Tummy upset or something else?

[MRSJWRTWR]

As a family (luckily so far) we don't tend to suffer from tummy bugs. DS1 (14) had a couple of 24hr vomiting bugs when he was smaller but that's about it.

DS2 (7) has been under the weather for the last couple of weeks, tired and complaining of intermittent tummy ache. He vomited twice 4 days apart and one instance could have been put down to car sickness. On Saturday night this suddenly developed into really bad tummy cramps, which despite giving pain killers wake him every couple of hours through the night. It eased off during the morning and he had breakfast and then lunch, played fine and then started to go down hill at about 3-4pm. He had one instance of diarrhoea. I took him to see the out of hours Dr and she diagnosed a tummy bug.

Since then he's been up every few hours Sunday and Monday night with really bad stomach cramps and milder cramps during the day. He isn't eating anything now.

Is this the usual way of a tummy bug? When should he show signs of improvement?

Thanks

Appendicitis springs to mind. I would get him seen asap to rule this out.

I would be suspecting food poisoning as it's lasted so long, can the GP not take a sample? Has anyone else in the home had a bug?

No one else in the family has been ill.

The Dr didn't mention taking a sample. She examined his tummy and said that as the pain seemed to be around his tummy button this was a good sign that it was probably nothing more serious?

Is it still in the same place? If it has moved downwards towards the right, that would strongly suggest appendicitis - also, if you push gently on the bit where it hurts, does he say it hurts more while you are pressing, or after you release the pressure?

I checked last night and he is still indicating the middle of his tummy. He doesn't like anyone touching it, so would assume it hurts more when you press. He says he feels better lying down.

Is he still getting plenty of fluids? Tummy cramps are pretty common after/during a tummy bug, mostly because of the dehydration. It might be worth trying some Dioralyte, or similar if he's off his food, just in case...

Yes he's drinking ok. He hasn't wanted to eat anything since yesterday lunchtime.

Thank you all for your responses.

In that case, does your GP practice have a phone doctor? Where they call you back? It might be worth giving them a ring if they do and just checking they don't want a sample. That's what we'd be recommending at work (pharmacy) as it's gone on for over 72 hours and nobody else has symptoms.

Also, they're likely to know if there's a bug around that follows this pattern, which I always find reassuring

That's a good idea, seeing if I can just talk to a doctor that is. Unfortunately, DS2 has only had a couple of instances of diarrhoea so getting a sample might be problematic!

I thought appendicitis is initially round the tummy button.