Toddler with sudden limp - go to doctor or wait and see?

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My 20 month old DS2 has suddenly (last few hours) started limping badly - he basically can't seem to put much weight if any on his right foot. He was fine (I think) first thing this morning (and went for a long walk yesterday), but I took him shopping this morning and he was surprisingly content to just sit in the pushchair for ages. At the supermarket, I got him out of the pushchair as he always walks into the shop - but he was pulling heavily on my hand, walking extremely slowly and with a pronounced limp. But he didn't seem to be in any pain. When we got home he was the same - wouldn't walk into the house, and when I put him down inside he basically just stood there. Took a couple of steps and again limped badly. What should I do? Doctor has no appointments until tomorrow. NHS symptom checker says go to A&E, which sounds a bit OTT - but maybe it isn't ? Any advice please, assuming he's the same when he wakes up from his nap?

A+E, sorry! My toddler had this with an arm and she had dislocated the elbow. Toddler joints are vulnerable and I think this really warrants being checked out.

Friends DS had something similar that was a virus in his hip and he just couldn't put any weight on it at all.

Do you have a minor injuries / walk in clinic anywhere? If not then I'd try NHS Direct.

Oh lordy, really? [Contemplates afternoon in A&E with toddler and pre-schooler.] Ok, if he's the same when he wakes up, I guess I'd better go (there's an MIU a few miles away). Thanks for the advice.

Just spoke to MIU who were spectacularly unhelpful. The nurse's actual words were 'well, there's no point bringing him here, because there's nothing we can do about it' . (Her point being, I think, that they don't have X-ray facilities there.). I said 'so, should I go to A&E or wait and see?' and she said 'I don't know, it's up to you'. Gee thanks. So I think it's A&E if he's no better later.

My DS1 developed a sudden limp, v similar to your DS a couple of months ago. We managed to get him an urgent GP appointment (miraculously!) and he got referred up to the paediatric ward. It turned out to be 'irritable hip' which seems to be a bit of a mysterious syndrome but is probably a post viral thing as ToryLovell has mentioned (he was just getting over a cold) BUT there is a much rarer more serious condition called Perthes disease which needs to be ruled out. So A+E sounds like a sensible option to me.... Sorry!

A&e I'm afraid

My DS had 'irritable hip' same as apricot described, he was getting over a cold as well.

We took him to A&E and they x-rayed him and did some blood tests and everything was clear. He was fine after a couple of days.

Go to A&E just to rule out an injury or anything else.

DS is just getting over a cold too............ Right, off we go.

Thanks again for your help, people. Three and a half lovely hours in A&E later, and yes, it's 'transient synovitis' AKA irritable hip. They think. And I managed to offload older DS onto pre-school, so at least I only had one grumpy child to entertain.

I took DS to A&E with a limp and they said it was prob just a virus and they would x-ray if it didn't go away in a couple of days - it went away in a couple of days. Apparently a virus can cause a limp in the under twos but they really won't mind if you ask him to be checked over to be on the safe side.

(sorry, x-post - glad he''s been seen)

Hope he is soon back to normal.

Hii my son z having d same symptoms..what will be the treatment for this

DD woke up.a few weeks ago with a limp. She wouldn't bear any weight on that leg and cried when ever she tried to walk. This went on all day. That night I said to dh I would take her to gp if it carried on. She woke up fine the next day. I then caught her copying her older brother jumping off the sofa so am guessing that's what caused it!

Did they say what the treatment was Op? How did they diagnose it?