My child has been ill for a year and no one will help

[SickySickSick]

Name change because I’ve talked this through with friends/family

I have a three year old. For the last year, she has been ill with multiple chest infections, conjunctivitis, tonsillitis, ear infections and now a skin infection. She’s had antibiotics 10 times over the last 12 months, sometimes several courses to clear the issue. In between the infections, she regularly gets viral tonsillitis and viruses meaning she coughs until she throws up every few weeks. We’ve not had more than two weeks without her being ill since last summer. I’ve started taking her to see a doctor even when it is viral (only difference I can tell is no temperature) because I want it logged by them that she’s ill. Again. The problem is that we see a different doctor every time, and even though I say she’s been ill a lot recently, they seem to just nod and ignore it.

So am I overreacting? Is this just normal three year old at nursery sickness, or should I start trying to push for more investigations into why she is getting so many infections so frequently?

YABU- it’s normal, calm down and leave the doctors alone
YANBU- listen to your instincts and push the doctor for more help

Sorry OP I know things are very difficult for so many people at the moment. I think you should ask for a second opinion and specifically say that you want a referral to ENT so they can investigate why she’s had so many infections. Very few GP surgeries do blood tests on children so they’d probably have to send her to the hospital to do bloods anyway. If they still refuse I’d be emailing the practice manager to say you’re unhappy and worried. I used to work in nurseries and I don’t think level of antibiotics is normal at all and I disagree that it can be explained by lockdown. I’m not a doctor of course that’s just my opinion. I would feel the same as you and want them to get the bottom of why she’s suffering so much.

I would ask you be referred to a different doctor and get her tonsils & adnoids removed. She sounds exactly like all mine were until they had them removed. Their lives changed almost over night. Would also echo that she needs to take a probiotic as that amount of antibiotics are terrible for internal flora

@Aintnosupermum

In North America they refer to an ENT after the 3rd round of ear and throat infections. We went from an infection every 2 weeks to nothing by getting tubes and adenoids removed. Since getting tubes at 18 months old I think there has been 2 rounds of antibiotics. DC is 11 in July.

Get the referral or go private for an evaluation.

This. One of mine needed the tubes and they were very effective.

www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/ear-infection/child-need-tubes-ear-infection

Got a call from nursery today asking me to pick her up. She had a coughing fit and couldn’t catch her breath afterwards. She had another one shortly afterwards. I called the doctor who told me there was nothing they could do and if she was struggling to breathe I needed to go to hospital for oxygen.

This might sound terrible but could her Dad take her and ask for her to be referred. Some GP’s can be awful with dismissing Mum’s I think. I think if you keep asking OP they’ll get sick of you and do the referral.

Read your updates, it sounds like maybe some lung issues following baby bronchiolitis. Id see a different doctor and refuse to leave without a referal. You need to be firmer. Ent will check tonsils and for glue ear, then if nothing is found you should ask them to refer for lungs.

The nursery should have sent for an ambulance for a child with breathing difficulties, why on earth didnt they?

Sounds like allergies and possible asthma to me.

can you change GP surgeries ?,
assuming you've tried all the docs in the one you're with.

do you have a walk-in centre near you.
esp if she is short of breath.
that could go to A&E possibly.
some have separate dept for children.
all the best.

I’d change GP’s.

I'd cut out dairy for a week, that causes loads of congestion problems. Push for ENT referral to check adenoids.

How did you get on in hospital?

How is she thus morning?

There is a load of really alarmist and inaccurate advice on this thread. The average child has 10-12 upper respiratory tract infections (colds/sore throats/coughs) during the first year they are in a group setting - daycare, Reception etc. So, in terms of the number of infections, this all sounds totally normal

You've misread - it's 10-12 required antibiotics, and numerous other infections between times.

Thanks everyone. We got her home and she was totally fine, running around happily. I checked her pulse ox and it was 95% so just kept an eye on her

There’s no dad on the scene so he can’t take her, and this is the only doctors in twenty minutes. No walk in either :(