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

[InTrussWeTruss]

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.

I'd keep my DC home but keeps very close eye on them.

The child is no longer symptomatic.

You’re talking to someone with two degrees and a lot of CPD - if you think that a fever of 42.3 isn’t a serious problem, then you’re negligent beyond belief. That level of fever is classed as dangerous and well into the brain damage range. That temp is seen in children left in cars on hot days. Bullshit.

Hi op, I had a similar issue with my youngest about the same age. After he had a high temp his skin went a mottled colour and it terrified me. We went to a and e (Sunday evening). He had had high temps for 4/5 days at that stage and the and e doctor couldn't find anything wrong bar sore looking tonsils so treated for tonsillitis and gave antibiotics - she told me - something is keeping his temp elevated so she wanted to try and fight the infection. With antibiotics the high temps did stop.

So I would be going back incase there is something causing the infection bar just a virus.

Paeds nurse here. Honestly temp of 40.3 would have worried me, the fact its down to 38 is reassuring. In terms of the mottled and cold hands and feet, my 14 month old and numerous babies I've cared for at work do this as their temp rises. I can see my DD has a temp without even touching her at time, her colour drains, her skin goes mottled, her hands and feet go cold and she has rigors. The first time it happened 111 sent an ambulance, by the time it got there I'd stripped her down and given her calpol and she was coming back around.

All of this said, babies can deteriorate quickly, and a&e will always trust a mothers instinct. You wouldn't belive the amount of times in a handover we get told presented to a&e yesterday and discharged. Represented today and now needs escalation of care, especially with RSV bronchiolitis as it's a condition that worsens about days 4-7 before it improves. So please don't be worried about re presentation.
When my DD was a week old I took her to a&e, knew the Dr who was on professionally and didn't trust him one bit. They sent us home at 6am and I took her back at 8am when I knew the Dr's had changed to the day shift.

You can take him back if you feel that something is not right.

My mum got dismissed and patronized by a GP when I was 9 months old. She went to a and e with me anyway and it turned out that I had bacterial meningitis. Her refusal to ignore her gut feeling probably saved my life.

RSV causes bronchiolitis and they can deteriorate very quickly. Take him back. My DS got RSV at 4 months and he went downhill very fast over a couple of hours. We ended up in hospital for 3 days.

My stomach flipped when I read your first post. It's always best to get them checked out again if there's even a bit of worry. They can crash so quickly. Hope he's okay.

Your baby has symptoms of sepsis and, more specifically, symptoms which A&E told you meant you needed to return to A&E. And you’re more worried about the laundry???

You'll always get the dramatic my child would have DIED if I hadn't taken them back stories on here. Only you can see your child, if you think they are really ill go back, if they seem to be improving don't. The chorus on here will always say go back (partly because they love the drama of an unfolding thread), if you can see they aren't any worse than when they were in a+e last I'd just monitor them closely.

*but most people aren't medically trained on here and no one can see your child. If in doubt back you go!

At A n E now. Gut feeling is still that as his symptoms were so transient they were probably just because.of.the high temperature but I guess "probably" isn't good enough. This is the third time I'm in A n E in two days and I've got the feeling they will send me back again. I'll try to ask them to do at least a blood test if they don't prescribe antibiotics.

I didn’t realise cold hands and feet with fever were a red flag symptom - DS (2) gets this every time he has a high fever. They start warming up again when it starts coming down. He also gets mottled skin (he’s very fair) and he’s been in hospital when this has happened before and they’ve never said it’s anything to worry about!

Hope he gets seen soon x

@Shouldisayorshouldino just seen your post and it’s reassured me I’m not a slapdash mother who has overlooked something, I too can tell when DS has got a temp just by his mottled skin!

hope your little one gets better soon OP, we’ve been in hospital with DS this weekend and he’s been diagnosed with tonsillitis… now we are home I think it’s actually scarlet fever as he’s covered in a rash (fades) but the antibiotics to treat it are the same ones we’ve been given. I’m waiting to see how he goes over night and if he gets any worse I’ll be taking him straight back so I know how you feel OP

You need to tell them that you are concerned it's sepsis and want a blood test.

Just been triaged. The nurse said his temp is 36.3, which seems rather low and now I'm actually more worried though the nurse said it's a good sign. Isn't low temperature a sign of sepsis as well? Also he uncharacteristically slept through being dressed, the journey and the walk from the car park in spite of it raining. The Dr from earlier is here and I'm feeling rather silly.

Will do. Wouldn't they consider sepsis anyway?

Not always unfortunately. Best to bring it up in case they don't.

Yes go straight back to A&E
He has signs of sepsis which does develop( and worsen) within hours

If they haven’t already done bloods then then don’t necessarily have a good picture of how he’s doing. Taking bloods from a baby is not fun but it gives a lot of information about how they are doing

I sent a baby to hospital once with mottled skin and it turned out to be meningitis. (midwife)

Thanks will Do. His chest does feel cold now. Don't know if that's a good or bad thing.

I'm glad you're back at A&E. Please tell them explicitly you're worried about sepsis (this is official advice from sepsis charities). Mention about his temperature being lower suddenly and wondering whether this might be sepsis. Mention that he slept through everything (I'd be worried about that - can he be roused?). Tell them you are worried. Don't go home until you're satisfied you know what's going on and how to treat it. Have they looked in his ears and throat? What were his oxygen levels? My eldest was admitted for three nights with RSV at that age with similar symptoms. My youngest has recently recovered from an ear infection, which gave him really high temperatures that barely went down with Calpol and made him lethargic. As his mum you know when something is wrong and the doctors should listen. Please please please ask if it could be sepsis, it's not worth the risk. Good luck!

I hate the NHS!
a temperate that low in babies is .2 off being hypothermia! He needs seeing now

Ah just read your update
Glad you're at A&E
Hope DS is ok

I'm feeling rather silly.

DON'T!

You know your DS better than anyone else. Get them to check for everything. Hope all goes OK. x