My daughters cut is infected - what do I do?

[Counciltennantontheedge]

Last night daughter and son ran into eachother, daughter bit her cheek badly- very deep.
Today she has had a fever and her face has ballooned and is red and hot to the touch.
Ahe hasn't eaten except an icelolly and a sandwich. She didn't touch her dinner and either slept or cried most of the day.

She is five and I did the 111 online questionaire and it ended with ring 999 for an ambulance. She is asleep now and I don't want to disturb her and i certainly don't want to waste anyones time.
I was expecting the nhs website to give me tips on painrelief not ring an ambulance. I have heard 111 are a little trigger happy with sending ambulances. Infact every time I have called for minor reasons I have been told to go to hospital or they have called an ambulance and i have worried myself into a frenzy until the doctor sees us and asks why we came

I wasn't even too worried until my sister said it looked infected (i assumed the fever was a seperate issue and the face was swollen because the cut was so deep)

I could ring the gps surgery tomorrow but I am a little worried. What would you do mumsnet?

That is terrible advice - you can have a temperature for a million reasons not just CV!

My sister used to work for 111 and the system is ridiculous. As you say, they can be a bit trigger happy with sending ambulances, but I'm pretty sure now if anyone says temperature they're saying don't go to a&e, ignoring all other symptoms.

This is really serious and could get worse. I would actually be considering going to a&e anyway. I never say this and especially with things the way they are, but an infection from a bite can escalate quickly.

Cellulitis can turn nasty quickly, if she’s bitten deep enough.
My son developed it after a vaccination (nurse didn’t clean the skin before injecting) and in 24 hours we went from “20p sized red patch” of infection to his entire upper thigh being splotchy red and needing a 10 day course of antibiotics.

Also we have to ring 111 again but even said 'not sure why'!I think everyone is so worried about coronavirus they forgot about the real reason for the call
Not sure we will get anywhere.

Did she have the fever before the injury?

Ring again and be very clear on what your concerns are.

Your daughter has a bite on the inside of her mouth and it seems infected. Ask how you can access treatment for her without taking her out of the house.

I got a bash in the face last week which resulted in a cut lip (both on the inside and on the outside). It got infected. Because I have a cold the gp wouldn't see me but prescribed antibiotics over the phone.

While you're trying to sort assessment for her, can you get her to swish some kind of antiseptic around in her mouth?
I'm old so instantly think of diluted TCP. But as a pp suggested salty cooked boiled water would also help.
It might just buy you some time and take the edge off it.
Hope shes ok.

Straight to minor injuries or a and e now. This sounds like it could be sepsis. Don't hang about.

I would soak cottonwool in something like Listerine antiseptic mouthwash and place it on the inside of her mouth, on the injury and then put an icepack on her swollen face until you can see a doctor.

You don't need to self isolate if you have a fever caused by something else. Is it the same child with the cut and the fever? And the fever started after the cut swelled up - that's not a reason to stay away from A&E. If it's a different child with unrelated fever, then it's less clear.

You'll 'keep an eye' for sepsis??

The child needs antibiotics from a doctor. Pronto. It's generally best not to wait for sepsis, you know.

I deal with sepsis every day. This sounds like sepsis Why didn't you follow 111 advice? Don't wait until tomorrow. Get her out of bed and go to a and e.

Is it her with the temperature? If it's die to the bite then you don't need to self isolate.

*due

Can you OH come home? Any family friend support?

Paramedic here, I would want to speak with a doctor asap for review and likely antibiotics asap if it's as you describe.

111 can arrange for a gp to call you back and under current circumstances that is what I'd keep asking for.

If 111 offer to send an ambulance instead of this just be mindful they cannot prescribe any antibiotics for the wound and would also not be qualified to say it's safe for her to go with out. Due to how busy service is at the moment you may also have to wait several hours for them to arrive and will have two options- drop you off at a&e, or begin the process of requesting a gp callback which 111 could have done in first place.

Hi OP - the NHS advice on wounds states that for severe wounds to the face as soon as possible:

you have a severe cut to your face – you may need urgent treatment to prevent scarring

This is also supported by the guidance on human and animal bites which states that if a wound is severe, go to A&E.

In essence, go to A&E, from your description it sounds like the heat is somewhat localised and it's pretty clear that any fever is as a result of this infection.

Ring A and E and explain about the isolation, that way you can be managed.

If you don't want to get an ambulance get an out of hours Dr to visit, but again explain about the fever(s).

They may write a prescription without seeing her.

Personally I'd call the ambulance, they can take details over the phone and give advice. It doesn't need to be a big ambulance there are ambulance cars and motorbikes now.

She is a child.
Just take her to a and e to be seen.
Pharmacist cannot prescribe antibiotics.
Her injury needs assessing.
Risk of serious infection is high.
Hope you ve taken her already.

PLEASE take you child to A&E ASAP if you have not already. She needs antibiotics. I don't want to scare you OP but this is very serious - infections like this can be life threatening. Just take her now.

@TheSheepofWallSt current practice says not to clean prior to vaccination if skin looks visibly clean.

Hope she's been properly seen now. Bites are breeding grounds for bacteria so she needs prompt medical attention, especially if she's got a fever and is sleepy and lethargic.

DS2 had this with an inside cheek injury. Not sepsis but he did spend 2 days in hospital on antibiotics for the infection.

I hope you've gone in.

Do you have an anbesol or failing that even drinking alcohol? Whisky or vodka? Get her to swoosh it round her mouth and spit. It will sting but helps with infection. If you have antiseptic cream then apply to the red area on her face. Don't know if it will work like that but can't hurt.

Either ring A&E and ask, or dial 999

Hope your little one is ok. Please get her seen by a medic.

What you are describing sounds exactly like my son was when a cut turned to cellulitus. It is SERIOUS and she probably needs very strong antibiotics.

Have you got a marker pen. Draw round where the redness is so you can observe if it is spreading and by how much and call 999.

I second @Comefromaway.

My then 9 year old daughter had cellulitis from bacteria that had got into a blister on her ankle.

It is really serious;she was so unwell by the time we got her to an A&E we didn't even wait for the GP call back as by the time they called back she was in a hospital bed on intravenous antibiotics.

We went to a local small hospital and she was so poorly that they said had we waited she would have been blue lighted down the motorway to the nearest big hospital with a children's ICU.It was honestly terrifying.