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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Suspected meningitis?

27 replies

lucie333 · 01/01/2023 15:03

I took my 8 month old into hospital yesterday as he had a few spots appear on his bed and belly ( red/ dark purple tinge to it) but doctors said he was other wise fine so put it down to his eczema( the posts do not fade when glass pressed at all). I trusted that the doctors knew what the were talking about but I am also severely unwell! Raging sore throat, fever chills stiff neck & experiencing dizziness! All the Symptoms of meningitis; my only problem is we do not live near a hospital well 40 mins car drive and about 50 mins bus drive I don't drive kids dad is away on a fishing trip 7 hours away so he's no help. No buses are operating when I live I can't get a bloody taxi! I'm unwell and I'm worried about my baby should I phone 999? I've been on hold for 3 hours with 111 & not getting anywhere. What would you do ?

OP posts:
Original poster
lucie333 · 01/01/2023 15:05

*head 😂

OP posts:
LemoncHello7 · 01/01/2023 15:06

i think you’re worried, call 999 for yourself. Better safe then sorry Probably get kids dad back from his fishing trip if too you’re unwell!

Original poster
lucie333 · 01/01/2023 15:07

Sorry spelling mistakes tried to write that super fast 😂

OP posts:
JuneOsborne · 01/01/2023 15:07

Who do you think has meningitis, you or your baby?

Is there anybody in real life you can contact who could come to you?

If you think it's life threatening, you have to do what you need to do and phone 999. Mumsnetyers can't tell you if that the right thing to do or not. But it's what you should do if you think it warrants it.

My only concern is how stretched even the ambulance service is.

BabyFour2023 · 01/01/2023 15:08

Did you get the bus yesterday? I would try various taxi companies as they will probably be quicker than an ambulance. Do you have an OOH?

KangarooKenny · 01/01/2023 15:08

I got a quicker response from 111 by filling in the on-line form.

Original poster
lucie333 · 01/01/2023 15:09

@LemoncHello7 hey thanks for your reply! I've tried to get a hold of him but I don't think he has service 😢. I'll see how I am in the next hour just took paracetamol hopefully that brings my fever down

OP posts:
BabyFour2023 · 01/01/2023 15:09

Do you have a headache? FWIW; although everyone is different, I didn’t have any of the things you’re experiencing except the stiff neck when I had meningitis. Try not to panic too much, call a taxi and call your DC dad to come home.

BabyFour2023 · 01/01/2023 15:10

Do you have someone to care for your other child(ren) while you go to hospital? If so, could that person give you a lift? Are you wanting to be seen or have the baby seen again?

Spacebears · 01/01/2023 15:12

I wouldn't phone 999 just yet. Calm down, take some paracetamol to lower your fever. I know you said you're feeling unwell but how is baby today? Possibly you guys just have flu? If you're feeling like you both need to be seen, try and arrange your own way to the hospital. God knows how long an ambulance would take.

Original poster
lucie333 · 01/01/2023 15:14

I'm more concerned about my son, i think it's just the fact that the spots aren't fading on him is making me really concerned. My sons dad took me to hospital yesterday and made sure he was alright before he left- all the people who could take me have had a drink. I'm going to keep phoning taxi company's, I've even asked my neighbour but she also had a glass of wine, she's trying to get a hold of her son to see if he can take us

OP posts:
ShrillBill · 01/01/2023 15:15

Can you access 111 online?
111.nhs.uk/

Spacebears · 01/01/2023 15:16

I get you totally not wanting to take any chances with a baby, I wouldn't either tbh. Apart from the spots, does he have any worsening symptoms today ?

Original poster
lucie333 · 01/01/2023 15:16

Spacebears · 01/01/2023 15:12

I wouldn't phone 999 just yet. Calm down, take some paracetamol to lower your fever. I know you said you're feeling unwell but how is baby today? Possibly you guys just have flu? If you're feeling like you both need to be seen, try and arrange your own way to the hospital. God knows how long an ambulance would take.

I think I'm just worrying, baby is absolutely fine he just has the spots on his head and belly that don't fade. I always throughly all rashes fade apart from meningitis rash?

OP posts:
Original poster
lucie333 · 01/01/2023 15:18

Spacebears · 01/01/2023 15:16

I get you totally not wanting to take any chances with a baby, I wouldn't either tbh. Apart from the spots, does he have any worsening symptoms today ?

No he is absolutely fine that's the thing, no fever smiling away playing with his brother. The only thing Is he's been sleeping more he's usually a terrible sleeper, up 3/4 times a night for a good few hours at a time but he has slept 12 hours past 3 nights!

OP posts:
Original poster
lucie333 · 01/01/2023 15:20

ShrillBill · 01/01/2023 15:15

Can you access 111 online?
111.nhs.uk/

It's only available in England , I'm in Scotland! How rubbish

OP posts:
Spacebears · 01/01/2023 15:21

kingstonhospital.nhs.uk/healthcare-professionals/paediatrics-referrals/non-blanching-rashes-in-children/

Have a read of that and see what you think, as he was seen yesterday at the hospital already. I would think that he is fine tbh. But stay on hold to 111 or try to do an online assessment. They can determine whether he needs to be seen again.

ShrillBill · 01/01/2023 15:22

Thats awful, in that case I'd stay online and go in if your neck gets any worse, or if you start to find it difficult to be under bright lights.

Spacebears · 01/01/2023 15:25

Meant to add, has the rash spread at all? Generally with meningitis, it would start to spread and he would start become unwell quite quickly.

VioletladyGrantham · 01/01/2023 15:25

Hi there,
My dd had meningitis at 8 months old. She had an aversion to light and couldn't pick her head off her chin without screaming (Stiff neck) she also had a high temperature which wouldn't come down with Calpol and a lot of drowsiness. A couple of purple spots appeared while in A and E, then more appeared over the next few hours and the next day while she was in intensive care.
The spots appear last, not first so l can understand why the doctor wasn't overly concerned.
I wouldn't go to casualty unless you have a severe headache with photophobia, a stiff neck where you struggle to put your head back and are physically sick: those are your red flag symptoms.
Sounds like one of these awful flu type viruses doing the rounds, but whatever it is, l hope you feel better soon.

Newusernameaug · 01/01/2023 15:26

I’m sorry but I’m really surprised people are encouraging 999 / hospital / 111 for a child with a few spots and NO OTHER SYMPTOMS!!

And this child only saw Drs at a hospital yesterday??

OP, I hope you’re ok and can rest up, but with regards to your child I feel it’s your own anxiety, from the symptoms you describe it doesn’t warrant medical treatment a second day running.

Tigofigo · 01/01/2023 15:27

Your baby sounds ok if they're happily playing etc, it is unlikely you both have meningitis. Are painkillers helping you at all? Do you have a high temp?

Do you have an out of hours surgery near you? keep trying friends or neighbours to take you to a&e or nearest injuries unit, or can they look after your DC while you go somehow?

Original poster
lucie333 · 01/01/2023 17:51

Newusernameaug · 01/01/2023 15:26

I’m sorry but I’m really surprised people are encouraging 999 / hospital / 111 for a child with a few spots and NO OTHER SYMPTOMS!!

And this child only saw Drs at a hospital yesterday??

OP, I hope you’re ok and can rest up, but with regards to your child I feel it’s your own anxiety, from the symptoms you describe it doesn’t warrant medical treatment a second day running.

Thank you for being honest!

OP posts:
thingumybob · 01/01/2023 17:56

As a PP has said. If it were meningitis then baby would be really very ill by the time the spots appeared. This is what I was told when one of mine had a rash like that. If there has been no change for the worse since the baby was seen by a Dr then I don't think you need to panic. Just keep an eye on things in case they do change.

Jackie246 · 01/01/2023 18:05

So the rash only appears with meningitis when there is also septicaemia present (the rash is actually a septicaemia rash, not a meningitis rash, but as the two tend to go hand in hand, that's what we're told to look out for). This means that meningitis has to be quite far advanced when the rash appears, and why it's such an emergency. When my 8month DC had meningitis, it could not have been more obvious that something was terribly wrong. They were unwakeable, temperature was 41, they were floppy and pale, but there was no rash (happened over the space of 3 hours - went to bed happy as Larry, woke up three hours later in a terrible state). When entering a & e the triage nurse took one look at them, and within 10 minutes they were in the ICU being pumped full of antibiotics, on heart monitors, oxygen etc. Basically, meningitis is taken so, so seriously that if a doctor saw the rash yesterday and didn't think it was meningitis, then they must have been pretty damn sure to send you home, they just don't take the risk otherwise. Keep a really close eye on your kids temperature as that will be key, but also demeanour in general. If they're up and happy and eating etc then that's a really reassuring sign. Hope this helps, and I hope you feel better soon!

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