Sudden onset vertigo, DS can’t walk - is this really a virus?

[HJBeans]

Apologies, I am double-posting for traffic. I am very concerned but have anxiety related to my kids health and would like perspectives on whether to push for a second look at my son.

YABU = he’s been seen, leave it for now
YANBU = I’d be worried enough to take him back in to A&E

Son was enjoying football practice last night, standing waiting for a throw in, when the ground became unsteady for him. His dad was there and brought him home. He has rocking vertigo when standing / walking, where the ground seems to move like a boat. Called 111, took him to OOO doc and then to A&E. They did an ECG and standard neurological testing. They can see no sign of infection outside of one raised lymph node, but think it’s probably viral infection of the inner ear and will pass. We’ve been told to take him back if he blacks out, throws up or has severe head pain.

He’s worse today, and his gait is now oddly wide and jerky as if steadying himself on a rocking boat. He can’t stand or walk without holding on to something. The vertigo also isn’t made worse by shaking his head which seems odd to me if it’s inner ear related. I’m worrying something has been missed and need calming down. This time last night he was getting ready for practice after a day at school and now he can’t walk unaided. I’m scared. Thanks in advance for any info or hand-holding.

Hope hes okay OP x

Hi OP, just wondering how things are going for your DS now? My 11 year old has been experiencing something very similar which also started when he was 9 and happens every few months. I started a thread in children's health to try to get some advice while we wait to be seen at ENT (very long wait list 😪)

Also following. My teen DS has had a gait difference (significant and now disabling) since being sick at the beginning of this year and I often felt alone dealing with this. Hoping for an improvement for your DS.

Hi both. Yes, my DS is better. As other posters said, it got better after several few weeks - leaving almost as suddenly as it arrived. He then relapsed when he went back to football but only had a few days of it the second time. He did get seen by an ENT and had an MRI, but nothing was ever found. He’s had a string of funny post-viral infections this year so now awaiting an appt with medical pediatrics about his immune function.

I hope both of you find answers soon and that your kids are back to themselves as quickly as possible. It’s so worrying when they’re unwell and so frustrating waiting for help when they are unable to function as they’d like to be.

Thanks so much for updating. I hope everyone gets the answers they need.