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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I can't go back to A n E immediately, can I?

249 replies

InTrussWeTruss · 22/10/2022 20:41

Ds (14 months) has been having a bad cold and high temperature for 5 days. I just took him to A n E because he's just sleeping and csl%ol and nurofen aren't really bringing the temp down significantly and he hasn't eaten anything for days. Anyway we spent ok afternoon there and they checked him over and said it's just viral (probably rsv) and he should be better in a few days. I asked them when to worry and they said no wet nappies, lethargy and cold hands and feet.

We've been at home for an hour and now he's worse than ever. He's having chills. His temperature is 40.3C and his hands and feet are cold. His skin is mottled. I have just given him nurofen again and he's sleeping now. I don't know what to do. Surely if they've just seen him it can't be that serious right? Chest, ears and throat they said are fine. No UTI.

I'm sure if I call 111 they'll send me to a n e. They always do for small kids. Ugggh.

There's too much other shit going on as well but I'm really worried for Ds.

OP posts:
Original poster
InTrussWeTruss · 22/10/2022 21:09

WeAreAllDead · 22/10/2022 21:07

For goodness sake, I’m sure your husband can figure out how to do laundry whilst your baby gets urgent medical attention.

Show quote history

Yeah dh wants me to go anyway. He's very concerned.

OP posts:
urrrgh46 · 22/10/2022 21:09

Go back! Way back when Child 3 was 10months he had chicken pox. He was admitted to hospital and then discharged the next day. Within 24 hrs we were back in A&E and he was admitted again for 4 days! Do NOT hesitate to go back if you think he's deteriorating.

lissie123 · 22/10/2022 21:10

Go to a&e-it’s not worth the risk of not going

Dontknownow86 · 22/10/2022 21:10

Op random people on mumsnet are not doctors, call 111 or go to the hospital. They specifically said cold extremities are a cause for concern so for goodness sakes just do one of the rather than spending ages on a online forum. Surely your husband can sort the clothes / the older child while you take him.

Hall84 · 22/10/2022 21:10

Chuck them in the washer. H can pulls them out and takes DS1 to exam. Job done. If you go now you might be back by early morning.
DD has a raging temp (brought on by tonsilitis) at 16 months. Couldn't bring it down. At 5 am her legs started twitching every time she tried to sleep. The Drs were so kind.

girlmom21 · 22/10/2022 21:10

Oh gosh. I don't know what to do now. I don't mind going but ds1 has an exam tomorrow, dh has to travel and no one has clean clothes.

You can take the baby and DH can sort the washing.

OneFrenchEgg · 22/10/2022 21:11

Op are you thinking the cold hands and feet and mottling were due to being in the cold outside (between car and home?) and now it's settled? You seem to be saying it was transient?

In your shoes I would be vigilant for the next hour or two and go back if any negative change or I felt dc wasn't coping. That's not advice, I think you asked what people would do? - you should do what fits with your observations and knowledge of dc.

TooManyPlatesInMotion · 22/10/2022 21:11

You def should go back!

BattenburgDonkey · 22/10/2022 21:11

InTrussWeTruss · 22/10/2022 21:09

Yeah dh wants me to go anyway. He's very concerned.

Show quote history

Is there a reason he can’t take him while u sort washing? Just listen to your child’s other parents, and everybody on here and take your child to a&e or phone 111, what do you actually have to loose?

Tinytortilla · 22/10/2022 21:13

Go, I once took DS 3 times in 16 hours and on our 3rd visit, just as the doctor was discharging us, DS stopped breathing in my arms and ended up on a ventilator for a week. Little ones change so so quickly, I remember feeling so small being sent home again and told he was fine when my gut was right and he was critically unwell.

You will never regret going to get him checked out.

Callimanco · 22/10/2022 21:13

If dh is more concerned, why can't he take him?

Tbh him having had a health checkover earlier and you feeling less worried now I would probably just watch him like a hawk and go back if and when I became anxious. But that's just me. I did take my daughter to a and e immediately after being reassured by the GP because she suddenly had a nosebleed out of nowhere. Don't regret it.

SD1978 · 22/10/2022 21:13

Sorry, but FFS. you've come on a social media platform. Saying your toddler has all the things you were told to look out for to go back to A&E and yet you'd rather play the but why, do you really think, are you sure, but it only happened for a little bit, game with a bunch of strangers. The doctor told you the return symptoms, you believe the child has them, you go back. You don't get random fecking advice from strangers up in the middle on the night.......

Creameggs223 · 22/10/2022 21:13

Not sure why they told you to worry about cold hands and feet this is just signs of temp and the body trying to cool down same as mottled skin is sign of temp. What are the worsening symptoms? Op says he's has temp for 5 days and from what I see that's what he's still got. But tes you can take him bk if you feel he needs to.

Original poster
InTrussWeTruss · 22/10/2022 21:14

OneFrenchEgg · 22/10/2022 21:11

Op are you thinking the cold hands and feet and mottling were due to being in the cold outside (between car and home?) and now it's settled? You seem to be saying it was transient?

In your shoes I would be vigilant for the next hour or two and go back if any negative change or I felt dc wasn't coping. That's not advice, I think you asked what people would do? - you should do what fits with your observations and knowledge of dc.

Yes. His feet are also warming up now.

Forget the washing. You are right. Not relevant.

Just thinking a n e will make us wait for hours and then send us back as his skin isn't mottled anymore and his hands and feet aren't cold anymore either and his temperature will have come down as well. Maybe it's more important he gets some rest.

OP posts:
mommatoone · 22/10/2022 21:15

Yes- i would go. And you should never apologise.when it comes to children who cant tell you how they feel, you have to make that decision.

SD1978 · 22/10/2022 21:16

And less harsh- the temp doesn't matter as much as how they are with it, so if they are happy, feeding, playing, etc with a height temp, that's less important than being lethargic (a very overused word) non engaging, not feeding, etc with a lower temp. It's the actions of the person/ child they are asking you to look at. A young child with a fever of 40 whizzing around the place is doing ok. A kid with a temp of 38 that won't wake up, isn't.

Squellyolwelly · 22/10/2022 21:16

My son spent a night in hospital earlier this year at 10 months old with these symptoms. He had had a cold for a few days then been diagnosed by GP with brochiolitis the day before. Then on the day, he was mottled on hands and feet and a little on his belly, drowsy and later back in the sofa cushions, his temp shot up to 40.6 and wasn’t coming down. Ambulance came out 10 mins later and was up to 41.2. He’d also been breathing faster for a few days due to congestion but his body became so tired his heart was working overtime to try and compensate. Ambulance had to give to oxygen and nebuliser. The hospital basically said the viral infection had developed a bacterial infection alongside it so he needed strong IV antibiotics, they were checking for sepsis on arrival though as he was so poorly so suddenly.
Luckily only 1 night in hosp and then they left his cannula in so we could go back everyday for 5 days for antibiotics. He was much more himself after about 3 days of them.

I'm not trying to scare you but definitely go back if your baby has got worse, they can’t tell you how they’re feeling and can become very unwell very quickly.

Hope all goes well x

EricNorthmanYesPlease · 22/10/2022 21:16

Get your husband to take.him, as you clearly don't want too. Disagreeing with EVERYONE who says take him Back is futile. Get your son seen too. If your husband takes him you can do the washing you seem so bothered about .

SD1978 · 22/10/2022 21:17

And very lastly. Promis. It's not a high temp that causes febrile convulsions- you're completely right there. It's the speed of the temp increase. Good luck

Trainfromredhill · 22/10/2022 21:17

@InTrussWeTruss OP. I’m an A&E dr. My parting words to every parent are ‘if you get home and things change or you’re worried please come back….doesn’t matter it it’s in 1 hour 3 hours or 3 o’clock in the morning, I’d rather you come back than sit at home worrying’. Please go back.

eatyourcrustspls · 22/10/2022 21:18

I am a health visitor. Do not delay - go back ASAP.

WeAreAllDead · 22/10/2022 21:18

SD1978 · 22/10/2022 21:16

And less harsh- the temp doesn't matter as much as how they are with it, so if they are happy, feeding, playing, etc with a height temp, that's less important than being lethargic (a very overused word) non engaging, not feeding, etc with a lower temp. It's the actions of the person/ child they are asking you to look at. A young child with a fever of 40 whizzing around the place is doing ok. A kid with a temp of 38 that won't wake up, isn't.

BioMed Scientist here. Nobody - adult or child - with a fever of 40 is going to be whizzing around. Have you ever had a fever over 40? I’m guessing not.

DD was hallucinating for hours until they got it under control with larger doses of paracetamol/ibuprofen based on height/weight.

I was similar when I had flu.

Original poster
InTrussWeTruss · 22/10/2022 21:18

I know but the things I was worried about have disappeared and lasted for a very short time. He seems to be just happily sleeping.

OP posts:
willingtolearn · 22/10/2022 21:19

The Doctor is right and up to date.

He's following the NICE clinical guidelines on fever for under 5's

They're here: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng143

There is no correlation between the height of a fever and severity of illness.

The concerns about this are linked to heat illness ie heat exhaustion/heat stroke which is due to external heat.

At 40C children look and feel dreadful. You have given him medicines (ibuprofen) that will temporarily force down the fever, but it's only temporary.

Dontknownow86 · 22/10/2022 21:19

Op if it is developing into sepsis it has a really high mortality rate. Only don't go if you aren't bothered if he potentially dies tbh.

Obviously something is changing and fast treatment is absolutely crucial.

Stop fannying about for goodness sake!

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