To ask if A&E is overreacting.

[CoconutSky]

A week ago on Wednesday DD had what I thought was a viral infection. Temp, off food etc. it seemed to go by the Friday so I thought nothing of it

On Sunday I had symptoms of strep, sudden sore throat, headache so ended up on penicillin

Wednesday just gone I took her straight to the walk in centre as she was really lethargic, fever and swollen glands. Dr said there said swollen throat with some white streaks so tonsillitis, prescribed Pen V 4 times a day. I gave her 2 doses on Wednesday which I’ve had to conceal in Coca Cola as it’s the only thing that masks the taste.

She seemed abit better yesterday but today the temp seems to be creeping back up. She’s got some diarrhoea the same as me so I know the PenV is getting into her system. She’s not eating properly. Maybe chocolate stars and mini cookies but aside from that nothing. Drinking with encouragement and weeing.

She’s not lethargic til the temp creeps up. I’m worried re the not eating and the fevers, she won’t open her mouth either and I know she has an adult molar that just came through with a big white patch on the gum and I think it’s making her abit dribbly.

She also keeps getting a really flushed face, and I’m almost certain she’s got strawberry tongue so I’m thinking more scarlet fever. Im not sure what to do, should the antibiotics have kicked in by now? I’m really anxious re sepsis etc and I do suffer badly with health anxiety.

You don't mention her age anywhere?

She’s 5 sorry.

Ok, I think I probably would if she gets worse over the weekend.

Although A&E will likely be very busy so you might have a very long wait.

It normally takes 48 hours for the antibiotics to start working. Hope she's better soon x

Yesterday was her first full day. She’s had almost a full day* today.

I just really worry.

Dr diagnosed tonsillitis? Her ongoing symptoms sound consistent with that. But we can’t diagnose on here. If you’re concerned you need to go to A&E. Or call 111 for advice first.

With the strawberry tongue and face flushing I’m concerned with scarlet fever. I don’t know if it’s treated differently or not

I remember your previous post.

Scarlet fever is not an A&E situation as you describe it. Can you call 111 and ask for an out of hours appointment?

The antibiotics can cause runny stools. Plus if she's not eating much solid food they'll not be much solid mass to pass

I can go to the walk in centre it’ll probably be quicker. Do they prescribe anything different for scarlet fever.

@CoconutSky would she eat some yoghurt??? It will be cool for her mouth x

She doesn’t want yoghurt or ice cream. Just bloody chocolate, jelly beans and Maryland cookies

Has she had penicillin before as she could be allergic? My son had antibiotics for the first time (aged 10) this year and after a day or 2 came out in a rash which was diagnosed as Scarlet Fever, for which he got more antibiotics but he started vomitting after each dose and eventually I worked out he had a penicillin allergy. They don't test for it but as soon as he came off then he was fine.

Yes she’s had penicillin before so no allergy

She’s on the correct antibiotic for potential strep throat (is it a 10 day course?)

It’s a 5 day one

The separate children’s A&E generally isn’t as busy, not that I’m saying that this is necessarily an A&E trip, but there often aren’t the same patterns as in adult, e.g. it might be really quiet overnight.

Don’t sweat what food she’s prepared to eat right now. Give her what she wants and offer her other options too, but no pressure if she doesn’t want them.

It’s the fact she won’t open her mouth what’s scaring me. I dunno. I’m thinking all sorts bloody scarlet fever, dental abscess from the new tooth, quinsy. I hate her being poorly, she didn’t go to nursery and only started school in September so it’s like all the nursery bugs she’s getting right now

If she has tonsillitis, she has antibiotics, all her symptoms are consistent with it, and sounds like her natural body defences fighting the infection.

Make sure she is taking in fluids, don't stress too much about not eating, she will have reduced appetite and a sore throat.

Keep her on paracetamol too, take the edge off the pain.

Tonsillitis can be excruciating, last time I had it, as a full grown adult I was sobbing and was in bed for days, it was awful.

That said, she is your child, you know her better than anyone, if you are concerned, 111, walk in or a&e.

Can I ask when to expect the temps to stop spiking etc. and do I need to ask for more Pen V as a precaution for scarlet fever.

I will re read these next week when she’s better and think ffs neurotic again

And also does this vile PenV work mixed with Diet Coke? She has ASD so she can taste the bloody thing in everything except diet pop.

The cookies are good hard enough to scrape some crud off her throat

I've had an ulerated tonsil I couldn't eat anything at all

Honestly she probably has a sore jaw which is why she won't open her mouth I'm assuming she won't pass the chin to chest check either? Ds used to fail that on the meningitis question from 111 so they woukd say A&E NOW! They sent an ambulance once he literally had tonsillitis we knew he did we just wanted an out of hours appointment but they made us wait 6 ish hours for an ambulance instead

The joys

I think it’s the tooth that’s stopping her opening her mouth tbh. It’s a back molar and it’s got that horrible sore skin flap on it.

See below (can you tell I have health anxiety btw I take pics of everything 🤣)

She is drooling and has trismus (inability to open mouth normally), in the context of tonsillitis especially with fever ongoing/recurring at 48 hours on Abx - these are red flags and yes I would take her to A&E. Don't be alarmed but I think that is the right course of action as I would want to rule out a tonsillar abscess/quincy. They are treatable but do need to be seen in hospital. Hopefully as you suspect it is just the molar contributing but I don't think this is an overreaction.