What to do next? (Poorly 7 year old)

[Notrusthere]

DS started being Ill 9 days ago.

High temp (40 at highest), cough, sore throat but mostly when coughing.
Saw GP on day 3 told it was viral give Calpol, fluids etc

He didn't get any better (although temp stopped being quite so high but still high) sleeping a lot, very grumpy. So I phoned 111 on Friday evening and went to out of hours GP, told again just viral.

Seemed to pick up Saturday and Sunday Am but then Sunday PM went downhill again, cough got worse, bad pain in throat when coughing.

Phoned 111 again bank holiday Monday and took him to out of hours GP who looked in his throat and said it's tonsilitis and uvula stuck to roof of mouth, tonsils very swollen (that's what's causing cough apparently, his chest is clear) and coating pus on one tonsil.
Gave him anti biotics and said he'd feel better in a couple of days.

It's been 36 hours and he's not really better. He's quite bright with ibuprofen almost like his normal self but still coughing but as soon as it wears off he gets tired, grumpy and temp goes up (not been higher than 38 since this morning but was up to 39.3 during last night)

OH isn't worried, in fact he pissed off out at 3pm yesterday afternoon to his mates and came back at about midnight (He can't remember what time exactly says he was too drunk to remember)

I had 4 hours sleep last night and managed to get an hour this afternoon but am now up with him and will be until 11pm when he can have last dose of anti biotics (OH gave him pasta at 9pm and anti B have to be taken on empty stomach)

The dog wakes up at 5am anyway.

I'm not sleeping well anyway because I'm waiting for him to wake up poorly with raging temp like he did last night.

I suffer with anxiety which has been bad for a few months but so much worse with this.

I'm so worried I keep crying but trying not to let DS see it.

I honestly don't know what to do if hes not showing improvement by tomorrow. I'm worried about sepsis, meningitis and leukemia (I'm sure most of you are making the face at the phone my OH makes at me)

Sorry I know that's long but honestly don't know what to do. He's never been poorly for this long.

Oh love, you sound worried, and that's totally normal!
Are you staggering the doses of calpol and ibuprofen so he's always covered?
Eg C&I 8am
C 12pm
I 2pm
C 4pm
C & I 8pm
That helps to keep the temp under control. Also lots of drinks, ice lollies, yogurt, just whatever he wants. I know it's worrying when they're poorly, especially as children get so hot so quickly, but the antibiotics need a chance to work. It sounds as if he was pretty bad by the time he got them, so they will take time to kick in.
You're doing everything right

If it helps, it is 48 hours for antibiotics to work like a previous poster said and then you’re looking at a couple of more days for them to totally get a grip on the tonsillitis.

My DDs only 3 but prone to tonsilitis. She can't have ibuprofen but if she's responding to calpol and eating fine, even if only when dosed up, then I'm pretty sure she's on the mend.

Anxiety is horrible so I do understand. No-one will report you to SS for being worried about him.

I had tonsillitis a couple of years ago and it completely felled me for the best part of a fortnight and I was on antibiotics for almost 3 weeks. I could barely move or eat for all that time - so I think worrying though it is give him a little more time. If he’s not picked up more by Friday then I’d do something, but if his temp is coming down with the calpol etc and he’s keeping his fluid intake up then I’d leave it for now.

Once he does start to feel better don’t let him over do it though - it will take him a while to get back to normal.

I am sorry you are going through this now. This is the worst part of parenting. My dd once had a fever for 14 days! Thankfully, she eventually got better. Her fevers reach 40.5 as well and would only go down to 39.5 with meds. I just kept her hydrated and kept her comfortable with movies in bed etc.

Unfortunately, your fear about long term fevers being a sign of leukaemia is real, I know someone who found out their dc had leukaemia after they had a fever for 10 days and going to the docs many times, finally got bloods tested and found out...

Most likely it is not this, but I get your fear. I did not know this as one of the signs before, or I would have freaked out and worried about the same thing. Most likely its tonsillitis if his throat is so sore. Make sure he is hydrated and if he is eating, feed nutritious foods like chicken soup made with bone broth, veggies, oranges etc. And make sure you are eating well as when run down, you can get sick too....oh and take your vitamins.

I'm not double dosing the calpol and ibuprofen. Maybe I should have been.

Today hes had:

Calpol 3.30am
Ibuprofen 1pm
Ibuprofen 6.30 pm

I'm concerned as tomorrow will be day 10 that he's having too much and it'll do him damage.

Think I'll give Calpol before bed (staying up till 11 for anti biotics)

Forgot to say that for the 3.30am Calpol dose I accidently gave him double. Just switched onto 6 plus and in my sleep deprived half asleep state I just went into auto pilot and gave 2 spoons.

Cue yet another 111 call to see if it given him a bloody overdose 🙈🙈 to be fair the person who answered the call and the nurse they put me on to were lovely and understanding

Mama bear, no sleep for me tonight then! Surely if it was leukemia it wouldn't get better with calpol/Ibuprofen??!

Not sure how many days you are up to, but than 5 days of temps and I would personally want to be getting some blood tests done.

Give it longer, if it is a really bad tonsillitis it may take 5-7 days of antibiotics for him to start turning a corner properly and even then he might need 10-14 day course to kick it fully. His fever is reducing with Calpol and ibuprofen and he is eating and drinking, these are good signs. If after 3 days of antibiotics there is no improvement at all or if he starts to become lethargic, not drinking, confused, fever not reducing then he needs to be seen again by a doctor.

Its Really important to finish the corse of antibiotics.

Have a rigid schedule for paracetamol and ibuprofen.

I’ve been totally floored by tonsillitis many times. Worst was when it took penicillin, another antibiotic and finally a third sort to shift it. Would go then come back about 48 hours after last dose. The last one was not commonly prescribed because £££. But usually the penicillin did the job.

Had the removed in the end. When dd had hers out I set alarms in night to give pain medication and I think I did the same when she had tonsillitis.

Antibiotics normally start working after 2 or 3 days, so give it another day and if he’s no better take him to docs on thursday. Obviously if he gets any worse take him straight away.

Your OP sounds really unpleasant. You say you have a long standing fear of SS, does your partner know this? If so he’s taunting you with it when you’re already stressed and anxious. Coupled with the fucking off and leaving you sleepless, anxious and stressed with a poorly child to go drinking I’d be a bit suspicious that he’s abusive. You sound in a state, and he’s not being supportive as he should. Is he usually a twat? If so then I think you’ve got a partner problem, and that’s not going to do your mh any good whatsoever.

He knows. I don't think he's abusive just doesn't give a shit sometimes

Tonsillitis type symptoms can be caused by a virus, so antibiotics might not be the right answer.

Does he have any skin rash or stomach ache? Is he eating and drinking well? Using the loo regularly?

Is it total 10 days of fever tomorrow?

for you, the worry when they're ill is awful and the sleep deprivation just makes it so tough.

Hopefully the antibiotics will take effect soon and the worst will be over

Sounds stressful but you're keeping a close eye on your child which is great. It also sounds like he's doing well and it's early days since you last saw your GP.

Personally I wouldn't be so worried about the temperature of your child, the degree of the temperature has no correlation with the seriousness of the illness, neither does whether the temperature comes down with paracetamol/ibuprofen. The effect is how comfortable they feel not how ill the are... If that makes sense? i.e. they'll likely feel happier with a lower temperature.

Best thing to do is make sure he stays hydrated and respond to how he presents not what his temperature is - i.e if he's interacting normally, watching tv, having a drink/eating, looks a normal colour, then these are all really great signs. If he's not beginning to improve 4 days after last visit to GP that's a good point to check back in with doctor. However if you're watching him and you think he's getting sicker then he has been then get him seen sooner. There's a lot more advice about specific warning signs on the NHS choices website or google NICE traffic light system - although this is meant for healthcare professionals so it's of limited benefit.

You do not sound mad or unhinged to me. You won't get Social Services Involved because of calling 111!

I hope your DS feels better soon.

Tonsillitis is horrendous. One of my kids had it when she was 3 and it seemed to go on and on. After two lots of antibiotics it eventually went. I took her to A&E in the end after getting no where with the gp. Once she was on the right antibiotics it went quickly. In the end a friend who was a doctor (and living miles away) told me to get to A&E asap. I was so relieved I did

Aww love, stop beating yourself up. You are a good Mum, doing your absolute best for your child. SS dont get involved because you are seeking help, they get involved when you dont.
All of mine have had illnesses like this at one time or another, all you can do is a "watchful wait", until it either gets better or (God forbid) worsens, in which case you will be there to seek help immediately.
My guess is the ABs will kick in tonight.

So he slept ok apart from coughing fits.

He felt warm and looked flushed this morning but did 3 temp readings before ibuprofen which were:

36.8
37.5
37.2

All within 15 minute period.
I don't know what to think really but that's far lower than it was when he woke up yesterday.

Had ibuprofen 10 minutes ago and already perking up

To be safe maybe get him seen again but at only 36 hours you haven't given the antibiotics much chance yet. My Youngest has had tonsilitis a few times and it usually takes 2-3 days for the antibiotics to really kick in.

I think he'll be much better by the end of today. If he still has a temperature tomorrow I'd take him back to the doctor.

36.8
37.5
37.2

All normal. Likely he’s on the mend :)

Do those temps as above count as a temperature?