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.

Keep saying Sepsis? Meningitis? Sepsis? Meningitis?

Something is NOT RIGHT.

A&E told yoi when to worry and take him back for further review, cold hands and feet being one of them. Why would you ignore medical advice and ask the internet, you’ve already been told when to go back.

Please don't feel silly.
Many years ago I took a poorly 4 year old to the walk-in center. The doctor was extremely dismissive and very rude. He told us there was nothing wrong with the child other than maybe a slight cold. he called us time wasters and told us to take him home and let him have a few days rest. 24 hrs later he was just so poorly we rushed him to A&E. He had pneunomia resulting in 2 collapsed lungs. we were told he was minutes from death when we arrived and probably wouldn't survive the night. He was in hospital over a month, he's in his 20s now and still has weak lungs. I often think about that doctor and wonder how he could have got it so wrong.

Hope you're seen soon. Don't let them fob you off.

OP it’s a good thing you’ve taken him in but my suspicion is that the medicine has started doing it’s job and after five days of this he’s on the mend. That’s why his fever has come down and he’s probably sleeping because he’s exhausted from five days of being ill.

as I said, it’s excellent you’ve taken him in and great you’ve mentioned what you’re worried about but please try not to stress. There is a very small chance it’s something serious but the more likely outcome is that he’s on the mend.

I'd have taken him back too. I work in A&E, although for adults.

36.3 isn't a low temp. It's within normal parameters.

I hope he's feeling better soon and that you get some rest. I think it's best to err on the side of caution when they're so young and can't tell you how they're feeling. A night in A&E is never pleasant but it isn't worth risking what can be an,alternative.

The staff will definitely consider sepsis if the signs are there. It's drilled into us and the electronic systems we use automatically flag up worrying scores. Obviously it isn't all about numbers though, and no one knows your child like you do.

Because he doesn't have these symptoms anymore.

Oh no..I'm so sorry both for the bad experience you had at the walk in centre and your son's lungs still being weak as a result. Huge hugs.

OP please make sure you make it clear that you’re concerned this could be sepsis. Tell every person you see in the place, it’s not always enough to just trust that they will be querying it.

But he did at the time your posted for advice initially??
I hope he’s absolutely fine when you’re reviewed and on your way home soon.

Push for every avenue to be explored.yes we all often feel so lucky for the nhs.I think this sometimes makes us retrievefrom questioning them though.or “bothering”. And they are like it or not pushed to breaking right now.they will be making choices even they dont Want to regarding care given.
my nurse friend said the tickl lists they now have to go through In their team, of who they “prioritise” for treatment is getting f rediculous.and actually life threatening.

Take him back. X

Similar experience my 19yr DS sent away from A&E not even triaged. Neither he nor I could just go home so went to another hospital. He had Myocarditis, pneumonia and severe sepsis and spent a week in ICU.
All I can say is go with your gut instinct everytime!
Hoping all is ok

When my ds was 18 months old, took him to A and E, high temp, having rigors. He was seen, told he had ear infection, had a chest X-ray, sent home. The next day he was still no better, took him back. Junior Dr who had seen us previous day saw us walking in and said 'oh I'm glad you are back, consultant reviewed your ds's chest X-ray and I was going to ring you'. Turned out he had pneumonia, put straight on IV antibiotics and admitted. Luckily he responded very well and quickly to antibiotics. I was SO glad we had taken him back, our instinct that he really wasn't well despite being sent home the day before was spot on.

You are in the right place, having a child checked is NOT a waste of any doctor's time. Hope he's ok and you can get home soon.

my experience of this is my (then) 10 month old had fast breathing and a very high temp. After triage we were treated as a priority as she triggered some kind of sepsis alert. Still took ages for a dr to appear- asked lots of questions about mottling, lethargy, wet nappies and kept her in for observation. The dr said she had been worried when she saw DDs stats but was less worried when she saw how perky she looked. She was fine and didn’t need any treatment but I was left in no doubt that going to a and e with those symptoms was absolutely the right thing to do. I’d say sleeping through a change is lethargic— you might get taken more seriously if you mention that

Quick update: they said he's fine and the symptoms unless persistent are nothing to worry about. No need for antibiotics or blood tests. I mentioned sepsis, etc but they said he has no symptoms of sepsis or any sort of bacterial infection. When I tried to push a bit more he got quite patronising though I actually felt a bit sorry for the Dr having to tread the fine line between telling me that my concerns are valid and I should return as soon as I am concerned again and telling me at the same time that I shouldn't return unless his symptoms are more serious and persistent. Oh well...hope we won't have to go back.

Going to bed now. Thanks everyone!!

Tempnof 36.3 is fine given his age babies have a lower temp. If it drops below 36 this can be a sepsis sign if coupled with other symptoms.

Hope you get some rest in now home.
For the high tempsnwe find ibuprofen works far better then calpol at bringing it down.

My little one had very similar symptoms a few months ago, the high fever lasted 8 days in the end and the molted skin reappeared every time his temperature dropped (usually after neurofen) because he was cold. We did end up in A&E after day 4 because of the persistent fever and they kept him overnight/did blood tests because of his age (6 mths), but in the end same as you they just sent us home and told us it would pass.
I hope your DS feels better soon!

Glad everything is ok Op. how is he this morning?

I felt like a fraud taking DS to the GP earlier this week. Nursery sent him home twice with a high temp and I said he’s fine just off his food. GP found raging tonsillitis that I suspect he’d had a while and I’d not noticed. So don’t feel silly!!

Of course I was worried, it’s a very high temperature. Rang the GP who didn’t even want to see him! See also taking a toddler with a temp over 40 that wasn’t coming down to the GP and they barely put the ear probe inside his ear so got a lower reading than it actually was, told me I was being too anxious and sent me home.

My daughters just come back from paediatric hospital over in qatar they’ve diagnosed the same they had my 2 yr old on 3 nebulisers and she has to take him back in morning . Go back a mum knows best

YANBU at all. Go back to A&E. Young children's health can deteriorate quickly. I wouldn't hesitate.

Always better to be safe than sorry. There will always be someone trying to palm you off and say your baby is fine. But mum knows best, if her child isn't right. Get him checked again please. Hope all is okay soon.

Hello, sorry I saw some of your replies and wanted to comment. The doctor who told you febrile seizures aren’t linked to high fevers is semi wrong - they are but usually only within the first 72 hours of the child having a fever, it’s not to do with fluctuations.
A body temp of 36.3 sounds low but is quite normal for a baby/toddler, my sons temp (3 yrs old) never goes above 36.8 unless he’s unwell.
Sepsis does have the sign of cold hands & feet, never ever second guess or worry about bothering them at a&e especially when it comes to small children. Sepsis is usually characterised by a fast heart rate and breathing rate.
good luck and hope your baby feels better asap x

You are definitely NOT being unreasonable. You can never be too careful with kids. I think as a mum you know when there is something wrong. Keep strong and keep fighting. Best wishes and hope she feels better soon x