Pale fatigued grandaughter

[Auntyhen]

I don't want to worry my daughter by over reacting but feel something is amiss with my 3yo granddaughter. This morning, I took her for a little walk,wrapped up warm, she was ash white with red rimmed eyes within minutes, an oncoming elderly couple took one look at her and stopped me to ask if she was alright, as have so many friends and relatives seeing her recently. She has no stamina, is whiney and moody, says her tongue hurts, it has an ulcer visible, her bowel control has regressed and she is often cold to the touch and very pale. All this started after her triple booster plus meningitis jabs about six weeks ago. Anyone else had this problem please?

I think you do need to worry your daughter and get her seen by a GP. It could just be a short-term reaction to the vaccinations, but you need to know. Has your daughter noticed/commented?

Yes, she thought it was a short term reaction at first, then maybe a coincidental virus or something, now she is concerned and trying vitamin supplements extra TLC, but it is nigh on impossible to get a GP appointment at her surgery and granddaughter does have short spells of being pink and normal cheery self.

I think I'd mention it to your daughter again, starting off with the fact she still looks rather pale. I usually find if I phone up and ask specifically ask to see a doctor that day or say within that week, I get it, so it might be worth picking a morning she is not quite herself or pale and phoning. They do question why I want an appointment that day and it's because one of us is feeling really ill or I want something checked out while there are symptons showing. We rarely go to the doctor though, daughter last saw a doctor nearly five years ago and I've seen one twice in three years, so they probably realize we aren't going for minor things.

Worth considering testing her iron levels, we had the same with our DS and he has been a different child since he has been on supplements. Has to be prescribed I believe as most kids over the counter vitamins don't contain iron. All the best and hope she seems better soon

I would insist on an appointment, and if not, take her to a and e. It sounds like it could be very serious.

I would want a blood test done. It could be nothing but equally could be serious.

Thank you all, will be working on it again now. Reassuring to know I am not necessarily being just over anxious granny.

Sore tongue, pale, tired, cold, run down.... does sound like something and rings a lot of bells for anaemia. Could be anything or nothing though. Deffo persuade DD to take her to doctors.

Just thought I would post what the outcome has been, two years later. A new GP concerned by her failure to grow and frequent urine infections and constipation referred her to a bowel consultant. Bowel consultant not happy her stomach had never been felt by HVs/practice nurse, she had an almost impacted and grossly distended bowel. She was referred by that consultant to a urologist, had scans, turns out she only has one (horseshoe shaped ) kidney, so hydration inefficient, so constipation ensues. Food absorption and thus growth also affected. Borderline needing surgery for reduction of bowel because it was too enlarged to function normally. Has been on a gelatine free, movicol medicated diet for over six months and is much improved. Starting to grow, looking pink and healthier. The moral of this story is, do not accept a brush off from a health visitor, GP, or anyone else.

Thank you so much for updating - am so pleased that she's doing well :)

That is so good they got to the bottom of that. Going with your granny instincts was the way to go. So glad she has colour and energy.