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Children's health

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Original poster

Am I right to wait until morning to take 2.5yo to the doctor? Please help.

81 replies

PetyrBaelish · 03/04/2017 21:36

My son is 2y6mos. He started to get unwell on Saturday night and he seems to have got progressively worse.
I have had a nasty chesty cough for the last 2 weeks and although I tried not to pass it on I assumed he caught it because on Saturday evening he started chesty coughing as well. He went to bed around 8 and woke me up at 12.30, crying. I went to him and he was very hot to touch so I gave him some Calpol and cold milk and he went back to sleep. The next morning he slept until after 9 (so 13ish hours, he normally has about 11) and woke up with a raspy voice but seemed alright in himself.
Yesterday:
He normally hardly ever naps any more, but about 3 hours after waking up he was rubbing his eyes and getting irritable. He refused any lunch, and was falling asleep by 1 so I put him in bed. I went in to check on him regularly, he kept waking up, crying and going back to sleep. He seemed hard to properly rouse and a bit confused. He was on and off very hot and when I took his temperature it fluctuated between 37.6 (ok) and 38.6 (not ok) with an under arm thermometer.
He slept the whole afternoon and night.
Today
He woke up a couple of times in the night and I got up with him at 4am, but all he wanted to do was flop and cuddle and wouldn't eat any breakfast. I could tell he couldn't stay awake and he was nodding off. I kept trying to tempt him with different food but he was really shaking his head and going "no" to even treat-type food. He fell asleep at 9am so again I put him in bed. When I heard him rousing at 2pm (he was asking for more milk) I got him up to give him a wash, brush his teeth and change his clothes. I was really worried that he hadn't eaten in 24 hours so I sat him on my lap and spoon fed him some soup and soldiers. I got up to wash up and he fell asleep at the table! I tried to get him interested in his toys but he lay down on the rug and went back to sleep. I could tell he was hot again so took his temperature, he was 38.1. Eventually I let him lie on the sofa and watch telly for a while, he dozed in and out. Near bed time I gave him some Calpol and made him some scrambled egg, but he took one look at it and threw up most of the soup he ate earlier. I gave him a quick shower and put him to bed again with water in a little sports bottle, he has been flat out since. My DP came back from work just as he was coming out of the shower and tried to play peepo with him under his towel, DS was smiling and playing along, holding the towel over his face about to pull it down to peepo but then suddenly fell asleep under the towel.

I am really worried that he was sick when his problem was so clearly respiratory before, could he have a virus that is spreading? I am taking him to the doctors tomorrow definitely (unless he wakes up with a dramatic improvement) but I am worried that it could be something like meningitis and that maybe I should contact out of hours or take him to the hospital? My DP thinks he just needs to sleep it off. I do have a habit of Googling things and getting a bit paranoid. He is sleeping soundly right now so part of me thinks he might have a point, the other part is thinking 'what if'.

Sorry if this is rambly, I am tired and worried.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

OpalIridescence · 03/04/2017 21:59

My daughter is prone to chest infections and vomits with them, doctors say it is due to coughing so much.
I would be a little concerned about the floppiness and temp. I can't remember the proper name but also look out for sucking in of the skin around ribs and collarbone as this indicates they are working too hard to breathe.

I would gently press you to call 111 and speak to someone rather than googling any thing. Hope he feels better soon.

Tigerstar123 · 03/04/2017 22:00

Someone else just x posted with tonsillitis symptoms too

NewPuppyMum · 03/04/2017 22:00

I really think he needs a doctor asap.

SheRaaarghPrincessOfPower · 03/04/2017 22:01

Pneumonia may be a possibility top (unlikely, but it's possible). Given the lethargy, history of cough etc. I think small ones can vomit with pneumonia as well.

Sweetpotatoaddict · 03/04/2017 22:01

Please contact 111 now, he needs assessment.

SheRaaarghPrincessOfPower · 03/04/2017 22:02

Yes, the sucking around the ribs and throat (sternal recession, tracheal tug) are signs of distress and he'd definitely need seeing if he has this as well.

dearmeee · 03/04/2017 22:03

Ring out of hours, even if it is nothing it will put your mind at ease

friskybivalves · 03/04/2017 22:03

Please take him in and preferably to a place with pediatric A&E. Floppiness and vomiting were symptoms my daughter had when she was developing sepsis. The hospital did a blood test and realised immediately she was fighting a major infection. I don't want to freak you out as it's very rare. Since then I have always taken rather than not if at all worried and every time the staff have told me I did the right thing.

ipswichwitch · 03/04/2017 22:04

I'd get him seen. DS2 has just had this vomiting bug that's been doing the rounds here, but I wasn't overly concerned as although he had a temp and wasn't eating well, he was drinking well and wasn't lethargic, just had an extra nap or two. As your DS hasn't been very lethargic and difficult to rouse, along with falling asleep at the table/ while playing a game I'd definitely want him looked at. He's been unwell for 2 weeks now, and if it was something straightforward I'd expect him to be improving by now.

Dontrocktheboat · 03/04/2017 22:04

I agree with newpuppy op, it is easy to throw suggested diagnoses around on the internet based on personal experience but if you are worried you need professional advice and to get him seem asap. I would be most worried about the drowsiness - yes children do 'sleep themselves well' but he has been unwell a few days and the being unrousable/ falling asleep during interactions would concern me.

GotToGetMyFingerOut · 03/04/2017 22:04

I'd call out of hours doctors or whatever the equivalent is where you live. He's not getting better if he is now being sick as well.

FuckYouAndDailyMailToo · 03/04/2017 22:05

If you think it's respiratory take him sooner rather than later. It could be lots of things. Does he have asthma? if you take him and it's nothing you'll be tired, if you wait until morning and it gets worse you'll feel terrible.

Original poster

PetyrBaelish · 03/04/2017 22:06

Okay, I will give them a call (I remember it took a long time to get through last time I did so I might be a while!)
He has had a lucky run of not being unwell for a while now (we have wondered if it has hit his immune system harder because of this), but no, he has had longer naps while ill before but being ill has never made him sleep anywhere near this much. He is sleeping like when he was a newborn!

OP posts:

greathat · 03/04/2017 22:07

If he sits upright does it look like his stomach is sucking in when he breathes. My DS has had pneumonia twice now and it sounds a bit like this. He's needed to be oxygen and antibiotics. RIng out of hours who will prob tell you to bring him in and check him over

Original poster

PetyrBaelish · 03/04/2017 22:07

He doesn't have asthma but his dad did when he was a boy.

OP posts:

MrsELM21 · 03/04/2017 22:08

Just adding to the list of people who agree that you need to do something now, let us know how you gets on and hope he's much better very soon

Original poster

PetyrBaelish · 03/04/2017 22:08

I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary with his stomach but will keep an eye on it when he's next awake.

OP posts:

FurryElephant · 03/04/2017 22:08

As a HCP I'd get an OOH appointment ASAP, if not children's A&E. Situations like this are exactly what the services are there for, it could be anything from a virus to being seriously unwell and its always best to find out which.

Sweetpotatoaddict · 03/04/2017 22:12

Op try and wake him just now, if you can't call 999.

DoItTooJulia · 03/04/2017 22:14

I'd take him now. He doesn't sound well and no dr minds seeing a poorly child.

I hope he's on the mend soon.

greathat · 03/04/2017 22:14

Oh and I almost didn't take my son in the first time coz by the time ooh called back he was asleep and in bed. They were pretty insistent they needed to see him - as soon as we got there they took one look at him and went "We don't want to scare you, but we are going to get some oxygen now and call and ambulance to transfer you to the hospital"

Haudyerwheesht · 03/04/2017 22:15

I'd absolutely get him seen because of the lethargy

yummycake123 · 03/04/2017 22:15

I would call 111 and ask for an assessment and maybe an out of hours appointment. Small children can get worse quickly, and he's been unwell since Saturday so I would want someone to check him.
Hope he gets well soon.

Wanderingbluebell · 03/04/2017 22:21

Hope you manage to get him seen soon, best to be on the safe side. Wishing him well

SheRaaarghPrincessOfPower · 03/04/2017 22:45

Can you wake him now and see how he is?

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