DS been off school for a week now

[Sarah510]

age 11. It started with a cough before Christmas and I took him to the doc then, and they said it was viral. He was off school for a week and it took him nearly all the Christmas holidays to get better and back to himself. Then cough started to come back and he's been off school since last Wed. I took him to the doc, but no temperature, no infections, so she said it was viral, but there was no need for him to be off school. He's not well though, he sleeps a lot of the day, and sleeps all night, he says he's so tired. He's lost interest in everything. I dragged him out for a walk last night, but he could hardly walk, he was leaning up against railings. He's not putting it on. he went to bed during the footie last night even though it was his beloved Liverpool. I dunno what to do. Guess just have to wait it out. I'm worried about him . He's 11, year 7

When did you take him to doctor? They can only judge what they see at the time, if symptoms have changed since, take him back.

Call 111 and get hair view. I would also be concerned. All the best.

I know several people who have coughs and colds that have taken two months or more to get rid of. But a child is more concerning. I would insist on getting some blood testing done. Go with your instincts- the GP doesn't know your son, you do.

Unfortunately you'll have to keep taking him back to the doctor until they do something. Sometimes they'll fob you off once in the hopes it'll just go away, then take you seriously the second time as it's clearly not getting better.

I'd make another appointment, say he's been once before, he's short of breath and lethargic and you're worried and want something done.

If it's viral I'd imagine you would expect to see improvement in a week* - I'd go back to the GP or call 111. Is he eating & drinking ok?

*I am clearly not a medical professional.

He's not well though, he sleeps a lot of the day, and sleeps all night, he says he's so tired. He's lost interest in everything. I dragged him out for a walk last night, but he could hardly walk, he was leaning up against railings

I'd be phoning 111 or your gp urgently

Might he have glandular fever? A friend’s DS of about the same age has this at the moment.

My DS has something similar before Xmas. He really wasn't himself and I knew he wasn't right. Turned out he had an upper respiratory infection. Call 111 for peace of mind.

My Dd, also 11, had exactly the same thing a few weeks ago. Just slept and slept. I could have put £1000 in the corner of her room and she wouldn't have got up for it. A bit of a cough, not much. She ate nothing at all for well over a week; but would drink the odd smoothie if she was awake. I didn't take her to the doctors, or give her meds or anything, she wasn't in pain. Just let her sleep. Of course, don't know if it's the same thing!

What @Rainallnight said. My best mate has this in our early teens. She could barely stand with the lethargy. I'd get him checked ASAP.

Back to the doctors or call 111, like pp I would be thinking glandular fever. I had it at a similar age and was tired all the time, my neck hurt and it took months for me to get back to normal.

I just assumed dd had flu. (Further to my post above).

I think the key information missing is when did he see the doctor? He certainly needs to go back.

Could it have been (& still be) whooping cough? They call it the 100 day cough. But it's very distinctive sounding. DS & I had it a few years ago.

just checked and he was at the doctor last Thursday. she couldn't find anything "wrong". Yeah I'll ring the doc for an appt tomorrow. She said he needs to drink loads and no reason not to be in school. I got him up for school on Tuesday but there was no way he could go. He is eating a bit, though not as much as normal!

I had glandular fever as a teenager, sounds similar. I was exhausted and not right for about a year. I couldn't even sit all of my gcse exams.
I'm not sure if there is a specific test for it but maybe ask gp if it's a possibility. There is no way I could have gone to school, I was off for around 5 months.

You need to keep going back to the doctor, there’s more going on there than a simple cough.
I can’t believe you just left your dd to stew in her own juice for a full week, arethereanyleft!!

It could be post-viral fatigue. I had glandular fever when I was 17 without realising that is what it was, and it wiped me out for months afterwards.

DS1 is 14 and had glandular fever over Christmas and his symptoms sound very similar. Go back to your GP and ask for a blood test.

I disagree @Thisismytimetoshine (clearly, else I wouldn't have done it)!
She just wanted to sleep. I wasn't about to drag her to the doctors for them to say it's a virus, and there's no medicine for it. It didn't make any difference to know what she had.
Likewise glandular fever, there's no treatment, just rest and liquids; ie what We were doing anyway.,

Another vote for suggesting a blood test to rule out glandular fever. I had it when I was 19 - went to the docs on the Wednesday with a massive swelling on my neck and a really sore throat to be told no definitely not GF but would do blood test to be sure. Got collected from work later that day as was sitting almost on the fire with two coats on and still shivering. By Friday night my parents took me to the doctor at 10pm as they were so worried!! Definitely had GF according to that doctor . But the exhaustion - oh crikey. I still remember it 32 years later!

This happened to my DD when she was around 4 i think.

Wasn't a cough but she was very unwell. Took her to the doctors countless times ( twice a week and her illness lasted around 6 weeks).

She started struggling to walk and the last straw was when her dad carried her from the car to the couch because she was too weak. I called 111, they sent us to A & E and they took bloods as they were worried about leukemia ( she had all the symptoms bar the bruising according to the doctor).

The results were rushed through and within the hour we were told she had an infection somewhere, we were asked to go home and then were called the next day to come back for diagnostic testing.

It turned out that she had an infection somewhere, they never did find out where, they tested for glandular fever but it came back negative, the stress of the infection had given her a heart murmur which did go away in time. Her infection markers started to improve and she didnt need any treatment in the end but it was a terrifying time and i kicked myself for not being more firm with the doctors and pushing for blood tests sooner x

I would ask to be tested for glandular fever. The lethargy and length of time would seem to fit.

I had glandular fever when I was 17 without realising that is what it was, and it wiped me out for months afterwards

This happened to my DH too when he was in his 20s. He had six months off work but didn't realise that he'd had glandular fever until years later when he was being tested for lots of other things.

Hope you can get another appointment OP and don't let them fob you off.

@Cinderemma an upper respiratory infection is usually just a cold.