To take our 12mo DS to A&E?

[Parkingmoan1]

We've already decided he's going so DH is getting ready to take him now but I would appreciate some feedback / WWYD? Also - does this sound familiar to any of you with your DC?

DS is 12mo and has had diarrhoea for the past 4 days. He isn't sleeping properly dispite being absolutely exhausted, I suspect something is hurting him which is stopping him from getting off to / staying asleep.

His temperature was last recorded as 37.7.

He isn't eating or drinking as well as he normally does which is a concern for dehydration. He's such a food baby usually and loves his milk. It appears (atleast to me) that swallowing liquid / food might be causing him some pain so I've asked DH to raise the possibility of tonsillitis. He is salivating much more than usual. I've had to put him back in bibs which we haven't used for months.

I might be way off but it's worth being queried right?

He's crying. Alot. He's usually such a happy boy but he's unrecognisable at the minute. Inconsolable.

So do you think we're doing the right thing taking him to A&E or do I sound like an anxious mum and it doesn't sound that serious to you? I couldn't get him in the doctors today hence the jump to A&E.

I'm going to feel like a massive idiot after all of this worry they come back and say something trivial like teething...

My DD is 10 months for reference OP.

It's not a case for A&E, 100% not

Oh your poor DD. How is she doing now?

Was it easy for them to find out the cause was an infection in her ear? I assume they'll be checking his ears and throat as standard so that's good.

I hope she's made a quick recovery.

Not selfish for getting baby checked. Selfish for using an already stretched service for something when you haven't even tried to get an out of hours GP appointment.
A&E is NOT there to be used as a GP service. I know having a poorly baby is traumatising. But you're setting yourself up for a long night sitting in a hospital waiting room when you could get a scheduled OOH appointment just by picking up the phone.

My midwife said they were always told to say this but it was clear to her that there is a link that many parents notice. Mine had really acidic loose stools every time they were teething. I knew a tooth was coming from the change in nappies every time,

Wow our GP always sees babies the same day or advises 111 for an urgent care appt if they can't accommodate, I thought this was standard. I'd ring 111 in these circumstances.

If he hasn't got a bug he will do by the time he gets home!

Tbf mine tried telling me no appointments a few weeks ago and I reiterated the age of my DD and they magically found one. 🙃

He's been ill for 4 days and now you decide to go to a&e? You could easily have seen a GP today, this is neither an accident nor emergency.

This is the nhs advice: www.nhs.uk/conditions/diarrhoea-and-vomiting/ (scroll down to see what it says about babies under 12 months)

I’m surprised by the responses. I think it’s perfectly reasonable to take him to A&E. 4 days is far too long to not be taking much fluids.

I've tried getting calpol into him 3 times over the course of the day but he just expells most of it. Out of the 3 tries with a 5ml dropper he probably swallowed 1.5ml each time, if that.

He doesn't usually struggle with calpol, I dare say he actually likes it - normally.

I did suggest 111 to DH but he was already half way out the door. He'll be there before long as the hospital is only 10 minutes down the road.

@Parkingmoan1 it was a couple of days on amoxicillin before she perked up! She wasn't eating anything and now she's back eating normally and nappies firming up. She's got 2 more days of the meds though!

They looked at her ears and saw they were red. Her temp was 39, yet our thermometers said 37.75!

I'd honestly phone 111. My DH made a comment when we were in with the GP about not knowing whether we should have went to A&E and he said that phoning 111 and getting an allotted appointment is better as the waiting times are so long and can cause more distress to a baby.

Please keep us updated and I hope he gets better soon

‘Not selfish for getting baby checked. Selfish for using an already stretched service for something when you haven't even tried to get an out of hours GP appointment.

A&E is NOT there to be used as a GP service. I know having a poorly baby is traumatising. But you're setting yourself up for a long night sitting in a hospital waiting room when you could get a scheduled OOH appointment just by picking up the phone.’

It isn’t selfish. It’s exactly what we are there for.

@Parkingmoan1 don’t feel bad for getting your baby looked at. Hope he’s feeling better soon.

Well no. I couldn't. I bloody tried to.

OP tried. She couldn't get an appointment and got told to call back tomorrow.

Some GP practices will prioritise babies, others don't (mine included).

I would call 111 or see a pharmacist tomorrow. It definitely sounds like teething.
37.7 isn’t a temperature. I wouldn’t take a baby to sit in A&E for hours

A & E really isn't the place OP for a child with a potential stomach bug. Stop giving any milk/food for at least 12 hours, let his system rest and then slowly introduce food when he's better. You can get rehydration sachets from a pharmacy and use cooled boiled water to make them up with.

Ime 111 will always tell you to go in. They may also manage to make you an appointment with an ooh Dr so its worth calling.

OP I think some posters are being unfairly harsh here. You tried to get a GP appointment but couldn’t. It’s so worrying when your baby is ill and totally understand your need for him to be seen. Certainly I have taken my little ones to A and E when in retrospect I was over anxious, but much better that than wait at home and it be something more serious. I hope you don’t have too long a wait and your little one is back to his usual self soon xx

Have you looked inside his mouth to make sure he does not have tonsillitis? Check for swollen tonsils and puss spots. Homeopathic medicine Arsen alba can be used on a 12 month old for a bad stomach they can be sold in Boots.

Really bad of your GP too. Mine have always seen my children the same day.

For future reference I have found 111 brilliant with kids. I’ve been seen at a urgent care clinic and given an appointment more than once. Tbh it’s been easier than getting a GP appt. They will also find a GP appt during their opening hours and book direct for you if their triage questions think you need to be seen.

I don't think I would take him to A&E from what you say (and I am someone who definintely goes on the side of caution with that sort of thing) but you know him best and are witnessing how he presents.
I think if his temperature was higher, or he was literally had not been drinking anything I would say definitely get checked, but it sounds like he is either teething or has a stomach bug.
Keep an eye IMO, and take further action if you're increasingly concerned and he doesn't get better soon.x

I don't really understand why you didn't call 111, either today or tonight - they offer GP appointments as well and it would be much quicker.

I wouldn't take a baby with either D&V to A and E without phoning ahead, getting advice elsewhere, or without being told to go because it just risks spreading it to very, very ill children.

I hope your DS is OK and gets better quickly but please look at the other options for care during the day / night without A and E - pharmacist, out of hours, 111, nurse appointment etc.

I don't understand your reluctance to call 111 for an OOH GP appointment. All you have to do is make a phone call.

Instead you've opted for your DH and child to sit in an A&E waiting room, probably for hours.

Makes no sense to me...