Limp

[schoolmum11]

Hi all. My 3 (nearly 4) year old has had a limp since yesterday morning. It's not severe but u can see it. She can run and jump though. Should I get her seen?

Hi @schoolmum11 - is there a reason she would be limping? Such as an injury? I would get her seen if there isn’t a justifiable “reason” for the limp.

No injury. I just took her to the GP who checked her over and said she's presenting v normally in her hip movements etc but can see the v slight limp. She said to monitor

"reactive arthritis" / "irritable hip" is the commonest reason in this age group, sometimes triggered by a recent viral infection. Good you got her checked out, and you can go back if not improving as expected.

Thanks everyone. Really appreciate your replies.

Please keep a very close eye on her and if you're concerned, insist on a blood test. I'm not wanting to worry you unnecessarily but I know of a child who presented with a limp when he was diagnosed with leukaemia. Hopefully in your daughter's case it is nothing so serious but don't be fobbed off if you have any other worries.

I know through bitter personal experience that many GPs just don't listen to parents and patients.

Oh gosh 😢🥹

I've spent the last 17 years urging parents to follow their guy and to make a fuss if they need to. I very nearly lost my child to cancer through being fogged off numerous times by the GP who ignored all the signs and claimed he was a well child.

And now I have stage 3C cancer because yet again my GP wouldn't listen to me for 18 months. And I'm obviously an adult and thought I could advocate for myself but failed yet again.

@schoolmum11 Hopefully the limp will just go. I think the most common reason for a limp in kids is that they've hurt themselves, like a slight twisted ankle or whatever.

If she continues to limp and gets a high temperature with it she'll need to have bone infection ruled out which means seeing a doctor urgently.

And if she continues to limp for much longer I'd definitely go back to the GP to have her checked again just because young kids tend to bounce back very quickly to normal if it was an injury.

You did the right thing getting the GP to check. Return if it doesn't get better and ask the GP what the NICE guidelines are for further investigation.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/limp-in-children/

So she woke up at 3am with a high fever. Gave her nurofen. This morning her limp seems to have gone. So hopefully it's ok?