Anyone up? Worried about DS.

[ShowOfHands]

DS had a positive test a week ago. His main symptom was a very high temperature. He bounced back and for 6 days he has been fine if a little more tired than usual but nothing of note.

On Thursday night, exactly a week after the fever, he complained of a sore throat and yesterday it bothered him more and more and I could see it was swollen and had red spots. Overnight, he's got hotter and hotter and now has a clear fever, says his throat is incredibly painful and his breathing is shallower and a little faster. He can't open his mouth wide enough for me to see his throat properly but the tiny amount of the top of his mouth I can see is still very red and spotty.

I've been googling and know that a week in is often when it gets worse if it's going to. I don't know if this is to be expected and we are fine to watch and wait. I don't know if it's a secondary infection. I just don't know what to think or do.

So I'm watching him and posting here while I keep an eye on his symptoms. He's 9 and otherwise in good health.

I'm just not sure what to do.

I haven't given liquid ibuprofen/paracetamol for years (older DD takes tablets and DS is rarely ill). The one bottle of ibuprofen we have is 3 years out of date and I don't keep it in as we have a 24hr shop at the end of the road and I can't remember the last time we even needed it. I've already messaged a friend who is going to drop some in this morning.

And I wouldn't give both without medical advice anyway.

I know you can give both btw. I've been parenting a loooooong time but NICE guidelines are clear. You give paracetamol OR ibuprofen and if it doesn't work, swap to the other. If necessary and the child still isn't well, you seek professional advice before giving both.

Well why aren't you seeking medical help? What do people here know? Call 111.

@ShowOfHands

I know you can give both btw. I've been parenting a loooooong time but NICE guidelines are clear. You give paracetamol OR ibuprofen and if it doesn't work, swap to the other. If necessary and the child still isn't well, you seek professional advice before giving both.

I don’t understand why you are asking for help online then?

If you have been parents g for a long time and feel you don’t need advice, why didn’t you know to call your out of hours gp?

If you already know it all then why ask OP? And phone 111 FFS.

Because I wanted some company. Because if he didn't have Covid, I wouldn't be remotely worried and would assume it's just a virus and would happily watch and wait. Because this is all unprecedented. Because I didnt know if anybody else had had a child with Covid who developed new symptoms after a week.

I imagine OP is frightened so being a little more abrupt in her writing style.

Hope he’s feeling better soon 🌸

And I wasn't saying I know it all. I was explaining that I know about paracetamol/ibuprofen use in children. I know nothing about coronavirus.

@ShowOfHands

I know you can give both btw. I've been parenting a loooooong time but NICE guidelines are clear. You give paracetamol OR ibuprofen and if it doesn't work, swap to the other. If necessary and the child still isn't well, you seek professional advice before giving both.

Exactly as @Ideasplease322 has said.

You asked for advice and it's been an hour since the first response said to call 111 for medical advice.

I don't mean to be abrupt. I'm talking to friends about them delivering more meds, amending our online shop, watching DS, getting myself dressed and things together in case they want to see him.

I'm really not being abrupt.

I've called 111 and am awaiting a call back. I rang them over an hour ago after the first replies on here.

I hope you hear back soon OP .

@ShowOfHands I hope 111 call you back soon. It sounds like you've done all you can in the meantime, and absolutely the best thing that you can do is keep a close eye on DS.

FWIW I have and would give both paracetamol and ibuprofen together, (not at the exact same time but spaced at 2 hours). I appreciate I'm just a stranger on the internet though and you should do as you see fit.

I believe that the advice to not double up comes from the fact that if a child appears unwell enough to warrant both, then you really should be taking medical advice. I do feel that things are a little different atm though, and that medical advice is harder to reach quickly especially in person.

Hand holding. Be as abrupt as you like.

Thank you. He's asleep again after waking up for a drink. They should call back within 2hrs and friends are going to drop in ibuprofen and more paracetamol ASAP.

I feel like an utter pain. We are on day 24 of isolation. Theoretically, only 4 days to go. Our friends must be sick of us asking them for help with shopping and similar.

I’m sure your friends don’t mind, I know I wouldn’t. You poor thing, what a worry for you. I hope you’ve now heard back from 111, if you are not satisfied and are still worried then don’t hesitate to seek further help.

I hope your son has improved overnight. X

You absolutely can give paracetamol and ibuprofen together. But then there will be some hours where he's on no pain meds at all which is why they say to alternate them.

Poor kid.

Thank you.

He's really sleepy and even putting his favourite programme on hasn't helped. I was trying to keep him awake for the 111 questioning but he wasn't having any of it.

A paramedic phoned and then a GP. They've faxed a prescription for ABs to the pharmacy. I just need to sort out collection. We have more paracetamol and ibuprofen delivered by friends but the OOH GP recommended no ibuprofen for now as he hasn't eaten since 6pm last night and doesn't want food.

They won't see him in person and said even if they did they couldn't know if it's viral and Covid symptoms or a secondary strep infection so they'll just assume tonsillitis and treat accordingly.

Is it Christmas yet?

OP. Count his breaths over 1 minute, that will be very useful info for the doctors, also csn you feel hos pulse at his wrist. See if you can count his heart rate for 1 mon too. Both breaths per minute and heart beats per minute are the clearest indicator (that you can access right now) of if his body is starting to seriously struggle. If a friend can drop over a pluse oximeter, that would also give you very important info as well. Repeat your counts if you think he is getting worse and every 4 hours at most. Write hem down so you can see a trend over time.
Hope he is better this morning

It does sound like he’s got an infection, tonsillitis, probably due to immune system. Are the spots in back of mouth white, that’s usually a sign of infection. I would press for antibiotics when you get a call.

Sorry,, just seen they’ve given antibiotics. Try getting a double dose in first, that’s what they used to prescribe for when my son had tonsillitis. Hope he starts to feel better soon,

SeaToSki is right. Sore throat is one thing but shallow quickened breathing is another. Monitor breathing and heart rate and if you are concerned don‘t be fobbed off.

I hope the antibiotics help- if you can, contact the pharmacist and ask if you can give him a loading dose at first?
Also yes count and note the breaths per hour and his pulse and do again in 2 hours or every two hours to hopefully see him improve.

Oh and squeeze his finger at the nail and see if it goes white then red again quickly. (It will be red/pink then go white when you squeeze but should go back again quickly). If it stays white for any time that could indicate a lower oxygen concentration and I’d call 111 again. But hopefully this is a secondary tonsillitis and His symptoms are not related to covid.

Glad you’ve heard back. Start those AB’s as soon as you can. Did they say what to look out for and what to do if he doesn’t improve or gets worse?

I really feel for you, you must be at your wits end. X

The ibuprofen thing was disproven quite early on, it does sound tonsils to me too. Have you phoned 111.