Anxious about my son’s illness

[Floatingcactus]

DS (age 3.5) seems to have picked up a bug. Started on Tuesday with some slight coughing, by Tuesday afternoon/evening he was really lethargic and feeling unwell. Overnight he had a temperature that went down with calpol.
Seemed slightly better yesterday morning then was very unwell on yesterday afternoon and evening, lost his voice, very raspy and still coughing. Hasn’t eaten much since Tuesday either.
Slept better last night and not as much coughing. So thought we’d turned a corner. Played in the garden this morning and into the afternoon in the sunshine, didn’t want much lunch though.
Then this afternoon he seems to have gone downhill again, very restless, feels warm to the touch and just wants to lay on the sofa.
His voice is just a whisper and still has a very phlegmy cough, only coughing a couple of times an hour though. Quite clingy this afternoon and can’t sit or lay still, like he’s uncomfortable.

My DP thinks I’m being over the top, but I’m concerned and feel like maybe we should contact 111. I’m thinking maybe it’s bacterial and he needs antibiotics.

He’s drinking plenty of water and weeing/pooing okay. Doesn’t want to eat much at all though.

Breathing a little fast, but he is quite congested.

Not sure what to do.

I'm one for trusting your instincts, but on the face of it that doesn't sound too bad. A rotten dose sure, but they do get those. If he's comfortable enough with Calpol I'd just stay on top of that.

Test for covid if you haven't done so?

Just to say not at all medically trained but could be tonsillitis - I have a very lively boy but this is the one thing that knocks him out for a few days. Phone 111 if you feel you need to. Most tonsillitis is viral and not bacterial both times my DS has picked up after 3 or 4 days.

@JenniferBarkley how many days can they take calpol for though?

We don’t have any covid tests , but we all had it in February. I know you can get it again.

My DS had similar symptoms when he was young, and it turned out he had pneumonia and needed antibiotics. Can you get an urgent GP appointment?

He’s done too much this morning/afternoon. Make him rest for the rest of today, and be careful about how much he plays tomorrow. A film or a play on an iPad while he’s on the couch would be more restful than playing out.
Plus, don’t let him out in the heat/sun when he’s ill.

Have you listened to his chest? Can you hear a wheeze when he exhales? Have you checked his respiratory rate?

You can get covid again.

You should probably seek professional medical advice. Little ones do tend to go downhill quite quickly with something like tonsillitus.

Unless he gets a lot worse, I wouldn't personally get medical advice yet. It sounds like a normal bug which will take a few days to get it of his system

If he's still ill after the weekend then I'd get it checked out but there's nothing particularly worrying in his symptoms that would indicate he needs immediate attention.

Fingers crossed he'll be more back to himself in a few days.

Sounds pretty standard to me. Stay on top of the analgesics, but keep a drugs chart to make sure you don’t overdose the Nurofen in 24 hours.

If he drops off a cliff, phone 111, but otherwise I’d just keep an eye and make sure he drinks.

He’s had calpol and 15 mins later he’s up and about again wanting to play.

So I’ll monitor and see how he is.

@IdaKnow

Hes not got a wheeze when he breathes out but I can hear the phlegm in his throat when he’s breathing.

Oh I have this bug atm so does ds its worse on a night time I am on day 10 and ds is nearly over it on day 12 the fact he perks up after calpol shows he us fine just a bug

If he's fine after calpol wouldn't worry. If he goes downhill ring out of hours

Covid really really hasn't gone away... you need to buy some tests and test him...

Yes test him for covid and to be honest I’d not be worrying much about a child who is able to play. It is what it is.

You don't mention anything about temperatures etc. Being in the strong son when unwell is not a great idea, I'd let him rest and have plenty of fluids.

So sorry to hijack but I wonder whether you could explain this a bit further- I'm in a similar situation to OP. Does being in the sun/heat make illnesses worse??

Probably a nasty virus, OP, there's lots going round but sometimes these things can cause a secondary infection, ear, throat, chest, etc, keep an eye on him but trust your instincts if he gets no better, he could need antibiotics.

I thought maybe the sun would help as vitamin D etc. Please don’t come at me.

I haven’t got a working thermometer, but he definitely had a fever because I could feel his head/back and it was warm.

Cannot comment on whether it’s bacterial or viral as not trained and don’t have him in front of me BUT getting some fresh air really won’t do him any harm!

I have a nearly three year old who has very similar symptoms. He had a temp at nursery yesterday although it went with calpol. His cousin was here earlier and he had a great time but he's definitely flopped now and has a temp again and is off his food. My suspicion is that he has an ear infection.

@mynameiscalypso are you going to take him to the GP? Obviously it’s out of hours until Monday now so I’m not sure what to do.

I'm not planning to at the moment. He's okay in himself and went to bed as normal. I'll see how he is in the morning but I think that they'd just tell us to give regular calpol.

It’s only Thursday..,, so it’s only been two days? He’s been well enough to
play, is going to the loo normally, and responding well to calpol?

I wouldn’t be ringing 111 personally.