Young child needed hospital for covid?

[Spacemonkey2016]

My 5yo DS has had cases in his school this week, but negative LFTs all week. My 1yo DD developed a very high fever yesterday (peaking at 40.5), and my DS a cough, so had PCRs this morning (awaiting results). My son's cough has worsened throughout the day to almost continuous, has developed a fever this evening and looks awful. I dug out my old Samsung phone to use the oximeter, first reading was 85 (which I am assuming and hoping was wrong!) And then got a couple of 92s half an hour later.

I am on the phone to 111, been on hold for over an hour currently. But I always thought covid was mild and straight forward for young kids. Has anyone else's 5 and unders needed medical attention for covid? (Which I am assuming this is). Am I overreacting? Don't want to drag poorly, sleepy DS out of bed into the cold if it's not necessary.

Call 999. Now. Please. My friends child was v v poorly with Covid (all recovered now but in hospital for 5 days).

Covid is not necessarily mild in children. 1000. Chn a month being hospitalised w Covid. Symptoms above are worrying. Please act on them. You are not overreacting.

If you think the oximeter is anywhere near accurate, please get immediate medical assistance.

It's a dangerous narrative that some people have been peddling, to try and say that kids are never ill from Covid.

Please call 999 now.

Your definitely not overreacting. What did 111 say? Hoping both of your DC’s are ok and that was a very wrong oximeter reading.

Most children have it mil, but not all. Please get medical attention, that sats seems so low.

I just got off the phone to 111 and they asked me to do a reading while on the phone, and it was 71! I did mine immediately after as that seemed bonkers and it was 98. Guy on the phone said he spoke to clinician who wasn't concerned by the readings, as on phones they're not 'medical devices' and if DS had seriously low oxygen levels he would be visibly gasping and struggling to breathe (which he isn't). Waiting for a call back from a doctor. Partner thinks I'm being silly and unfair not letting him sleep as I've never taken his oxygen levels before. But I didn't know about it before. I personally want to whisk him off to A & E just to get checked, but am still bfing 1yo DD with the 40 degree temp, and the only fluid she'll take when sick is boob, so my partner needs to go. But won't until 111 call back. DS is alert etc but I'm just so worried. Sounds melodramatic, but I feel trapped between looking after my DS and DD. Hate having to rely on others.

@Spacemonkey2016 please don't wait for 11 to call back if you are at all concerned. Sats that low are extremely concerning and it's just not true that your DS would be struggling for breath. You are his mum, go with your gut instinct.

If his O2 Sat's were really 71 he would probably be blue. Phone apps are not accurate.

Don't get hung up on whether it's Covid or not. My DC had a raging fever and awful cough last week. PCR negative for Covid. There's all sorts going round at the moment. If you are worried about their symptoms, no one will have a go at you for seeking urgent help.

It's very possible your getting low readings as his finger is quite small for the sensor on a phone. Is he OK otherwise?

I'd err on the side of caution OP. Hopefully he's fine, but as PP have said, 1,000 kids per month are hospitalised from covid.

I agree with Pokemon, it's better to be safe than sorry.

I would be more worried it’s RSV/bronchiolitis than COVID. The paediatric wards were always full of RSV kids pre COVID.

Phone monitors are not very accurate and even less so in children but it's hard now you've done it to ignore it!

I can’t get accurate readings on my actual oximeter for my dc. I wouldn’t trust a phone . However if you have any sense that something isn’t right I would still take him to a&e. Our local a&e have always said to me to bring them in if mum is concerned.

Don’t wait. You know your child.

If he needs to be seen then he needs to be seen. He sounds like he needs medical attention. How will you monitor it overnight?

I've never tried it but doing oximtetry using a phone doesn't sound like it's going to be very accurate. It's hard enough doing it on small children with a proper pulse oximeter.

Count breaths per minute and look for signs of sucking in at the throat or under the ribs. Either of those is enough for a 999 call. Paramedics have oximeters, nebulisers and oxygen on board. Don't be afraid to use them.

I thought the same about finger size, but it read my tiny DDs one okay. I have a huffy partner scrambling around for things, but they're off to A & E thank god. I am probably making a fuss of nothing, but every fibre in my body is almost urging me to get him seen, so I can't ignore it.

Thanks all for the hand holds.

I do think it’s rare for children so young to be seriously ill form covid though. I’ve not known any children under 6 to have any symptoms. I was last at my local children’s a&e in September and they said they hadn’t seen a single child ill with covid the whole pandemic so far.

Glad he will be seen op. Always better to be safe with young dc.

One child at Ds school aged 7 was seriously ill in hospital with Covid for 4 days. He’s fine now but needed oxygen and steroids. Don’t delay if you’re concerned. I’d ring 999.

I would defo go to a&e in that situation.

Hoping all is well

Sorry cross posted. Glad you’re getting help.

TBHBI'd be worried about your DD too - thats a very high temperature. Have you given any Calpol or Infant Nurofen? Has the temp come down?