Brain CT scan, child, worried.

[MummaHud]

My daughter had neurological symptoms, dragging her leg, throwing up at night only and complaining of headaches, after 7 days of our GP telling us it was norovirus and my daughter telling us on the morning of the scan ‘I think my life is ending’ because the pain was SO bad.. my husband took her a&e…

they done bloods, wee and stool sample & they did a brain CT scan to rule out lesions on the brain…

thankfully her brain scan was clear, I thank my lucky stars… it all came back that she had the shingles virus (VZV) which causes neurological symptoms but she never got the blisters… hense the neurological concerns.

anyway, we had to sign paperwork for radiation risk and the CT scan screen turned to a paediatric theme so I’m assuming they changed the radiation levels..

I can’t help but be concerned that one scan is going to have done damage that we were ruling out!! 😓

I don’t know much about radiation and scans, is it likely that one scan can do this? 😓 the last few days have been so scary!

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will be along but no the risk to your dc will have been very very small. Possibly slightly higher than other scans hence needing consent.

pleased the scan was clear. Does she have a treatment plan?

I’m reading through your post and so so glad the scan was all clear. Thank god she doesn’t have a brain tumour

Thank you 🩵 I think I’m still a bit shaken up about the experience that there’s so many questions I forgot to ask the specialists at the time, it was A&E so not really open access to ask questions & my GP hasn’t been much help!

no treatment plan, they don’t know if it’s from where she had chickenpox and it presented as neurological symptoms
rather than coming out in shingles, which they said is much more likely at 5.. so scary!

Aw it sounds like it's been a very worrying stressful time for you. Thank goodness your DD is ok. My DD had a brain scan when she was 12 months old so I know how frightening it all is. I don't think the exposure to the radiation will cause harm- it might be that with everything that's happened you're feeling extra mindful of everything and are naturally anxious about her health but hopefully as time goes on the worry will be a little less for you

I cried when they gave us the results, they gave them to us within 30 minutes but felt like 300 hours especially as we waited 6 hours from being told she needed a scan to them doing it. It was such a relief moment, I never wish this on any parent xxx

You’ve hit the nail on the head lovely, I want to buy loads of bubble wrap, wrap her up and never let her go!!… I feel like this about all my kids, but right now after the past new days, I feel like she needs extra layers of the stuff! Xxx

It’s very scary seeing the little ones so vulnerable. Please rest assured the docs will have taken every precaution to minimise risk.

This is quite a useful page on risks of CTs - but the important message is that they carry a minuscule risk compared to their diagnostic benefit.

Hope she recovers quickly from the virus.

www.health.ny.gov/environmental/radiological/radiation_safety_guides/docs/ct_scans_children.pdf

Ah I know exactly what you mean. Being a parent isn’t good for worrying and anxiety! I reassure myself though that they’re a lot more resilient than we sometimes realise. I hope your little one is making a speedy recovery ❤

Worth the tiny tiny radiation level to know your dd brain is ok
Please.do not worry about that

There are plenty of people who have to have multiple brain scans for various reasons, it won't have hurt her. So pleased it was clear.