Very ill child can’t get test

[Nicedayforawedding]

Can’t get a test but ds has today developed cold symptoms, high temperature and sore throat

This evening he is confused, still high temp and rambling.Taken ages to get through to 111 and out of hours GP is ringing.

No tests available though!

That’s wrong if the teacher to think he’ll be back in school tomorrow, he needs a negative covid test or after 10days.

If you are at all concerned through the night I wouldn’t hesitate to go a&e or 999 if appropriate as I would if we weren’t in a pandemic. Remember you know your child, you know what’s normal and what’s not. Follow your gut instinct. Hope he has a comfortable night

@Nicedayforawedding

He picked up a bit during the day but then had periods of just having to lie down. The out of hours GP just advised to keep an eye on him and gave me things to look out for.

I’ve managed to book a home test first thing this morning to test for Covid-19. I tried many times before I got through.

He’s just woken up again drenched in sweat and rambling just like last night. He’s had ibuprofen before bed though so I thought he would be ok this evening.

It seems more than a normal cold but when I told school about it this morning the teacher said she hoped to see him back tomorrow. I was surprised she wasn’t concerned by the high temperature and tickly throat symptoms I have told her about. She said many of them have colds and are in school as usual.

I bet her head is overjoyed at that!

I would say A&E too OP. It might be Covid but it could be other things too that can’t wait - sepsis etc. Better safe than sorry.

Drenched in sweat and rambling! Op I'd get him to a and e!!

If not and his temp is still high strip and wrap him in a towel soaked in tepid water

This is no longer recommended for fevers. (see screen shot from NICE guidelines)

@ivegotthisyeah

I might be wrong but at the start of this I am sure we were told not to give ibrofuen just paracetamol- I may be wrong though hope he picks up soon

There was some discussion about it but there hasn't been any evidence that ibuprofen causes problems.

Fuck any test love, if your child is out of it and rambling he should be seen by a medical professional. Treat the child, forget the pandemic.

When you say rambling, do you mean that he has gone to bed and then suddenly wakes up confused and rambling?
This happens to my kids sometimes when they have fevers. But only after they have gone to sleep, they then wake up and it’s almost like they are in a dream. They often keep calling my name as if I am not there even though I am. And sometimes they say they see things that I don’t see. I then have to really wake them up, lights on, keep telling them I am here and they need to wake up. It can take a good 10 minutes though!
They have never just suddenly got confused while awake though, so that I can’t comment on.

Sorry, by that I mean we are all too willing to look to covid first, but all the other viruses, illness and diseases are out there. If your child is ill enough to not be with it they need to be seen and assessed by a doctor.

Personal experience - I was turned away by Gp's earlier in the year when unwell as I had a high temperature, obviously along with other symptoms, hence why I wanted advice. I was told to sit tight and ride it out. I ended up going to A&E and having emergency surgery as my appendix had ruptured. If I had left it another day god knows where I would be. Its been a rough recovery as it is.

Agree with @TheBabyAteMyBrain take him to be seen. Tests are all well and good if you’ve got a high temp but if he’s not lucid that’s a different matter. Better safe than sorry.

My 6 year old is always confused, rambling and not sure where she is/who I am if she gets a fever, regardless of day or night. It use to terrify me, but I know that she'll respond to Calpol and pick up within an hour. She'll go downhill again when it wears off though, so I wouldn't go to A&E...I'd say you know your child, what medicine they've had and the advice given by the GP earlier in the day, so follow that or phone 111 - hopeful their triage process will allow you to speak to a clinician.

Did you see the OOH GP or just have a phone consult?

I would be going to A&E tonight

To be very blunt, he is showing signs of sepsis. High temperature and confused. This can kill, please just take him to A&E. I really hope you're ok. www.nhs.uk/conditions/sepsis/

Any update OP?

@Nicedayforawedding

Hope your son is ok.

This is A&E territory - please go now op

Just seen this is a few days ago - really hope all ok now