To expect more from the GP?

[Corbiere92]

My 8mo has been ‘unlucky’ lately - we all caught COVID in June, he had it mildly, but since then he’s had 3 pretty rough infections in the space of 6 weeks (mid - August through to end September).

Each time he’s had a high fever for 4 / 5 days, totally not himself, goes very pale. The last fever ended us up in A&E as we couldn’t get him comfortable. Not many other symptoms - most recently a sore throat but that’s it. He’s over it now (was better 2-3 days ago) but still looks pale.

I have raised concerns about the number of infections in a short time to be told it’s really common and to be expected.

I’m a FTM (which of course every doctor we come across feels the need to ask, as if I had 5 more kids at home they might take me more seriously?) and tbh I hope I am being neurotic as that would be the best outcome for my DS. But this just seems unusual to me.

-No other little ones at home to catch bugs from
-Not attending daycare (I’m still on MAT leave)
-only caveat is we flew abroad for a holiday and 2 of the three illnesses coincide with after we flew, so could argue bugs being picked up there

AIBU to expect more concern/investigation? At what point does it warrant further examination? 3 of the last 6 weeks he’s hardly fed, been really knocked about, and totally off colour.

Anyone else been in the same boat? Don’t want to subject my DS to unnecessary tests but I am concerned there’s something more going on and don’t feel like I’m being heard!

I wouldn’t worry too much as long as he’s getting better between the viruses. It’s pretty common for them to get ill really frequently around that age. At least with my DS, I found that the first time round he would get ill for a few days with each childhood bug/virus. By age 2 or so he started getting over them much more quickly. It’s totally reasonable that travel exposed him to more viruses, and in my experience going to the doctor on day 4-5 of a virus just resulted in the doctor saying “it’s a virus” - there isn’t really anything they can do about it. Of course, that is as long as the temperature is not dangerously high or other symptoms meaning they need to be seen.

It is normal I'm afraid especially with flying. It doesn't really get better until they start going to primary school.

As long as he is fighting them off I wouldn’t worry too much. Especially when you can link some of them to the travel.

I think they ask because if you did have 5 more kids at home you wouldn’t even be at the GP tbh. You’d just dose them up with calpol and carry on as you are more relaxed when you’ve had poorly children before.
I know it’s a worry when you are a new mum and they are so small but it’s only natural for them to get poorly, especially after flying.

He is crawling, shuffling or walking and picking up crap
It is totally normal.

If he is recovering in between and has some steady weight gain it sounds completely normal, especially if he’s been suddenly exposed to more bugs ie on a plane.
You’ll have another period like this when he starts nursery or preschool I’m afraid.

It's normal. Hes little, he hasn't built up any immunity yet. At his age he will pick up illnesses on planes, he's starting to crawl/walk and therefore touching eeverything

My oldest was sick pretty much every month for a year. 10 episodes a year is normal. It’s an utter clusterfuck.

It sucks but it's completely normal I'm afraid. Their immune systems are learning how to work and fevers etc are the unfortunate byproduct!

Thanks all, sounds like I am being neurotic, which is actually very reassuring… keeping my fingers crossed we have an uneventful few weeks/months ahead (but probably wishful thinking given we’re headed into winter!)

Okay so update is that since this post my LO has continued to have 4-5 day fevers every 2-4 weeks, the latest one hitting us last night..

So we’re on month 6 of this relentless fever train! Every time he gets roasting hot, meds manage to keep the temp at bay but he rarely gets any other symptoms (no sniffles or runny nose etc)

He’s also still not at nursery or mixing with others very much. Is this really normal? I expected coughs and colds but had no idea he’d be miserable as sin with a fever every few weeks!

Is there anyone out there with a similar experience that can share my misery / any useful advice!?!

DS2 was always ill as a child. Sometimes he had no symptoms other than a temperature of over 38. Other times he had symptoms, snotty, coughing, rash etc but no fever. I spent what felt like every other week at the Drs. They always checked him thoroughly and always came up with nothing more than NSV (non specific virus). They just kept saying he would grow out of it. He was about 7/8 when we noticed that it had become less and less.

He's now 21 and is still prone to temperature spikes and 'feeling unwell' but on the whole he's a fit, healthy young man.

They have immature immune systems at this age and this is what matures their systems. It’s natural and normal.