Child in hospital they want to discharge her but I feel uncomfortable

[Scaredmumsickchild]

7 year old tested positive for
covid last Wednesday, has been really unwell since then with high temp, sore throat and general unwellness

Admitted to hospital last night with non blanching rash and given first dose of antibiotic for meningitis intramuscular

Loads of attempts to get blood it was barbaric and eventually managed it in the early hours lt was so upsetting and she was in agony and terrified

Most bloods back ok but cultures will take up to 48 hours

They are encouraging me to take her home whilst we wait, but that will mean her having to be recanulated if we have to come back

in the mean time she’s spiking 39 temp again, so poorly and not eaten more than tiny amounts in a week and only having sips of fluids. She vomited again overnight also

Aibu to want to stay? I feel uncomfortable taking her home this unwell but they are saying they are convinced it’s only viral (Covid) and haven’t even checked the rash today! (It has faded but still not blanching)

Can they not leave the cannula in?

Id personally leave but I hate hospitals. It doesn’t sound like an emergency.

Can’t leave it in no, I’m worried there’s something really wrong with her she’s just so ill and it’s 7 days now like this

I would much rather be at home in my own bed, with my Mums cooking if I was ill. Hospitals suck!
If it is a case of antibiotics and paracetamol, I'd go home for 2 days. If she worsens of the blood results come back and you are re admitted, that's what it is. No canula on a "what if" for 2 days sounds like a bonus too. I hated the feel of it in my hand (it was worse than the insertion).

I’d agree on the basis that IF she has to be re admitted and re canulated it’s performed by a senior member of staff. A lot of junior medics aren’t very expert. Sometimes a senior nurse is far more proficient.

Ensure it’s on her notes that this is an issue.

Fingers crossed she’s soon better and won’t need it anyway.

Trust your gut.

Yes, trust your gut.
explain it to the staff just as you have here.

I’d be having the same feeling as you. Are they giving her any fluids? Are they not planning to continue the meningitis treatment?

If it is indeed bacterial meningitis - which you won’t know yet, but hopefully will tomorrow - the NHS website says “Treatment in hospital is recommended in all cases of bacterial meningitis”

I hope it’s not meningitis, and I hope that they manage to get your DDs temp down and some fluids in her.

@Aldidl no mention of whether they will
continue with the antibiotic

I just spoke with the nurse who said she will tell the doctor I’m worried

Hi when we were in similar years ago we were discharged on condition we came in daily for antibiotics I think. I’m sure we had 5 days of antibiotics via cannula and cannula stayed in.

@CornishTiger i would be fine with this, it’s the fact that they haven’t diagnosed her yet.

They started treatment for meningitis last night but now are happy to send her home with Jo treatment and just wait for cultures in the meantime. This is what I’m uncomfortable with

*no

If she is still vomiting, you can get a suppository form of paracetamol from pharmacies- or ask whether they hospital can provide some.

IF she needs another cannula- ask them to apply EMLA cream beforehand to numb the skin.

I hope she is better soon.

How are her blood pressure, oxygen, heart rate etc? If they’re ok and have been overnight, then she’s probably better off going home tbh. I can understand that that’s really scary though, especially if she’s tricky to cannulate.

Unfortunately sometimes it's only a doctor or above that's 'allowed' to put in a cannula. I've no idea why. An HCA would be just a capable. Seniority does not equate to skill in this instance. It's also unfair to judge someone's competence on one performance. Some patients are just 'tricky' particularly if they're small and dehydrated.

Yes we were in for 3 days with night release. This meant we could get sleep at home. We were awaiting blood cultures too. Her hand was bandaged with cannula still in. I’ve just looked at my Google photos. I can see her playing with her brother whilst at home. Probably the only time in her life he’s been nice to her!

This was 7 years ago. It wasn’t meningitis. We never knew what it was in the end really. Sending you best wishes. It’s a horrible time.

It may be that her initial bloods have came back indication no infection? Those results usually take a couple of hours whereas cultures take a lot longer.
that said, if you’re worried, chat to the doctor and explain you’re not happy to take her home.
I do hope she’s better soon.

Yes the initial bloods are fine. @CC4712 they used the cream it didn’t work unfortunately

@JennieTheZebra i think her blood pressure etc is ok, they haven’t mentioned them. I know her heart rate is fast but I presume that’s down to the infection

We would send you home with the cannula in. But if you are really unhappy, then push to stay. Would the ward let you have open access, so you can come straight back?

Paediatric nurses do not usually cannulate or take bloods. Dr'e do it. But you can ask for a registrar only to take bloods.

We had this scenario and bloods came back positive for bacteria. We were able to take home with the cannula in but wrapped up.

I felt very uncomfortable taking my dd home, Looking after her in the state she was in. So go by your own feelings.

What would the consultant recommend if it was their daughter?

I’m a paeds nurse. When you say most bloods are back ok, what comes back first when screening for infection is the CRP. If the CRP is low, usually <10, the likelihood is that there isn’t a bacterial infection and it is most likely a virus. Rarely, the blood cultures could come back as growing a bacteria following a low CRP and in this instance they’d call you back in if, for example, the antibiotics she’s been on don’t cover the bacteria that’s grown on the cultures.
They wouldn’t be suggesting that you go home unless they were confident you could manage her symptoms at home, so that in itself is reassuring. She must be drinking enough to not need IV fluids. Small, frequent sips is often the best when children are unwell. So, apart from administering antibiotics, they’re not doing much currently to treat her and she would probably be more comfortable and recover better at home.
With that being said, if you really don’t feel confident taking her home, speak up and ask to talk to the doctor. Her discharge would have to be signed off by a doctor anyway so there is no harm asking for a chat with them to discuss your concerns.

Hope all goes well. My only reason for posting is to recommend ice lollies with temperature/dehydration when one of mine was in hospital, they constantly ate them and meant I could stop nagging for drinking.

@Coffeeandchocs shes not on antibiotics now, she just had 1 dose