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.

What is her temp?

Both of those alone can cause a high temp btw if you’re giving paracetamol and it’s not coming down I’d take her to get checked better safe than sorry but otherwise if it does reduce keep giving the regular doses you can following the instructions and hopefully it’ll pass. Fingers crossed for you both!

Penicillin deals with scarlet fever, if you are thinking sepsis, you'd better go to A&E asap.

I don’t think she has sepsis. She is alert, happy, not lethargic, drinking and eating in her own time.

For goodness sake, stop projecting your health anxiety onto your child. The NHS is on its knees FGS.

Sorry just to add I don’t have health anxiety because I’m riddled with munchausens etc. I lost my dad quite young, DD had bronchiolitis then sepsis 4 weeks later. I have quite serious trauma around illness and health. I am trying not to act upon the anxiety and be rational. That’s why I’ve been posting on here. It is hard sometimes.

As long as she's making steady progress, I wouldn't take her to A and E or to the GP.

If she can drink, go to the toilet, walk/dance around and sleep, she'll be fine.

I think you would sense if something more sinister was happening.

I understand OP. I also suffered badly with health anxiety with my DD after an incident at 3.
She had pneumonia but to get her diagnosed, I went to GP twice and A&E twice, until an urgent treatment center doctor (which I was triaged there because the A&E nurse thought I was over- reacting on my 2nd attempt to A&E) who found out my DD was indeed very poorly and called A&E doctor to have her re-examined. First time in my life, I thought I was going to lost her...since then I am always anxious when my DD got sick.

After that horrible experience, we continued to visit pediatric A&E a couple of times due to various illnesses. I have to clarify, I loathe going to A&E. I don't take my feverish DD to GP until something looks wrong. And I have always endured and tried to calm my anxiety until I broke down in tears and decided to pay A&E a visit and of which , probably it's my instinct driving - every time we went DD indeed needed A&E treatment except once due to under diagnosed Asthma.

So, I would say, trust your instincts.You know your child the best.

I can also confidently say at pediatric A&E, there are far more time-wasters than you would expect, many parents are bringing in children who are eating McDonald's, running around, actively playing mobile games or computer games, or kept talking and whining about boredom...while mine was very quiet, tired, sleepy and not interested in anything. So, don't worry too much about being labeled.

And you can always call 111 for an advice, chance is that they may decide to give you a doctor call back. I once went to urgent treatment center due to a doctor's advice and got DD treated in time, some 111 doctors are fab.

This post is uncalled for and really you should just mind your own business. The NHS is on its knees because of deliberate underfunding by the Tories and Brexit, not people worried about their 5 year old with strep tonsillitis!

It’s perfectly valid for OP to be concerned. FWIW when my then 5 y o had scarlet fever, we took her to A&E on a Sunday evening, she was so ill; and they were very happy for us to bring her in.

I don't need your permission love.

If it helps at all, I had absolutely awful tonsillitis a couple of years ago (over Christmas and couldn't eat due to the pain and the year before I was ill with something else, probably covid, and couldn't taste anything so I was really annoyed!) and was prescribed antibiotics for 5 days. They didn't seem to be doing much until literally the 4th or 5th day when it got slightly better. I was fully prepared to go to the doctor on day 6 but it suddenly got much better. I hope your little one, and you, feel better soon 💗

Ah - Tory voter?

What is wrong with you?!

LOLno.

What's wrong with you?

are you giving her calpol / nurofen / both?

Plus what is her actually temperature? “Feeling hot” could be anything, better to actually measure.

It's on its knees because of the government!

How dare you tell people that they shouldn't be using the NHS when they are understandably anxious about their poorly child.

We should be able to get fast and good healthcare. We shouldn't be questioning if we're over reacting. We should be able to get help and advice if we want it.

We pay for this!!

It's people like you who make others question their gut instinct, and where can that lead us? Even more pressure on the NHS? Ultimately, it can mean death.

We shouldn't be on our deathbeds before we think that we're unwell enough to see a doctor.

How rude.

Op, I hope your daughter is feeling much better today.

Dr couldn’t diagnose SF as no rash but he said the glaze on her tongue is normal for tonsillitis. She’s got 2 white spots. Temp spiking is normal.
Turns out I shouldn’t have diluted the penicillin as it’s not advised. Oops.

Been given a new 7 day course and some difflam.

Hope you can relax a bit now, it’s totally normal to worry and I think with the things we hear about sepsis it’s totally reasonable to stress out and think of A&E when you see certain symptoms and a high temp is dangerous anyway. Ignore the negative nellys best wishes to your little one

Thank you. This one’s even harder to get down her.

Please can someone advise.

They gave us the stronger penicillin 2 x a day but it’s even worse and she will not even take it disguised in pop. She won’t even take calpol now. I really do not know what to do. She’s had 2 doses of 125mg penicillin today. I phoned 111 earlier and asked to change and they said to go back to the hospital pharmacy in the morning and they’ll swap it. I’m so so scared.

You need to force her to take her medicine.
You can ask for liquid or you can usually make it yourself with their instructions.

She’s autistic. I can’t force her to take anything. It’s such a vile taste.
I’ve tried hiding it in everything. I’m at a loss.

Yes, primary infection can be very severe. My son had eczema herpeticum (herpes infected eczema) which can be fatal. Initially misdiagnosed as chickenpox

Haven’t read whole thread but a different son has been admitted twice to hospital with tonsillitis - as a young adult, not even a child . It can be nasty. There are very well established treatment pathways so if you are worried or think she might be getting dehydrated it’s not an overreaction to get her checked at A&E.

if the taste is really bitter you don’t be able to hide it (also have an autistic son). Depending on her understanding you could try first this then big reward. That might work with my son now (grown up) but not at 5. He now has tablets in yoghurts which has been a game changer. But they won’t help you now.

if you are worried and she isn’t improving or you can’t get medication into her go back.