, and they wouldn't prioritise it.

I'm another who would sooner be seen and be reassured than constantly second guessing myself when I really didn't think something was right.

But then ds1 had viral meningitis at 7 weeks old and at 12 months started displaying similar symptons with constant crying and cold hands and feet. Turned out he had a viral infection compounded by ear and throat infections. He spent a couple of nights in hospital while they got on top of the temperature.

@GalacticChickenShit I am. The other 1 dose each of Calpol and Nurofen is about 1-2am.

The hands thing is weird. I would drive him to A&E. They won't be weird with you for going again, it'll prob be a whole new team. I would be unapologetic for being safer than sorry.

It doesn't sound right. It could be fine but it's worth getting seen. Please say the line "Could it be sepsis?" (It isn't very sepsis like but say it just in case because going cold can be a symptom)

I think it is the full daily dose if it’s being given through the night.
I tend to do every 4 hours for calpol, but only say between 8-8

He doesn’t sound right, I would get him seen again.

Yes do say you're querying sepsis. I said that with my boy (I was very concerned that it was) and they saw him instantly.

I was going to say he may need antibiotics. I would say out of hours if you are worried. Even if it’s just to give you peace of mind.

I hope he gets well soon. It’s horroble when they are poorly and can’t tell you what’s wrong. I remember ds2 had frequent ear infections. He woke up one morning with all the signs, so we made an appointment with out of hours GP. We explained what we thought it was, and the GP said we obviously knew the signs for ds well by now he wasn’t even going to look in his ears as it would be so painful for him. He was a big toddler (is a big teen now!) and so he weighed him to make sure he had the correct dose that would work. Being listened too as a parent and having a doctor say you know your son and I trust what you are saying goes a long way as a parent.

His condition may have changed so that the previous advice is no longer appropriate. If you feel he is worse and you are worried then take him in to be seen.

You are not time wasting because you genuinely can't tell how serious it is. Worst case scenario if you look a bit overprotective. As annoying as unnecessary a&e visits are, no doctor would begrudge a visit from a parent who's two year old has been having febrile convulsions and now has a rash and worsening symptoms. None. Just go. Walk in or a&e if you don't have a walk in.

Hope you're ok OP I'd take him to hospital and get him checked

Triage will have a sepsis6 trigger.

2 hour wait isn't bad. And if he deteriorates obviously you will be seen sooner if needs be. The paed can't tell much over email. He should have his obs taken again. Safer to over-react than under.

I would definitely get him seen again today. You know your baby best - trust your instincts. Hope he gets well soon, it’s horrible when they can’t tell you exactly how they are feeling

Sounds viral. They don't like to take bloods from paediatric patients unless absolutely necessary. Of course you're going to worry about him, it's natural. If in doubt can you try and get a gp out of hours appt? 111 will just say go to a and e if the child is under a certain age, and then you'll probably spend a long time in the waiting room. Try and keep him cool. The amount of parents who come rushing in to a and e saying their child has a high temp, and the poor little mite has a thick blanket, coat, hat round him / her. Strip them off, is first thing said. Hope he gets better soon, these viruses are a real nuisance.

Did they give any antibiotics for the throat infection??

I'd go to A&E.

YANBU - I’d be off to A&E & given that you’ve been seen before, I would hope they’d see you quickly. It may be that the infection is now bacterial & needs antibiotics. Hope he’s ok.