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...

Hope he's ok OP. Keep us updated. Ignore the idiots.

I don't blame you going to A&E, dehydration would def be a worry. Hope he's OK xx

If your hospital is similar to ours, there is a paediatric department in A&E so your DS will be in a different “queue” and being seen by other doctors than the adult A&E patients. Glad the wait is short for him.

Yep and teething nappies even have their own particular smell.

I hope he’s ok. MN gives some dangerous advice sometimes and not seeking medical care for a baby who is deteriorating and possibly very dehydrated is very bad advice. 111 would almost certainly have sent you to A&E.

How's your baby?
I would've done the same. Xx

@Parkingmoan1 hope your baby is ok. You’ve unfortunately received some unpleasant posts

I probably wouldn't go but no one in peads a&E is going to begrudge a parent taking a sick baby, infrequently to a&E are they?
if you were a frequent flier, and had been reassured often and boomeranged it would be different but if you as his parents feel he's Poorly and it's urgent then it's fine he's at a&e
hope he's better soon and they don't have a big wait

DS has been triaged, just waiting for a doctor. His temp has gone up to 38.4 but other obs were ok.

No indication of what the matter is yet but hopefully I'll hear something soon.

It didn't occur to me about the possibility of an ear infection, the symptoms PP made (apologies I can't find your post!) fit to a tee. I'm sure they'll be able to confirm or rule that out pretty easily.

Those who are moaning about him taking up space and taking away resources from adults you'll be pleased to know he's in the children's A&E and not the main part. As if anybody would imply that an ill baby isn't deserving of a place in A&E in the first place. Disgusting.

Thank you all for the kind well wishes I will update when I hear more.

Serious issue such as this, never hesitate to use the services that you partly fund through taxation and national insurance. Dehydration can be critical in babies. You have done the right thing in my opinion

@TheRookie I’m not sure what planet you are on, but my GP no longer does face to face appointments, IF I am lucky enough to get through a telePhone appointment is made first, and currently those are 4-7 working days from the date you called!

OP your DH did the right thing by going to a&e, he would have been sent there by 111 anyway. Hope your baby is okay!

They're so small and so precious of course you are doing the right thing.
Any decent doctor would be happy you're getting your little one checked.

Is your husband Josh Widdecombe by any chance OP? 😂😂

Hope your little one is home and in bed soon! Here we have a fab OOH GP which is right next door to A&E so we’ve never had to go and hang around at A&E - call 111 and pop down to the GP. DS2 was admitted to hospital from there once. DS1 once had a temp of 42 and was shivering in bed next to me, 111 sent us there at 2am (DH away so had to take baby DS2 too), back home with drugs by 3am :) amazing service! Deffo try 111 next time!

I’d have done the same in your situation. I hope that he’s ok.

Fingers crossed they can give you some answers

You did the right thing OP xxxxx

He's so little and your baby who you know best. You tried to see a GP but couldn't so I think you have done the right thing. Babies can deteriorate very quickly so it's best to get seen sooner rather than later. Hope he's OK. I would complain to the GP practice about them not seeing him. My surgery make you ring dead on 8am but always keep some appointments back for under 5s. In our area you ring 111 and they make an appointment for you at ooh which is actually at the hospital anyway, saves you waiting ages in A&E but from the responses it just goes to show how each area varies.

I hope you are getting on okay. Dehydration in such a little child is potentially very dangerous. I hope he gets treatment and you’re home soon.

Op.. A&E will never object to seeing a sick baby.. hopefully you get some answers soon and LO is feeling better soon

To All the people saying she should have called 111. They'd have sent her straight in to a&E anyway. They'll not risk a baby getting worse over night.
Even 111 make you wait for a call back so it would just have meant waiting for a call back in the next 2 hours only to be told to go to A&E To be sure there's nothing worse going on

This is not true in my experience, especially if they are responsive and not lethargic.

I know this probably varies by location but whenever I’ve called 111 they’ve always sent us for an OOO GP appointment which happens to be at a hospital. We don’t usually wait long for an appointment and not much waiting around once we get there. On two occasions we were referred straight through to A&E after a quick examination and probably seen much quicker than if we had just pitched up at A&E.

I’m glad you’ve taken your baby to A&E OP. Of course you’ve done the right thing. Always listen to your instincts. You’re doing a great job.

I am glad your ds is being seen soon. An ooh GP is much faster and kinder to your baby. Next time you can’t get an appointment, try 111 or go to see the pharmacist. If they think you really should be seen the same day, they can fill out a special request for the doctor to fit you in. The doctor isn’t obliged to squeeze you in but for their own protection as much as anything else, it would foolhardy not to.

I’m halfway through reading the full thread but @Parkingmoan1 next time you trust your instinct just like this time!
I might get further into this thread and you already know it’s not serious by now or you may not - but either way, YOU know your baby better than anyone and fingers crossed it’s nothing too bad x

@MassiveSalad22 Josh Widdecombe?
Huh?