Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

No joy with NHS Direct so can you help me please?

74 replies

phipps · 01/11/2010 15:33

Ds is 5 and was complaining of feeling cold and tired at school. Actually felt very hot and then started shaking. I brought him home, temp was 37.2 so gave him so calpol and put him to bed in vest and pants. He has come down and is sat on the chair with a blanket on. Shivering is what is worrying me.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

bubbleymummy · 02/11/2010 14:15

Sorry for the hijack phipps. Hope you've been reassured by NHS direct.

Original poster

phipps · 02/11/2010 14:19

Nhsdirect guy made me wake him as i didn't know what unconcious and brearthing means

he assessed hi and said heneeds to be seen nby a go in the next 6 hours

rang then and they wanted to know wwhy i rand nhsdirect and not meddoc

OP posts:

blinks · 02/11/2010 14:19

am nhs 24 worker- make sure he's ok with the light, can put chin to chest and check for rash. also check if his hands and feet are warm. vomiting/sore muscles, sore throat and flinching when being touched are also early signs of meningitis.

if he seem to be getting worse rather than better, get him seen. better safe than sorry.

winnybella · 02/11/2010 14:21

Right, so you got an appointment with the doctor then?

How is he now?

Original poster

phipps · 02/11/2010 14:30

If I hadn't have woken him I think he would have still been asleep. I have dressed him, didn't want a drink so is having a yogurt.

Can move his chin down, his hands feel cool, his feet less so.

GP at 5.10. Meddoc ringing back.

DH saying "calm down, he doesn't need a doctor they will probably say it is viral." Not helping DH.

OP posts:

Flightattendant29 · 02/11/2010 14:33

DH is probably right!

I'm sorry you're going through this, it sounds horrible. I hope he is fine very soon.

Can I just say, bubbleymummy and others - febrile convulsions are not always harmless.

My friend when I was small had a baby brother who had a febrile convulsion when he was two. He was left with sever brain damage and as an adult he still needs care and support most of the time.

I'm not sure where the 'harmless' idea has come from!

winnybella · 02/11/2010 14:38

Yes, DH is probably right, but when I called my DD's paediatrician a couple of weeks ago because she had over 40 degrees fever I asked what should get me worried (since the doc didn't sound concerned at all) and she said " I don't care about high fevers, it's about how they behave'- anything unusual and she would either have seen me or sent me to A&E.

winnybella · 02/11/2010 14:39

Not to say there's anything seriously wrong with your ds, just that I think it's reasonable to get a it worried when they are not themselves iyswim- I don't mean just a bit sleepy or cranky from fever- but really lethargic etc.

Original poster

phipps · 02/11/2010 14:43

OOH doctor just phoned, said give calpol and observe. No need to see anyone unless anything changes. DS proceeded to stuff a fruit corner down then almost jump out of the chair to play with the cat .

at my over reaction.

OP posts:

Original poster

phipps · 02/11/2010 14:44

Instinct was telling me he isn't well and needs sleep but there was a nagging doubt as I am not a doctor.

OP posts:

winnybella · 02/11/2010 14:51

Great. Of course he's perking up now that you have called the docs

Flightattendant29 · 02/11/2010 14:51

Toujours, I always do the same

Thank f*ck when they suddenly revive though, isn't it!

You were absolutely right to be worried.

bubbleymummy · 02/11/2010 14:57

Glad he's perked up! Such a relief :)

FA, it comes from the NHS website

"Febrile seizures can be very frightening for parents, but they look much worse than they actually are. They cause no serious damage to your child, and the risks of long-term complications are extremely low. In the UK, there have never been any deaths due to febrile seizures."

Sorry to hear about your friend's brother, obviously there are rare complications. It could also be that the convulsion was caused by something else that caused the brain damage - it may not have been febrile. That's why it is so important to have children checked out if they do have a convulsion - just in case there is an underlying cause, unrelated to the fever.

bubbleymummy · 02/11/2010 15:00

at least with the first one anyway...

Flightattendant29 · 02/11/2010 15:00

It's possible I suppose but my mother always maintained it was a febrile convulsion.

Who knows

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 02/11/2010 15:03

He could well have felt rotten with temp of 37.2, my normal temp is 36C and at 37.2 I feel pretty shivery and awful.

belgo · 02/11/2010 15:15

Flight that sounds awful. All of my dc have had fits of some sort, including dd2 who had a febrile convulsion, it was very frightening and I rand an ambulance. She needed to stay in hospital for three nights. I gave her a paracetamol suppository at the start of the convulsion which probably limited it a bit but it was still horrible, and potentially very dangerous if they injure themselves while convulsing.

Original poster

phipps · 02/11/2010 15:46

What do you mean bubbley? The ... doesn't help.

OP posts:

bubbleymummy · 02/11/2010 16:05

Sorry phipps - I meant it's important to have a febrile convulsion checked out in case it was caused by and underlying condition unrelated to the fever - for the first one anyway. Many parents who are aware that their children are prone to febrile convulsions will just manage them at home without having them seen by a doctor every time.

mumbar · 02/11/2010 16:37

Thats true phipps, my DS last one he had with chicken pox, he was very ill with it btw, I just rang NHS direct and they said I didn't need to go to a&e as he had stopped and was fine unless I wanted to. It was about his 4th and last one.

Original poster

phipps · 02/11/2010 16:51

Well, ds has had some tea. He is so cute. When we got ready I told him we had to go and get his siblings. "But I haven't had lunch yet!". He can't understand how long he had slept for .

I haven't decided about school for him tomorrow yet. Thanks to you all for your support.

OP posts:

mumbar · 02/11/2010 17:56

Hope he continues to improve. This thread has reminded me of when DS started yr R and had the same thing, I do actually think in hindsight it was exhaustion??

Original poster

phipps · 02/11/2010 17:58

I don't know if it is that as it is only day 2 of term but he has perked up tonight and I think will be back at school tomorrow. It has been really lovely to have had a quiet day.

OP posts:

WeakAndMilky · 02/11/2010 19:34

Can I jump in and be awkward re the NICE guidelines advocating only give paracetamol or ibuprofen for fever? I also work for NHS direct and have to tow the 'one or the other' line (with a few tweaks!

This www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1051958/Ibuprofen-paracetamol-taken-alternately-Confusion-grows-safety-mixing-child-painkillers.html

more up to date research fits in much more with what GPs are saying anyway (give both). It keeps children fever free for an additional 4 hours, keeps children comfortable for longer, is perfectly safe if kept to safe daily limits of the meds.

The only reasoning given that I can find for NICE guidelines is that parents are too stupid may accidentally overdose because its more complicated.

Also re febrile convulsions - it is apparently a rapid rise in temperature which sets of a fit, so no teppid sponging/fans anymore as the rapid cooling results in a rebound heating - all the more reason I think to alternate.

For pain of course give both, it is looked at differently than fever.

Flip

1 2 3