Should I get her seen or am I just being paranoid? Quick answers appreciated.

[Pozzled]

I think I'm over-reacting but could use another opinion.

DD2 is 6 months.
She's had a cough/cold for about 4-5 days.
Yesterday she had a high temperature (highest was 38.4), was very clingy and unsettled, spent the whole afternoon and evening either sleeping on us, or crying as soon as she woke.
She has been feeding ok I think, bfing so hard to tell how much, but she'll try to feed when offered.

She slept reasonably well and woke for feeds as usual.
Today she seems a bit happier in herself but looks quite pale and temp is still a little high.
I noticed just now though that her hands and feet are really quite cold compared to the rest of her, and I've heard that can be a sign of meningitis.

Please tell me that I'm being ridiculous thinking of meningitis when it's obviously just a bad cold/virus. I would phone NHS Direct but IME as soon as you say the word 'baby' they reccomend that you get seen.

if you are worried, get her checked out. the dr won't mind at all. Good luck!

The cold hands and feet can be a sign on meningitis but afaikl that's because of a fever so it can be a sign of 'just' a fever iyswim.

However, because she's little and this has been going on a few days I'd suspect an ear or chest infection tbh and would get her checked.

I'd get her checked out in case of ear/chest infection if nothing else at that age. Don't worry about being silly when it's for such a little one.

OK, thanks both of you. I wondered about a chest infection as the cough does sound quite nasty, but I never know how you tell the difference between a bad cough and in infection.

I never know either. My son is prone to ear infections that hardly ever clear up. Often the advice is to wait for a temp to go on its own but whenever I've done this it's lingered and then the GP has told me they are happy to check babies out anyway. You know your child so if you're concerned I think it's worth taking her in.

I would get her checked out with a temperature, but yes you are being ridiculous thinking of meningitis. As left says it's just a sign of fever. if she had meningitis then she would not be reasonably well and waking for feeds.

Put your ear to her chest, front and back, left and right. If you can hear crackles or squeaks when she's breathing then that is a sign of a potential infection. It is still worth getting it checked out though as the doctor knows where exactly to listen for.

She's a baby so you have no idea what is really going on. I doubt it is meningitis too because she has been ill for a while and she would be feeling a lot worse than she seems to be feeling from what you describe of her behaviour.

However, she may have an ear or chest infection. When my DS1 was about 9mths he spectacularly vomited for the first time (not feed related I mean) and we thought he had a stomach bug but his temp had shot up and we ended up going to the docs to find it was an ear infection and the temp had made him sick not the bug. You never can tell with babies so you are best getting her checked.

ds had meningitis and the signs were so not what i expected; err on the side of caution, maybe? unless you are down there every two minutes they won't mind.

Best to get her checked out to put your mind at rest but probably just a virus, plus its coming up to the weekend, you dont want to be sat in a&e with her at the weekend.

Thanks again everyone. No appointments left at the GP today and she seems happier anyway, so I'll keep an eye and take her tomorrow if she's not improved. Thanks for the tip about listening to her chest, will try that when she wakes up.