DD (9) crying with back/stomach ache again :(

[StellaGibs]

I'm waiting on a call back from 111 currently. In October my DD (9) had COVID and two weeks later she started to get back pain and flank pain. She didn't have a temperature, the GP palpated her etc and they put it down to spinal inflammation caused by COVID. They sent her away with a prescription for ibuprofen (I rejected it but he insisted as she would need a lot). I rang back twice more because she was in pain but they kept telling me to wait and it got to Friday and they were still holding me off (the GP had rang the children's ward at the hospital to ask them, so was going off their advice). DD vomited and was crying on the floor in pain and her temperature had started to rise. I took her into children's A&E because by this point I was quite cross and worried so I wasn't thinking straight about ringing 111. They admitted her and took bloods etc and gave her antibiotics. She quickly seemed better after antibiotics so we got discharged. We found out later that there was bacteria in her sample that was cultured. Ultrasound found nothing.

In December this back ache started again. Writhing about in pain. GP gave precautionary antibiotics. There was protein in her wee so they sent it off to be cultured but it didnt grow anything.

January 19th she caught COVID again. On Friday she started again with this back pain but it wasn't so bad at first but got worse. I took in a sample on Monday morning but it was negative so they've not sent it for testing. However, they gave antibiotics and she's had 3 doses so far. Tonight she's writhing around with, crying, and this time she says its bad in her stomach too. She can't sit still, she's up and down, twisting around, crouching etc.

I've got in touch with 111 but I cant think what it could be? Any thoughts? An appendix wouldnt do this would it? I checked and there's no pattern to the timing as I thought it could be a build up to her starting her period or something.

I would ask if it could be an IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) too. Esp with the random fevers and pain.

Yes I will thank you. I'll wait for the urine culture first then start asking questions!

@StellaGibs

She's not had the vaccine, only her brother who has epilepsy is eligible. As Rain said, she doesn't qualify for it at the moment.

Abdominal migraine is interesting, I'll have more of a read now. I rang her dad and he's taken her to OOH for me (we are separated).

I had abdominal migraines in my younger years and teens. I would vomit, get quite hot, be in crippling pain and would lie in the foetal position. It radiated to my back and even hot water bottles didn't help. At around year 9 in high school they became normal head migraines x

It sounds kidney related, presents as back pain due to the location and explains the constant bacteria in urine, also explains the tummy ache as UTI/kidney infections are agonising. Infections would also cause the temperature.
I would push for an ultrasound on her kidneys and abdomen to find out what's going on.

I had a recurrent kidney infection for 8 weeks and was bedbound in complete agony so I sympathise. Your poor girl. Make sure she is drinking lots.

She hasn't had a temperature this time around or the time in December, only the first time in October and it took a while to show up.
The urine sample in December didn't grow anything when they cultured it which was confusing. We will see if this one does.

The GP yesterday said because they did an ultrasound in October that there's nothing further to investigate for children...

Also, considering all of the pain she was in when she was in hospital in October, she only had a CRP of 29. I'm finding this all very confusing.

My DS had the condition mentioned above (sorry can't quote) where his glands in his stomach were inflamed due to a virus (COVID). It was horrible to watch and we had to manage the pain until it went away. My sympathies go out to you, whatever it is, it's horrible to watch, especially when you don't know what it is. I hope you get answers soon.

Dd had similar and it was mesocenteic adenotis may be worth a google?

Kidney stones is my thoughts...mine were missed, needed two mris to detect with the dye etc...not ultrasound....I got very sick very fast with fever I'll never forget...infection also wasn't picked up in gp dip stick test, but did when sent to labs....totally unacceptable of gp to close case just because she's had ultrasound...they are so often missed...and so painful....keeping knocking on doors...keep her hydrated...you mentioned she's not eating much....you need to keep the kidneys flushed...good luck

CRP doesn't get very elevated with IBD. My daughter had back ache, spiking temps and diarrhea ( but some get constipation or a mixture) intermittently. She did lose weight and was pale and a couple of episodes of vomiting once.
Her CRP was only 17.

@StellaGibs how is she?

You must be so worried OP. How is your daughter doing?

Have you treated her for worms? Threadworms can cause stomach ache although rare also vomiting back ache flank pain and fever

Oh sorry, I didn't see this! She's still in pain but it is lessening. It's taking a bit longer for the antibiotics to work on the pain this time but she's stopped writhing around with it. She's been uncomfortable, moving positions and whatnot, but nothing like she was last night.

The problem today has been that along with reduced appetite she doesn't want to drink. She was like this in October too. She gets extremely panicky at the thought of anything medical happening to her so Ive had to explain to her that if she doesn't drink enough and gets worse that this is what will happen. I felt guilty as it scared her a bit but it's better than her deteriorating.

@StellaGibs That sounds so tough for your dd, sorry to hear she’s been so unwell. Covid does seem to trigger stomach problems in some kids, so it might be connected (equally it might be something else completely!)

It’s worth mentioning at every gp/hospital appointment that she’s had covid, and the problem started after having Covid, especially if they can’t find another cause. Ds has different problems caused by covid and our gp has been really on the ball since the start, which has really helped.

This article has a bit more on stomach problems in children after covid
www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/severe-gastrointestinal-symptoms-reported-in-kids

Long covid kids website has some case studies and good information about long covid, so it might help to see if anything matches up.
www.longcovidkids.org/

Like I said, it might be something completely unrelated to covid, but I think it can’t hurt to be aware just in case.

I hope your dd starts to feel better soon

I had an ultrasound scan for a UTI which wasn't getting better & it came back clear. Eventually, after having a CT scan I was diagnosed with pyelonephritis (kidney infection). My symptoms were different to your DD but my point is that an ultrasound scan doesn't always show up everything. I hope she's feeling better soon

If she's struggling with drinking then jelly, icelolllies and watermelon will get a lot of fluid into her without her feeling like she's having a drink.

I second what jimmyreckon said. Check her bottom with a flashlight after she's asleep for threadworms....it can definitely cause extreme discomfort in some children and the worms can spread to the vagina in girls.

Thanks. I will check tonight. The antibiotics have worked again and her symptoms dont fit so Im not convinced I'll find anything.