Is this just 'normal' baby illness?

[Judyandherdreamofhorses]

Silly title. I'm quite anxious over DS's (9 months) health. He was 'failure to thrive' before Christmas and in hospital for a week with an NG tube following a d&v bug.

He had the cold/ cough generally nasty bug that the whole family had a few weeks ago. After about 10 days of that was given antibiotics for suspected throat infection as he wasn't really getting better. A week after stopping those, he was poorly again. Lethargic, high temp, vomiting. GP diagnosed a chest infection on Thursday and he's on antibiotics again.

Not lethargic anymore, but refusing most breastfeeds, all water, and most solids. He is vomiting after almost every feed and has revolting nappies (leaking, runny, frequent, pale and stinky).

He has dry lips, looking a little blistered. GP again tomorrow, or is this just how a poorly baby is?

No,

A&E tonight. This is a baby who has long term health issues and is now becoming dehydrated. Just go, there is nothing to think about.

Please trust your instincts. Yes, there are a lot of bugs about and my daughter went through a poorly stage at 9/10 months. (Thankfully never hospitalised though). If you think he still isn't right and there may be more to it, go back to the gp and explain the ftt and your concerns.

agree with Larry. What was the reason behind faltering growth?

It sounds as though he is dehydrated, I agree with LarryGrylls, I think you need to see someone tonight.

DH is a dr and isn't concerned.

We don't really know the reason for the faltering growth (nicer term than the one my HV used, thanks!). My crap breastfeeding, probably. DD had a similar growth pattern. DS was seen by paediatrician in February and given a glowing bill of health. Developmentally he's fine.

He sounds dehydrated. Please get him seen tonight

He sounds extremely dehydrated if his lips are blistering.

What's his soft spot like? If it feels sunken that is a sign of dehydration. Another good check is to gently pinch the skin on the back of his hand. If it stays raised for a couple of seconds its a sign of dehydration. Do it on yourself first to see what a normal reaction is like,

If he is dehydrated call out of hours, but if they try to fob you off or make you wait too long, I'd get him to a&e.

If he was taking bm, I'd say not to worry but if he's not taking any fluids and is showing dehydration signs you need to get him checked out.

Judy,

Why come on a generalist site if your husband is a doctor?!

Just out of interest, why is he not concerned if she is not holding down fluids? Your OP sounded quite concerning.

Well if your dh is dr, then I guess he should know. When dd2 recently got to the stage of blistery dry lips, she had severe dehydration.

Have you got rehydration fluids? Or can you get hold of them.

Try feeding him 5ml (through syringe is easiest) at a time every 5 minutes. If he's still vomitting regularly with that, then ignore your oh and take him to A&E.

Ime doctors in the family either are over cautious with family, or a little bit blasé. I'm in a family of lots of doctors

agree with Larry. What was the reason behind faltering growth?

Doctor's children are the last to get see as their parents are less cautious about them than other parents (obviously not always). Your DH will also have seen your DS every day so he will "look a bit worse than yesterday" rather than seeing him objectively with fresh eyes.

Is your DH a pediatrician?

No, he's not a paediatrician.

He thinks he's okay for now.

Well it's up to you, but the fact that you posted here suggests you don't agree.

Given he has two signs of severe dehydration, that babies and children are more susceptible than adults and it can lead to organ failur, I personally wouldn't risk it (and I am not an anxious parent, subscribing as I do to the benign neglect school of parenting .

Honestly, it's better to get him checked and be told he's fine than to risk the alternative. Dehydration in children can get really nasty really quickly.

Just to add the advice I was given - the fontenelle test and pinch test and to either get down the doctors straight away if dehydration set in or if the surgery was closed a&e and not to bother with nhs direct or out of hours came from two different doctors 4 years apart relating to two differdnt children with d&v!

I wouldn't care less what my dh said doctor or not I'd be getting him seen now.

I would agree that doctors tend to ignore illness on their own kids, I am a dr and have been guilty of this . However, dehydration is an important and common one and I doubt any dr parent would miss this in their own child. Ask dh to check again if you are worried.

Went to OOH docs last night. Dr was very dismissive and said he'd 'just got a cold'.

Had two short breastfeeds in the night and wasn't sick. However, he had a sip of water at breakfast and was sick straightaway. Also diarrhoea again this morning. Very sleepy and is asleep now.

The first GP appointment I could get at our own surgery is late afternoon. I'll try diarolyte when he wakes up.

Just a throat and ear virus now. Chest is clear.

I've been really worried about him all day. He seems so poorly. But I guess a virus would make him feel bad. He doesn't want to eat or drink because his throat hurts. Keeps throwing up paracetamol/ ibuprofen. But is having small breastfeeds and keeping it down for a while.

I'm still not happy. But maybe it's more about my over-anxiety than about him.

If you are not happy dont hesitate to take him to be seen again. Trust your instincts.

paracetamol suppositories can be a godsend in situations like this. I think boots can get them in for you.

ps 'crap breastfeeding' will not be the reason growth is faltering unless you fed him to regimented schedule and limited length of feeds.

Did they rule out rusual suspects such as reflux, CMPI, oral abnormalities, absorption issues etc?

Sounds like it's possibly his genetic makeup tho if DS was same.

Thanks for your reply. I will take him back or to A&E tomorrow if I don't feel he's improving at all.

No, nothing was really investigated with his growth. We had a referral to paediatrics, but before we got an appointment, he ended up being admitted to hospital following a d&v bug and subsequent general poorliness. Fed with NG tube for a week and started on solids (just under 5 months). They let us out as he'd started to gain weight, and that was it really! Continued to improve weight gain ever since.

I didn't have him on a schedule or restrict his feeds, no. Always demand fed and offered more.

I guess as long as it's not ongoing weight issues - eg he has now picked up - they are probably reassured. Sounds like that issue's resolved now. Hope the wee chap picks up soon. They are lovely but such a worry when they are ill, aren't they?

I've been quite worried today. It's the lethargy that bothers me, but I guess I'd be like that if I was feeling ill. I do feel better knowing he's had a few breastfeeds I suppose.

Please trust your instinct. Don't be afraid to go back - even though your DH is a doctor and the GP has told you things are ok. DD was seen twice in 36hrs by doctors who said it was just a viral infection but I still wasn't comfortable with her - then she developed a non fading rash. Our lives were turned upside down as she fought for her life in PICU, went through dialysis and lost part of her right foot as a direct result. We are lucky she is here and still with us. Her symptoms - lethargy and vomiting in the previous 48hrs with a fever.