To go to hospital?

[Vacantstare]

DS is 2 and was colouring at the table last night. He put the felt tip pen in his mouth and leaned forward onto the other chair and started crying immediately in pain. I think the pen hit the back of his throat.

This morning when he woke up he just wanted to be cuddled and wouldn't talk. He's talking now, has drank milk and eaten a banana. Is playing happily and smiling but keeps dribbling.

I've Googled and it's terrified me that he might have a throat contusion. Injury to the throat etc that could be serious and needs urgent treatment. I'll call 111 but from experience they always tend to send you in anyway to be on the safe side.

I'm scared as obviously it's Easter Sunday. There's less staff and I'm assuming longer wait times. I don't want to put him through a long wait if it's not necessary but I think I have to, don't I?

Yes you'll have to.

I would not give it a second thought if he’s eating, drinking and talking normally tbh. I definitely wouldn’t go to A&E.

Of course you have to go.

If he is eating drinking and playing normally it wouldn’t cross my mind to go to A and E.

Eating drinking and being normal? Where is the accident or emergency?

Throat trauma can easily go unnoticed because its mild initial symptoms can mask severe injuries. If left untreated, serious injury can progress rapidly.
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^*What I came across when searching for advice on Google. I'm just scared he could have an injury that isn't obvious, especially because a pen was pushed to the back of his throat!

if it was a throat contusion what would they do? Would they likely give ibuprofen and send you on your way to observe?

i think if it were my child and they were eating drinking and playing normally I would give medicine for the inflammation they might have in their throat from the bruise and continue to monitor them. If they stopped eating or drinking normally then I’d take them in.

Thank you for the advice, I feel reassured.

Have you looked in his mouth/throat?

I really wouldn't have thought to go to A&E for something like this unless it had been done with real force, a sharper object, there was obvious injury (blood) or the child couldn't swallow.

If you're really worried, have you got an out of hours doctor, walk-in clinic or minor injuries unit nearby?