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

Trust yourself. Take him him.

@Gruzinkerbell1 no, none. I've got DP to go to the pharmacy to get a thermometer as we don't have one and definitely need one so at least I'll have some peace of mind being able to track that too.

Go to A&E now before it gets to Saturday night and full of pissed people.

A&E

I think if he is worse you should go to out of hours or A and E.

Conditions change quickly. If they have diagnosed an infection and not given antibiotics, it could be that the infection is getting worse and he now needs tham.

With such little people that can't express themselves, I don't think anyone minds seeing them to be on the safe side.

Listen OP - one cold hand and one bright red hot one is not a normal sign of a cough. Nice to have a thermometer, sure, but go to A&E?

My 2year old dd has just been through the same. 3 drs appointments over 2 weeks and one 999 call (she had a febrile convulsion) and she was prescribed antibiotics for a bacterial chest infection and bacterial tonsilitis. She had a viral infection, which lowered her immune system and then she caught a bacterial infection. Ive honestly never seen her so poorly and kept returning to the drs because I knew she wasn't right. I totally agree with the drs restrictions on antibiotics. Im happy to be told its viral and antibiotics arent needed - that reassurance is why I take her. But, when she doesnt improve and gets worse she needs checking again. Dont worry about being the crazy parent. You dont have a medical doctorate. Go to the people who do. Also, with calpol and nurofen, It better to alternate them, so dd gets some form of pain relief every 3 hours.

Does he have any mouth ulcers? He sounds exactly how my son was when his asshole aunt kissed him with a cold sore and he caught herpes simplex. He was fine after anti viral meds

Bring him to out of hours.

Take him to the hospital, don’t have regrets.

Kowaski disease comes to mind. Suggest this if they don’t rule it out.

Take him to A&E

@budgetneeded

Do you mean Kawasaki Disease?

I would definitely take him back to A&E. It might be ok as they say, but his condition has deteriorated and usually when they discharge you they say to go back if things get worse or it doesn't start to improve. It doesn't quite add up.

I know it's cold out, but don't feel like you must keep him wrapped up - they'll want him stripped down to the nappy at hospital, to help control the fever. DS was frequently seriously ill, but DH had old fashioned views about bundling children up and he got told off each time by the paeds. Also try to overlap the paracetamol and ibuprofen so he's always got one of the other in his system, it helps to cut down on that deterioration when the next drug is due. But aside from all that I'd not be happy with his condition and I would take him to A&E, and yes, probably worth asking if they've considered sepsis.

Always always go get seen OP if you are worried. Instinct is important here. You know your child best and if you're worried and thinking you should get seen then go get seen. Nobody will hold it against you if you go and he's fine. I'd always rather be seen and everything is fine than not go when needed out of fear.

If he were my child he'd be in A&E right now. This isn't normal theres probally an underlying cause or problem thats as yet undiagnosed.

No one will blame you for seeking further help.

Yes, Kawasaki disease.

If your worried then go to A&E, don’t worry about wasting anyone’s time, you won’t be.

My dd had similar symptoms when she was little, I took her back to the gp twice, took her to A&E to be told it was a virus, she suddenly went down hill and developed a rash in her arms and had cold hands and feet, took her to out of hours and she was diagnosed with scarlet fever.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/hand-foot-mouth-disease/

have you thought about this?

Please, please get him seen OP. We have this weird thing where we don't want to make a fuss. You are his mum, you know him best. Now is the time to make a fuss.

Please trust your instinct ad take him to A&E now. Don't waste time with out of hours or 111. Just go now.

I agree with A and E ASAP. The hands thing isn’t right.

Never ignore your gut instincts. I've had to push to get mine seen when I knew something was wrong.

Yes definitely get reassessed. symptoms have changed so it’s important to get him seen again quickly

The very sore throat and high temperature sounds very like scarlet fever. Has he been swabbed? What is the rash like?