Should I be worried about meningitis? HELP!

[Arlo16]

I have done the forbidden and web MD my toddlers symptoms and I now terrified!

Could it be early signs of meningitis?

Last Monday my toddler starting feeling unwell,
Tuesday she was irritable and feverish.
Wednesday he started projectile vomiting and extreme shivering,
Thursday extreme shivering temperature, drowsiness and unwilling to wake up, Friday temp started to subside ( I thought he was improving.
Saturday high pitched screaming and irritable,
Sunday irritable unable to cool down, off food, grunting whining ( which is out of character) Sunday tea time after waking from his nap he was high pitching screaming (pain) not wanting his legs to be touched and not wanting to be held, he was like this for over an hour,
This morning he did the same for around 45 minutes, the. Seemed fine until after teatime when it started against for well over an hour, not wanting to be held like he's in pain.

I just being an overcautious first time mum?

Have you seen the gp?

I'm going to ring them in the morning, I'm just freaking out, trying not to worry my other half.

To be honest I think you should have seen a doctor on Thursday. If you haven't, I'd ring 111 and ask what they recommend!

That sounds like a sick child who has been ill now for over a week, so you need proper medical advice, and no healthcare professional will in anyway begrudge you seeking that. You're not at all being overcautious.

Last week I just assumed it was another viral infections he has had 5 already this year. It wasn't until all this screaming and not wanting to be touched started that concern arose. Put him to bed and googled symptoms

Obviously I'm unable to diagnose on the internet as is anyone else, but I would expect meningitis to be really unlikely at this point as that tends to get bad very very quickly (as in potentially fine to unconscious in hours). I'd still ring 111 though as they may recommend seeing the out of hours gp, which would put your mind at rest

Ring 111.

How is he now? Is he asleep? If I were you, I would call 111 and get their advice.

You're worried, so I would definitely ring 111 in your shoes.

Thanks I will ring them, i rang at the beginning of the year when his temp hit 40 degrees, they sent me to hospital with him, turned out tone a viral infection, I was made to feel like I was just being overcautious, so it puts you off. Thanks for the help.

It's probably just a viral infection like the flu but take her to the the GP and get her checked out also dose her up on Calpol.

It's so, so much better to be made to feel like you're being over cautious than get a poorly child looked at too late! You're clearly worried or wouldn't have posted to MN, and that's what 111 is for

Quick test for meningitis is to get them to kiss their knee. If they can then they can flex their neck enough that it probably isn't meningitis.

However always get it checked if you're unsure-and remember the rash is a later symptom and doesn't always appear. Don't leave it until a rash comes if you're unhappy.

I've been to the doctors and got completely fobbed off, I'm so mad and upset, they didn't check his legs bum or hips. And just said it'll probably be a bit of left over earache from a viral infection. I am so mad, he didn't listen to how he's been not wanting to be touched.

Hey have been reading this conversation. That's awful. I have felt like this with some GPS. Maybe write an email of complaint? Is lo OK now? Xx

Don't want to worry you OP but Ask for a second opinion. When I was 6 my mum took me to the GP and he sent me home with some Calpol and said I had a throat infection.

My mum mulled it over for an hour, took me back and demanded a second opinion. Second GP looked at me for about half a second and rang an ambulance. I had meningococcal septicaemia and the consultant at the hospital told my mum that if she hadn't taken me back again I wouldn't have been around the next day.

Doctors make mistakes. I'm not saying that your son is severely ill, I'm saying go with your instincts and if your not happy then don't accept being fobbed off.

It is usually worth following your instincts regarding your own child.
Generally speaking GPs are very used to seeing small children with temperatures and look at a number of parameters to assess how sick they are... saying that mistakes are occasionally made and if your fears haven't been allayed go back.
Just to add ; if a doctor diagnoses a viral illness it doesn't mean that it is assumed to be less serious than a bacterial illness it just means that there is no specific ( usually) treatment i.e. Antibiotics. Viruses can be very serious and sometimes life threatening eg flu/ measles/ hepatitis/viral meningitis etc etc ... it is a question of language .