Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

4 year old very pale and tired after 'viral infection'???

19 replies

rose9826 · 24/04/2024 20:23

Me again. Someone please answer ASAP.
My 4 year old still isn't himself with this mysterious viral infection he has that has no symptoms except a slight cough.
We were back at the doctors yesterday because I couldn't stop worrying and she said the same thing as urgent care, they couldn't see anything wrong or specific so must be viral.
But my problem is we are at the end of day 4 now and he's so pale and tired. He's up and down all day, he'll get a burst of energy and play for a bit and then crash, he still doesn't really have an appetite, I'm getting as much juice in him as I can too.
Has anyone else's child had this where they've turned pale and tired and what was it? Did it go away or did you have to have treatment? I'm worried it's anemia or something bad like that, I have booked a blood test but the earliest date was the 25th June.
And I'm also confused because the NHS website it says if your child is pale then to call 999? Should I be doing that?
He is eating and drinking just not as much, he's not bouncing off the walls like he normally is but is playing, but he is definitely quite tired. He's sparko in bed right now, but that's another thing, he's struggling to sleep which he never has done, he keeps waking up in the night and taking ages to fall back asleep.
What should I do?
Like I said in my previous post I have severe health anxiety and it's really really bad this time, I cannot stop worrying.

OP posts:
Eve · 24/04/2024 20:24

I always found Minadex a good pick me up for mine after illness.

SunbathingDragon · 24/04/2024 20:28

Not what you want to hear but it does sound viral. You say there aren’t any symptoms but then go on to list loads: pale, tired, decreased appetite, struggling to sleep.

Blood tests can be quite traumatic for children. If you just take him, at the very least please get some numbing cream and make sure there are play therapists there.

Likemyjealouseel · 24/04/2024 20:30

I wonder if it might have been whooping cough. My son just had it, and because he was vaccinated, the cough wasn’t very strong, but he was ill (no appetite, listless, napping) for a couple of weeks.

Caffeineneedednow · 24/04/2024 20:32

Both mine have had a horrible bug the last couple of weeks ( now me and DP have it 🤦‍♀️) It has taken them a good 9-10 days to return to normal. They had fevers that lasted a week and docs said similar but if it's only been 4 days I wouldn't worry too much. Along as they are drinking fluid let them chill , there has been excessive peppa pig in my house over the last couple weeks 🤣

VivaVivaa · 24/04/2024 20:33

To confirm, he’s been sick for 4 days?

rose9826 · 24/04/2024 20:34

SunbathingDragon · 24/04/2024 20:28

Not what you want to hear but it does sound viral. You say there aren’t any symptoms but then go on to list loads: pale, tired, decreased appetite, struggling to sleep.

Blood tests can be quite traumatic for children. If you just take him, at the very least please get some numbing cream and make sure there are play therapists there.

Hi it actually is what I want to hear, I'm just in need of some reassurance is all, and I thought with viral infections the symptoms had to be stuff like coughing, snotty nose, fever etc which he has none of, he just has paleness, tiredness, struggling to sleep etc as you said, which I thought meant there was something much more serious.
And also I'm not 100% going to take him to the blood test, I just booked it just incase he doesn't improve as there was such a long wait list, I don't want to put him through that but I would definitely like answers if this tiredness and pale skin doesn't get better.

OP posts:
Mumoftwo2022 · 24/04/2024 20:34

Think you need not to be worrying so much for a 4 day illness with no temperature. Also I wouldn’t be putting my child through a blood test for this . You are letting your anxiety affect your child

rose9826 · 24/04/2024 20:35

VivaVivaa · 24/04/2024 20:33

To confirm, he’s been sick for 4 days?

Yes it started on Sunday, he was very quiet, tired, sad and trembling, so I called 111 and they asked me to come in to out of hours go at urgent care.

OP posts:
rose9826 · 24/04/2024 20:36

Caffeineneedednow · 24/04/2024 20:32

Both mine have had a horrible bug the last couple of weeks ( now me and DP have it 🤦‍♀️) It has taken them a good 9-10 days to return to normal. They had fevers that lasted a week and docs said similar but if it's only been 4 days I wouldn't worry too much. Along as they are drinking fluid let them chill , there has been excessive peppa pig in my house over the last couple weeks 🤣

Thank you for the kind comment, this does make me feel slightly better. I know viruses can take a while to go but I'm just so scared because he looks physically poorly and is just not my normal crazy irritating boy.

OP posts:
VivaVivaa · 24/04/2024 20:38

If it’s only been 4 days then I think it’s reasonable to see how he goes. If this had been going on for weeks then maybe it’d be more concerning but being under the weather for less than a week with a cough, reduced appetite and tiredness is most likely to be a viral infection, by a very large margin.

rose9826 · 24/04/2024 20:39

Likemyjealouseel · 24/04/2024 20:30

I wonder if it might have been whooping cough. My son just had it, and because he was vaccinated, the cough wasn’t very strong, but he was ill (no appetite, listless, napping) for a couple of weeks.

This is interesting I didn't think about this. Did you get it diagnosed? The cough is so occasional that it's hardly even a symptom really but if he does cough it's quite dry.

OP posts:
Temporaryname158 · 24/04/2024 20:40

It’s day 4 and he has a cough and is pale.

this is totally normal run of the mill childhood virus and you need to dial back your anxiety as this is a totally normal experience.

i say this kindly but you need to get some treatment for this anxiety if you haven’t already as you have been to the GO and the health centre in 4 days. This is a waste of precious resource where people really in need with genuinely sick children could have used those appointments

tarheelbaby · 24/04/2024 20:41

Any 'bug' or 'virus' can be a real knock to a body's system. Your LO needs building up to recover. If he's not his normal self, he needs feeding up, building up and rest: lots of good 'mummying' to recharge his batteries. So extra rations and less PT. I hope you all feel better soon.

rose9826 · 24/04/2024 20:42

Temporaryname158 · 24/04/2024 20:40

It’s day 4 and he has a cough and is pale.

this is totally normal run of the mill childhood virus and you need to dial back your anxiety as this is a totally normal experience.

i say this kindly but you need to get some treatment for this anxiety if you haven’t already as you have been to the GO and the health centre in 4 days. This is a waste of precious resource where people really in need with genuinely sick children could have used those appointments

I understand, thank you. I am in the process of getting some therapy for my anxiety

OP posts:
Likemyjealouseel · 24/04/2024 20:48

rose9826 · 24/04/2024 20:39

This is interesting I didn't think about this. Did you get it diagnosed? The cough is so occasional that it's hardly even a symptom really but if he does cough it's quite dry.

No, we missed the window where it would have been useful as we assumed it was his asthma but in retrospect he had all the symptoms and other kids in his class were diagnosed at the same time.

BigBadBarri · 24/04/2024 20:50

Sounds like a totally normal childhood virus. Hope he feels better soon and glad you’re getting some help for your anxiety

Flowersfield · 24/04/2024 20:52

We had a very similar virus in our household and honestly it completely knocked us. It took us well over a week just to start to feel a little better. Plenty of fluids and rest.

KC1234 · 24/04/2024 21:28

Hi, I really empathise with you as I struggle terribly with health anxiety over my daughter. It’s an awful way to feel!!
my little girl is always extremely pale when she has a virus. Like you mentioned I also worried about anemia but this was ruled out for her luckily. If you do attend the blood test I’d also recommend the numbing cream. They used it on my daughter’s hand, left it for a good hour and she really didn’t feel the needle. Good luck x

DrJoanAllenby · 24/04/2024 21:54

Is the inner rim of his eyes very pale almost white?

That indicates a lack of iron which can happen after a child or adult has had a viral infection and makes you feel absolutely wiped out.

Floradix for children is an excellent tonic.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread