2.5 year old toddler limp, second opinion?

[Mummyofmonkeys]

Hi, my toddler has been limping since Saturday. It’s more pronounced when he’s tired but he says he’s not in pain and he hasn’t injured himself to my knowledge to cause the limp. He’s also had really raised lymph nodes on both sides for a few weeks with no obvious sign of infection.

Took him to the gp yesterday who said large raised lymph nodes are normal but to keep an eye and his limp is caused by “cartilage growth” if he is going through a growth spurt but to come back in a month if it’s not settled. It’s been really bad this afternoon and he even asked to get the buggy for him earlier because he was too fired and he was literally dragging his leg at this point (he’s not used the buggy in months!)

FWIW: she didn’t check his leg, hip or do any obs or vital checks, basically nothing.

AIBU to get a second opinion sooner than a month?! Can’t work out if I’m being neurotic.

Get a second opinion, I would

Took my 2 year old to a&e over a similar limp (it was a weekend). After examination we were told it was inflammation in her hip - apparently very common though we’d never heard of it, nor had nursery staff. But it definitely needed checking over to be sure that’s all it was.

Definitely get a second opinion.

second opinion

It could well be irritable hip related to viral illness, very common in this age, but I’d expect an examination of the hip and a plan to review within a week if not better or sooner if getting worse.

My son has had the same and was unable to weight bare one day, I panicked and my mind was going to all manner of possibilities. He was seen by the GP who could not find anything worrying and diagnosed him with transient synovitis or 'irritable hip' caused by viral illness. I rolled my eyes because everything is a 'viral illness' but it really must've been because it resolved itself pretty quickly. A day after the limp appeared he has a runny nose and a cough. This is the most likely possibility but I would always get it checked out just in case it is something like a small fracture.

I’d get it checked but my son had this and was also diagnosed with transient synovitis, apparently it’s quite common

You should take him to urgent care/A+E

Most likely to be transient synovitis but he should have bloods done to rule out septic arthritis

Absolutely second opinion

You’re not neurotic. You’re entitled to a second opinion.

The same thing happened to my DD after a heavy cold. It came on really quickly and she couldn’t weight bear on one leg for a couple of days. It’s called transient synovitis. I took her to A&E as if a child suddenly can’t weight bear that’s the advice (at least our GP said so).

www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Transient_synovitis/#:~:text=Transient%20synovitis%20(sin%2Doh%2D,recovered%20from%20a%20viral%20infection.

Get him checked again. My son had a limp aged 3, and other weird symptoms. Nose bleeds and odd spots on his legs that I thought were insect bites. It turned out to be an autoimmune virus called HSP. A&E said to always get it checked if a little child is limping as can be sign of many things.
He was fine after but it was horrid at the time.

HSP was an autoimmune reaction to an ordinary cold virus, to clarify.

I agree that it needs to be checked out further. My son has been diagnosed with irritable hip 3 times all of which were at hospital as they needed to rule out other potential (much rarer) conditions.

When my son had this we were sent to the hospital for a scan: I think for septic arthritis and we went within a day. My DS wasn’t as bad as yours either so I’d definitely ask for a second opinion and insist on a referral

I agree to get a 2nd opinion, my daughter had a temporary limp age 3 and it was transient synovitis in her hip caused by viral illness a few weeks before.

I would get a second opinion. Whilst it is most likely to be something triggered by the virus, I have a friend whose toddler displayed similar symptoms and was treated with antibiotics etc. He was eventually diagnosed with cancer. It's rare so I wouldn't want to frighten you, but it can be a symptom so it worth pushing for another assessment, just in case.

Hi ladies, just wanted to update this thread. Took him back to the gp on Wednesday as his limp is getting progressively worse (he is now walking with his foot turned in too) and his nodes have not gone down. GP found several abnormally large nodes in his neck, groin and armpits, he thinks they feel all over 3cm. He has been referred for bloods and we will go from there. I am so scared.

I would go back to the GP to ask them to refer to Paeds team urgently

Aww op, you've done the right thing. Sounds like it could be a viral reaction or septic arthritis. My son had septic arthritis earlier in the year, wasn't pleasant at the time but all treated and he's fine now Lots of cuddles for him, you've both got this xx

Please get another opinion. My son, who was about 2 at the time was limping and it turned out he had an infection in his hip fluid. Was admitted for iv antibiotics. Then 2 days after while still in hospital he got tonsillitis but said this was the initial infection that caused the other. If his lymoh nodes are raised surely it's a sign of infection. GPs are often wrong

You do need an urgent referral to a paediatrician. I don’t know why GP’s sit on paaediatric cases for so long! I don’t know where your nearest paediatric hospital is, but you could take him to their paediatric A & E.

Hi OP

The limp in itself is concerning, especially together with the abnormally enlarged lymph nodes.

A child in my son's class had this exact symptom and it turned out to be leukaemia. I'm sorry to worry you but I'm glad this is being taken seriously, and fingers crossed it is not this scenario.

Thinking of you and your little one.

x

Honestly OP, I'd go to A&E and get these bloods done now - I hope it's nothing too serious, but if it is it can get things moving much faster x

Any updates OP?