Help me work out what's wrong with DD???

[Schulte]

I just had a call from nursery. DD2 is not herself. Won't eat, drink, only lies down and tries to go to sleep. She doesn't have a temperature. She has been unhappy and bad at eating and drinking all week but I put it down to teething. I don't think she's properly ill since she has no fever... but what on earth could be wrong with her?

Sorry, should have mentioned she's 13 months old.

Teething sounds like a good guess to me! Any tummy troubles at all? How's her sleeping been?

She sleeps fine at night, but wakes up early (5.30am) - but then she always has.

Tummy troubles may be a possibility as she's had trouble pooing - she strains but she did do a poo yesterday so don't think she's blocked up? How would I know?

Problems poong could be related to poor food and fluid intake. But those, in turn, could be caused by teething (does she have her molars yet?) or a sore throat or mouth. Worth checking for oral thrush as well.

Just a stab in the dark but is Chicken Pox doing the rounds by you, it is here. That can make them very off colour before the spots come out.

Has she recently had the MMR (not wishing to stir things up but DS1 was distinctly off-colour a week or so after his)?

Aha. Yes she had the MMR jab a week ago. I will have a look for thrush - she had that recently and was drooling a lot, which she isn't now. And yes two molars coming through this week. Is this the answer?

And can I just say I am so grateful for all of you coming on here and talking to me, it really helps

teething
forthcoming cold/virus/infection
vaccine
chickenpox

I wouldn't worry too much, just keep an eye on her. They don't want to eat when they are unwell, it's normal

I think you've got your answer DD was really unhappy when cutting her molars - just a grouchy bear until they finally came through! And if you couple molars with a possible mmr reaction, that'd be enough to put her off her usual sunny self for a week or two!

It's the MMR then. It made ds really grotty. All he wanted to do was sit on the settee and cuddle me and he isn't normally a cuddly child. Came on at just over a week after the jab and lasted two days.

This has lasted a bit more than two days unfortunately

Jeez, DD1 never suffered with anything - she just got on with getting her teeth, and having her jabs, never got any side effects and has always eaten like a horse!

Just goes to show that each child is different...

My doctor mentioned MMR side effects might kick in after a week or so - but it took someone else to ask me if he'd had it before I made the connection (he was constantly crying to be picked up about 9 days later).
Poor thing felt rotten I think.

they are more likely to react to subsequent injections, not the initial one, because their immune system recognises the vaccine from last time and tries to fight it (it's how immunity is built).

reactions to mmr can occur up to three weeks after injection, just because of the incubation times of the three components.

just keep an eye on her and give lots of cuddles!

Another vote for MMR- it can take 4-7 for the reaction to appear.

Well I thought I'd let you know what the answer was to DD2's unhappiness. Apparently she's had an ear infection but without getting even a hint of fever. The only reason we know is because her ear popped this afternoon and there was a nasty amount of yellow gunk coming out of it and stuck in her hair (sorry if TMI). Cue a trip to the out of hours doc, who confirmed ear infection but said the worst is over now the gunk has come out and there is not much we can do now, she'll just get better in the next couple of days.

She still won't eat anything but yoghurt though

Poor little thing - glad she's on the mend.
She might still be in pain, even though the infection is officially getting better; I can still remember how agonising ear infections were as I had a few when I was in primary school.
Not trying to make you feel guilty, but don't feel you have to hold back on the Calpol!
I think the red flag here was her age, but I'm actually normally very good at noticing ear infections irl!

I am surprised she wasn't given antibiotics actually. Just googling a bit as she cried a lot in pain this morning and it sounds like under the age of 2, abs are usually prescribed?

I'd probably go back and ask for them if it was me, purely because I know how painful it us - but you obviously do too, as you can see her crying.

Is there an out-of-hours service you could use? It's all very well gps being cautious about ABs, but a toddler shouldn't have to be crying in pain IMO.

< cat's bum mouth >

I cant believe the doc hasnt given any anti biotics. Get her checked out as untreated ear infections are not good for the hearing.

Thanks ladies, I went back to the GP this morning and she's on ABs now. And, I think I am getting an ear infection too now! Aaaargh.