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...

No it ISN'T.

a call to 111 might have generated an appointment AT the hospital for baby, or elsewhere with an OOH GP.

I never said the baby should not be SEEN. But the Parents are making it harder not easier for themselves or baby.

Also, lots of wet nappies is literally the opposite sign of dehydration.

The clue is in the title and this is neither an accident or an emergency.

Teething doesn't cause diarrhea.

Both of mine always got diarrhea when teething.

I hope your little one recovers soon OP. For future reference please try to remember all the other options, including 111, before going to A&E.
A trip to your pharmacist might have gotten you some help earlier today and most emergency departments are clogged up with patients who don't need to be there.
Pharmacists are amazing resources and they are highly qualified.

Why not call 111 now. If they give to a timed appointment somewhere you can call DH and tell him.

Hanging around in the A+E waiting room for hours is to be avoided.

🙌🙌🙌

Please don't take a diarrhoea baby to A&E FHS 🤦🏼‍♀️..

YES attend A&E, with an infant with that presentation staff will understand. We'd rather cautious approach than an illness missed
worrying presentation
diarrhoea
decreased fluids
listless
inadequate nutrition

Have you tried ringing 111 as they can often get you an out of hours appointment or be seen at a walk in clinic, which is way better than a 12+ hour wait at A&E with a baby.

A GP will generally see an unwell baby if you tell them you need a same day or emergency appointment. I wouldn't go to a&e for what you describe. I've been in this situation before a few times and seen GP, then out of hours and a&e as last resort. Out of hours can get you straight into children's peads assessment unit at our hospital for immediate admission. Hence a&e is last resort for everyone.

It sounds like a standard stomach bug, maybe rotavirus (my DD had very similar sounding diarrhoea for over a week at a similar age!).

But if you're particularly concerned about dehydration (see attached signs), then 111 or A&E right thing.

+1 for the pharmacist.

That tip has saved me hours over the years. Most notably cleaning an stereo stripping a nasty cut over my daughter's eye. We'd have been waiting 4 hours at A and E, at the pharmacy we waited no time. There was literally no queue.

(If they'd decided they couldn't handle it and sent us to A + E the time we'd have lost would have been about 10 minutes - it was worth the punt.)

I can never understand why, when someone has a child who has been unwell for days, that they wait until out of ours to get them seen. It makes no sense at all. I know OP tried to get a GP appointment this morning, but why not ring 111 at 11am or even 3pm? They’d have probably got you an appointment with a doctor.

People really do need to start using the services, available, better.

Oops. Now attached.

@ZooMemories ah OK so we shouldn't treat ill babies in a hospital. Get real.

This shit is SO DANGEROUS.

You cannot ever, ever say that without seeing and examining a baby and also having some medical training. Like being a dr.

Children can be fine and just have a virus, or they can go downhill very quickly and it becomes an emergency. Op is worried enough to want to be in A&E and that for me is enough. Even if the baby is fine no one I know would ever begrudge checking a baby over.

Op I hope everything is ok x

If you feel he needs a&e take him, trust your instincts. Only you know what is normal teething pains and what warrants medical attention because you know him well.

Actually it was DH who insisted he was taking him, but I agreed.

He was adamant he was going and wasn't going to wait about for me to call 111 even if it did occur. What's the point in me calling 111 when DH is insisting he takes him in and is rushing to get out the door. Zero point.

I do agree that in hindsight 111 was the way to proceed but he's gone now so it's also pointless going over the same thing.

Start with 111. A lot of A and Es now expect you to have called and got an appointment (unless you come in by ambulance/obvious major emergency).

Our 111 service would get you an OOH GP appointment. Far better to do that then sit in A and E for hours with a baby with diarrhoea.

If he needs to be seen by a paediatrician most GPs have direct pathways to MAU paediatric ward.

I’m not sure why people are berating you OP -
I’ve spent a lot more time than I’d wish to in a children’s hospital - babies can deteriorate very quickly and I’m sure they’ll be happy to check him over. I hope he’s ok.

Diarrhoea can typically last for 5-7 days. Pushing lots of oral fluids is the best treatment. If he's refusing fluids, seems dry in the mouth, dark urine/strong smell then he may well be dehydrated. But try giving some analgesia/paracetamol to settle him then encourage some drink/syringe fluids into mouth can be effective.

Tonsilitis is normally viral and unlikely to be prescribed any antibiotics at all, especially for a 1 year old.

I think if you're looking at your baby and thinking that he's really unwell, something's not right and he needs to see a Doctor tonight then A&E is what you should do.

Sloppy tummy is very much associated with teething.

have you given teething powder? And calpol? I’d do both of those before any other action

Every time I've called 111 about a baby they have told me to go to A&E.

If you're worried about dehydration that's the best place to be

In this case I do think A&E is ridiculous for the squits.
GP or pharmacy.
Or 111.