When to worry

[physicskate]

I'm not a very instinctual parent. But I'm a bit worried.

Dd (2 years) had covid three weeks ago. High fever, pretty unwell for a couple days. Got really weak. But then got better.

Last week, she randomly vomited in the middle of the night on two nights in a row. But seemed fine other than that.

Then two days ago (Monday at 1am) she was sick again in bed and then started coughing. Monday developed high fever (40.3 with forehead scan type thermometer, so not 100% accurate). Gone off food. Over the day had four slices of toast. That's it. But seemed her normal self.

Yesterday, still high fever. Wouldn't really get off the couch much. Had two bowls of Rice Krispies all day. She let me give calpol which brought the fever down. But won't let me give her more and the fever came back (obvs).

Last night she coughed most of the night. She threw up a bit on her bed. She's still warm. But won't get out of bed.

She's drinking fine. Just laid/sleeping in her room. It's 9am. She usually wants to get up 6:45-7:15. She occasionally cries out for water or cuddles. I've refilled her water bottle in her cot twice since last night.

Spoke to gp yesterday who was very unconcerned. Said to keep doing the e to bigs we're doing.

So what do I do now???

Short version: three days of fever. Drinking ok. Not eating. Becoming less and less active.

Breathing seem ok? Any rash's?

I don't think you should overly worry but I'd
Ask the GP for a second opinion and write the sequence Of events down as when it's written like that it does seem
A bit strange.

The doctor will Have to act on a second opinion if it's been asked. You would be reasonable to ask for a second opinion I think - good luck

Breathing is fast. But she's not showing the 'struggling to breathe' signs like tummy being sucked in between ribs etc. I (I am sure inaccurately) counted 49 breaths in a minute yesterday. And 45 breaths in a different minute. So very fast.

Colouring is pretty normal (cheeks flushed and nose red, but her body is nice and normal).

No rashes.

And I only spoke to go over the phone because of the whole 'covid' thing. Gp agrees it's unlikely to be covid again after only three weeks.

That breathing is on the fast side. When my DD used to get a viral induced wheeze I was told by the GP that anything over 45 breaths per minute should be checked out by a doctor

They don't want to see her without a negative covid test. But because she had covid so recently, a positive result wouldn't mean she has covid (again) necessarily as it can be positive up to 90 days after infection... plus it was so so traumatic the last time she did one (20 mins of screaming, honestly thought I hadn't been able to get a sample of any kind).

I've just measured breathing again. Much better! Only 37 in a minute. Phew! But she still won't take calpol or get out of bed. Both are very weird for her!!

I think by even posting this, yes, I am worried??

I would listen to your gut op. If you don't think she's right, keep the right people informed of that.

I would call 111, say you are worried. They will go through her symptoms systematically with you and let you know what to watch out for as a sign things are getting worse.

How is she now?

We've been to a and e. They said she's borderline for admission, but we got some drugs in her that got her temp down. She slept on the bed pretty much the whole time we were there. But she fought us giving her medicine, which they said is a good sign.

Her blood oxygen saturation was slightly low (93) and her temp was really high (39.7) but we got those a bit better with some fever reducing meds (Brufen?). So that made them happy enough to send us home.

I'm to go back if we can't keep her temp down or if it doesn't go by Friday. I think I feel better knowing the 'threshold' for what to do next.

Me again!!!

Now she has a spot on her lip that doesn't blanch? Does this count as a non-blanching rash??

I’d call your GP again, it’s entirely possible she has something non-Covid now. Ask yourself if she’s getting better or worse? If worse or just the same after several days, I’d be seeking more help. She’s 2, kids can go downhill quickly

Went back to a and e. They checked her over. We're back home. They really reassured me that I'm not being hysterical. We all agreed she looks a little brighter today (despite day 4 of high fever).

Ugh. Calpol controlling the fever. But now my ds (4 months) has a slight temp and projectile vomited everywhere. Very noisy breathing too. Not 'worried'... yet... but we just can't seem to catch a break!!

There are some horrible viruses around at the moment. My DC is a bit younger than yours but has just had four days of fever (spiking temperatures of 39 and 40.3 at its worst), lethargic, completely off food, a random vomiting bout one evening, and Calpol/Nurofen barely controlling it. Sucking in breathing a bit and quite noisy.

I did take him to A&E one evening as I honestly thought it could be meningitis, but of course he made a Lazarus-like recovery on arrival. Another kid there had what seemed to be exactly the same thing and had been brought in by ambulance; parents told by paramedics there’s a virus doing the rounds that causes breathing difficulties and temperature spikes. Maybe the same thing?

Really hope they both feel better soon. After four days, mine suddenly turned a corner - and nobody else has caught it.

And now ds has croupy cough. Dd still not quite out of the woods. So yay, two poorly babies... again.

We've had pretty rotten luck since ds was born. Dd didn't even get a cold until she started nursery at 10 months, I think!!