Glandular fever getting worse Dd 4yo

[Runwayqueen]

Two weeks ago dd started complaining of a sore throat and tummy ache. I couldn't see anything that made me concerned so increased her fluids and carried on. Monday last week after more upset from her I checked and her throat and it was clearly not ok, red small spots on the pallet and puss like areas too. Following advice from the pharmacist I took her to the gps. Gp certain it was glandular fever but didn't want to perform blood test on dd as she 'doesn't like to do them on little ones', But to bring her back in if she worsened and she would. I didn't pursue for one as felt I should trust gps diagnosis. Whilst there gp showed/felt with me the glands in her neck, they were like little peas. Dd seemed ok, but the last 3-4 days she seems to have worsened. She goes from fever to chill quickly, is paler than normal and the pea like glands are now golf ball size, she is complaining of tummy ache more so than she has, she seems to bruising easier too( tripped in hallway yesterday racing for a nerf dart and instantly bruised). Would I be over reacting to ask for the blood test to be run? Am I right in thinking it would still be over the counter pain relief even if gf is confirmed?

I'm also wondering if it could be related to a recent run of accidents at school. Since the middle of November dd has had 6 head bump accident slips home and a visit to hospital for stitches because she has not seen something or fallen. School felt it was worth getting her eyes checked so I have an appointment booked for eyes next week. It could be nothing, but could it be related to whatever (I say that, as it's only an opinion) is making her ill now?

Not often I get a panicky gut feeling about something not being right with dd, and I don't want to over react given the time of year. Apologies for the length of my post.

Golf ball sized glands should not be ignored.

I'm not a medic by any means and am more of a wait and see parent, but in your shoes, I would be back at the GP tomorrow morning demanding urgent blood tests. Something is not right, and the bruising alongside her other symptoms sounds worrying.
You're not overreacting at all, so don't be fobbed off. Better safe than sorry

I would get in and ask for the test.

I'm surprised the GP was certain it was Glandular fever, as I understand it there are several similar illnesses that aren't and the blood test is the only definite way of telling.

The tummy ache could be that glands in her tummy are up too, which is a complication, but not a major one.

If she is deteriorating now then I would consider going to out of hours/A& E. The advantage of going to A&E is that they'll test the blood there and then, but the GP may need to send you to the hospital for bloods (not all GPs do children) and then you'll be waiting for the results. I wouldn't usually advise A&E but it sounds perhaps the better option.

It could be glandular fever, but I don't see why it would be causing balance issues etc. I also tend to bruise easily, but I don't recall any increase during glandular fever for me. perhaps if she's pale though, it is showing more than usual?

When I had glandular fever I followed quite a set pattern of hot/cold during the day. I was a student at the time.
I would wake about 9am feeling fine-even to the point of thinking I was totally better.
About midday I would fall asleep wherever I was.
When I woke I would have a high temperature and be very thirsty.
My temperature would continue to rise all evening.
I would go to bed early (about 8pm) and drink about 6 pints of water overnight. I had 6 pint cups and would line them all up on my bedside table which is how I knew how much I drank.

My glands were never really high up though. It hurt to turn my head, and I could feel them, but nothing like what you're saying, and I was considered fairly bad by the GP when I eventually went-which was well after the worst.

I would say though it took my 6 months to feel anything like okay again, and probably more like 2-3 years before I really got back to full strength. And some things (we're talking 20 years later) never returned to how they were: I need 8 hours of sleep at least, and if I lie down any time for more than a few minutes I will start going drowsy. If I'm at all ill, my glands still come up. So I would say don't mess around if there's a possibility, because I regret not taking it seriously and trying to continue now.

Thank you both

She slept through the night. She is complaining still this morning but is running around like there is nothing wrong. Gp is ringing me back and the Drs receptionist has booked her in for bloods today on the safe side

The glandular fever test isnt very accurate and notorious for false negatives.

When I had GF my spleen was very inflamed and I had to be very careful doing anything physical, so maybe get her to slow down ( if possible) running and falling could really damage her spleen.
Watch her urine too, mine was red!

definitely get the blood test and have full blood tests done as well as the GF to rule out anything and get him to examine her spleen if he hasn't.

i had a very good doctor at uni who was able to link a whole load of problems i'd had through my teens and early 20's to the fact i'd had GF in puberty and complications with it - not sure he'd have been able to do that if i hadn't had a proper dx. also part of the problem with mine was that my mother didn't believe in illness (not mine at least) so even with a dx i wasn't allowed the proper rest and complications were ignored - not saying you'd do that obviously but monitoring it and proper care is really important - more important than your gp being squeamish about doing blood tests on small children - it'd likely be the nurse who did that anyway.

most importantly of course you need to be sure it isn't something else.

good luck.

I've got her to settle on the sofa now, dp reading to her as I type. I've spoken to her df and he thankfully agrees that bloods need to be done even if just confirms gf. It's not often he agrees with me, he is very much wait and see.

Just dont accept that a negative means that its not glandular fever. The younger the child the less accurate it is and even ds teenage friend needed 3 tests before they got a positive.

Thank you bruffin, if it came back negative I certainly would be asking what it is then that is so like gf but isn't

Just spoken to gp and we are definitely taking her in this afternoon

Currently with dd at our local hospital on the kiddies ward. Saw a different Gp who wasn't happy with what she saw and sent us straight here

Well done for trusting your instinct. I hope they get her sorted quickly.

Hope she's okay, but I think you're in the right place. Hope all gets sorted quickly.

I defo feel like we are in the right place, she has now been admitted. They have been fantastic and taken everything I've said seriously. They believe it's a streptococcus (sp?) infection that is worsening because she has not been treated. Her lymph nodes in the throat are the size of a tangerine now. She is being scanned in the morning with the intention to surgically drain them tomorrow at some point. She also has a heart murmur they think as a result of the infection. I can't thank you enough for your support and advice

My goodness! Hope she is okay, so glad you went back to GP

Just seen your update, I was thinking of you earlier.

Scary as it may be, you're where you need to be right now. Glad your DD is being looked after properly and that your concerns are being addressed. Trusting your instincts was the right thing to do.
Hope you're both able to get some rest and answers

Hope she's getting better now.

How is she?

She was discharged yesterday with anti bs, but we are back in tomorrow. If the lymph node hasn't reduced its being drained tomorrow. Im very glad they let her come home and are giving her and the anti bs a chance to work, it's not changed yet but I'm hopeful it will

so glad you went back.

imho i would avoid ever seeing that first GP again and i would write a letter detailing exactly what happened, what was said, what symptoms your child was displaying etc to the practice manager to be sure they are aware.

Whoa! I read your initial post and thought, best get to the gps quick if not then to a and e.

I had glandular fever when I was young and it was no joke!

Glad to hear she is in the right place.

The 1st Dr we saw, Dr j (name change obviously), is currently the senior Dr, it's her practice, she was my named Dr for 15yrs. Despite not being convinced by her diagnosis I felt given her reputation I had no reason to not trust her, she is retiring within the next 2 weeks. The 2nd Dr, Dr l is now my named Dr, she is taking over the practice. I did say to dp maybe we should express our concern that dd was misdiagnosed but as she is retiring I'm not sure what it will achieve. I took a photo of dd's throat the day we went to see Dr j, if I've done it right hopefully it will show up. I did show this photo to the ent consultant and he could see why Dr j gave the diagnosis she did. I'm not in anyway defending her misjudgment, I wish I had pushed for bloods then to confirm it.

We spent most of yesterday back on the children's wards, various Drs having a look and feel. They now believe it to be a benign reactive lymph node (to be honest not really sure what that is as don't want to visit Dr Google), they have done further bloods as 'they want to rule out other possibilities', there was some concern over night sweats that she regularly has, to be fair to her, she has always sweated a lot at night, it hasn't ever concerned me. Plan is to wait for bloods to come back before deciding what to do next, should be back in 4 days. The lymph node has reduced slightly, but others have come up in her groin. I'm guessing it's normal given she is fighting infection, desperately hoping the antibiotics are working. The swelling in her face (which I admit I didn't even see on Tuesday) is reducing too.

Honestly can't thank you enough for telling me it was ok to trust my instincts on this one.

Thanks for updating here. I think that the trouble with any symptom is that doctors are always going to go for the obvious first.
They will get to the bottom of it, but their first possibility may not be the final outcome.
Meanwhile, you're doing your best, and have nothing to reproach yourself for.
Sending get well vibes

Thank you marrie

no worries just glad they're checking everything. i think bloods and swabs are important to back up assumptions personally. i'm not a regular doctor goer for my son (nearly 8) think he's been three times and each was something that did actually need treatment iyswim. little things i handle myself with common sense and home treatment as that is my nature and i also never want to be seen as that neurotic mum who came in for sniffles and that stand in the way of being taken seriously when i feel something is genuinely wrong.

i'm probably a little on the over cautious side after a friend was poo poo-ed and messed around and denied a blood test for her son for over a year and when she finally ended up in the equivalent of children's a&e one weekend by pure luck a children's oncologist happened to be looking around the waiting room and purely by sight pulled her son out for immediate examination as he could 'see' what he thought it was. he had leukemia was immediately admitted and treatment started and as soon as safe to be transferred traveled by specialist ambulance to one of the best hospitals in the country to deal with childhood leukemia. very advanced due to having been ignored so long he is still with us, thank god, and has finished the years of treatment required bless him.

sorry long post but yes - always go with your instincts and always see someone else the second time if you're not happy.