To go to a&e

[AnxietyIsMyShadow]

DD 5yrs woke up with a headache, no temperature, gave her Calpol, ate breakfast and was running round with her brother. Sent her to school, then school called to say she was unwell so I picked her up. Slept all afternoon, said she has a headache and tummy ache and sore throat when she swallows. Large vomit. Should I take her to a&e? These are all signs of Strep according to the NHS website.
I suffer terribly with anxiety and am struggling to stay calm.

Oh and after I picked her up from school has has temperature

No she doesn't need a&e from what you have described. Call 111 for advice.

No, this isn't an emergency or accident.

But what if it’s strep?

Call or do an online 111 but doesn't look like a&e but what you have written....if situation changes of course a&e.

I’d call out of hours now OP.

hope you get seen.

Many children are getting strep a, most get it mildly.

Call 111 and a doctor will ring and prescribe anti biotics if necessary. Sounds like a normal virus, wouldn't be overly concerned at the moment.

Strep itself isn’t a and e. An infection caused by steep complications is.

Strep has always been around, it's not dangerous in its self. It can RARELY cause a more serious infection but in itself, not concerning. You could have called the GP at any point today. This does not need A&E, call 111.

I’d call 111 as well to get an out of hours GP appointment. Apart from anything else you could be waiting hours in A&E maybe even all might. Where as 111 should be able to make it an actual appointment to be seen so no waiting around for hours.

Even if it is strep, you can be treated by a GP. Most cases don't need hospital treatment.

The NHS guidance suggests A&E only if:

your child is having difficulty breathing – they may make grunting noises, or you may notice their tummy sucking under their ribs

there are pauses when your child breathes

your child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue or grey – on black or brown skin this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet

your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake

This does not sound like an emergency unless these symptoms are present?

Has she had an accident? Is this a medical emergency? From what you describe, this is neither. Don't make her sit in A&E for ten hours when she's so poorly, increasing wait times for people who have broken bones or heart attack symptoms.

OP I’ve taken my child to A&E twice in the last year (injuries) and each time we ended up being there for about 5/7 hours, at nightime, surrounded by adults many of whom were drunk and most of whom were ill.

A&E will deprive your child of much-needed sleep for hours, expose her to a bunch of other viruses, and if lucky you’ll get a prescription for antibiotics that will be very hard perhaps impossible to collect tonight and which you could obtain in a different way tomorrow such as online private GP or minor injuries/ cottage hospital via 111.

Give your child Calpol tonight, keep an eye on her temperature and wait to see how she is tomorrow then call 111 or take her to minor injuries if there is one near you. (If you choose hospital do bear in mind that you’re exposing everyone there to her virus 🙈)

I hope she recovers soon, most children shake it off quickly she hopefully just needs rest and Calpol.

I would monitor overnight and take her to a walk in tomorrow if necessary.

Call 111. A&E isn't appropriate

I wouldn't go to A&E with those symptoms OP.

You need a GP appointment. Even if it is strep (and, honestly, it’s more likely to be a virus) she doesn’t need A&E - you’d get the same treatment from a GP but with less waiting around (and potentially quicker). She needs fluids, rest, calm and to see a GP. Spending the night in A&E waiting will likely make her even more ill. Hope she improves soon.

For the vast majority Strep isn't a major issue and easily solved with antibiotics from the GP, no worse than chicken pox or the flu. Unless she is particularly unwell its not an A&E issue. Call and try to get an out of hours appointment.

To be honest I’m not even sure you need a GP appointment just yet let alone A&E.

Hope she feels better soon.

even IF it’s strep, that’s not remotely an a&e job

If it hasn’t resolved in 5 days, 111 or GP is appropriate.

Do whatever your instincts as a mum are telling you. If you are really worried and feel she needs a and e go. Don't be influenced by strangers online,you know your child best and how concerned you are by her symptoms

Strep itself isn’t a and e. An infection caused by steep complications is

This

Please follow the advice here.