Can children get post-viral fatigue syndrome?

[TruthSweet]

DD2 (just turned 3y/o) had a tummy bug (sickness not t'other end) on 21st Nov. She then had a highish fever with hallucinations on Wed 24th and was diagnosed with chest infection as had blood oxy of 96% and lots of crackly chest sounds at local walk-in clinic. She was given amoxycillin anti-bs (then had loose stools which I know is normal).

By Friday she was going down hill and refusing to eat/drink. She started drifting in and out of consciousness/sleep and was delirious again so MIL took us to A&E. They said she was very dehydrated and prepped her for IV fluids, she then had a huge bf and perked up so when her blood sugar was done it was 6.

DD2 had a chest X-ray which was clear so no chest infection and a urine test was done as well so no bladder infection so were told it was a virus and to just wait it out.

DD2 is still sleepy - having naps when she hasn't had a nap in the day since 18m/o and going to bed really early all by herself (normal bed time is 6.30-7 been going up at 5ish). She's not eating anything apart from a bit of fruit (strawbs/grapes/pineapple) and the occasional bread/biscuit/crisps. She also keeps whining all the time about how tired she is, how much her legs hurt and how she can't walk very well because they hurt plus general whining about everything which is not like her as she very sunny natured normally.

Can young children get post-viral fatigue? I had this after having the flu one year and had no appetite, my joints hurt, I slept all the time and I had difficulty walking & sitting.

Any advice on what I should do or should I just wait it out (if so how long?)?

Just give her time to recover. It can take a couple of weeks. Give her paracetamol and ibuprofen and perhaps some vitamin c and zinc for her immune system. Make sure she sleeps when she feels the need to and don't pressurise her to be back on her feet again.

I had flu when I was 9 and I was very weak for about a month afterwards.

She's very little and has been really ill. I'd give her time to slowly recover, and take her back to the gp if you're concerned about her. At her age, she will probably just do what her body needs to get better (without the pressure of getting back to school/work that older people have).

DD3 is still feeling dodgy - I took her to the Dr before Xmas and she threw a temper tantrum whilst there so the Dr though I had took her there for stroppy behaviour [shocked]. Totally dismissed everything I said and said it was normal.

She has been having achy joints and had to have painkillers after a party recently because her joints hurt so much.

On Friday her leg gave out and she couldn't stand on it for ages - DH had to come and pick us up as we were 2 buses away from DD1's school and DD3 wouldn't have been able to make it.

I've got a Dr's appointment with another Dr - any suggestions what to ask?

Certainly they can get very tired post-virally....a while back they were all getting sent off to an Auntie in the country for a month of convalescence!

However, as she is still so worn out and out of sorts, and also joint pains etc, I would urge you to get a Full Blood count done at the GP's to rule out anaemia or anything more serious. Either your practice nurse will do it or your local hospital outpatients..make sure you get magic cream to put on first!

The trouble is (and not to worry you..) a lot of more serious paediatric problems present vaguely, so if you think things are not right, go back to your GP again and again and again..until you are sure they are taking your concerns seriously. Make sure you are weighing her accurately and regularly - every 2 weeks or so..if she's growing, its a reassuring sign.

Oops DD2 not DD3....DD2 is 3.2y/o

What should I ask for at the Drs? Apart from the FBC?

Thanks for your advice - it's easy to feel you are a neurotic mother (especially when you have PND like me) but when she has to crawl up the stairs to go to bed - that's just not right is it?

Oh she's not growing she's lost a lot of weight. Her clothes are loose on her - she was fairly chubby/well covered at 14.7kg & 100.5cm but now even skinny jeans flap about her legs and I have to cinch the waist in - I think she must be less than 14kg now but she won't get on the scales

I would say fbc is a good start..if she is going to have a needle stuck in her, they may want to do something called a CRP which is a chemical marker for something being inflammed/infected anywhere i.e. if it's high there may be something wrong somewhere..but its not v specific in terms of telling you what, if any disease it is.

Also v sorry for posting this on a saturday night when your GP will be shut tomorrow!

Have a look on the paedicatric health bit of nhs choices, online, see if there's anything that fits her symptoms.

hope that helps

also, if it is difficult for her to walk, does she have any marks on her leg/feet. Probably rare, but dd was on a ward were a little girl got admitted with cellulitis, poor girl couldn't stand on the leg and had odd reddish mark. Was treated with extremely strong and different types of anti-biotics and after several days she managed to slightly stand on her leg again and perked up considerably. Mind you, I am not a doctor and it may not be this at all. But I do think you should have it checked out, it is not normal IMO. If your doctor is not helpful take her to A&E, might be a hassle but it is well worth it if it needs treatment. GPs are not always that good at diagnosing and recognising when things are getting serious unfortunately (bitter experience).

No marks on her skin apart from the grazes and bruises from her legs giving way (not just friday but earlier in the week when crossing a road)- she is very very pale skinned at the mo and anything would be very noticeable.

Thank you for mentioning it though. There seems to be a family history of auto-immune illness that affect joints/nerves (too rare to mention here as it will trace back to the family) so I think I will have to mention these to the Dr when we go.

I think you should get her checked for arthritis. Hope it isn't though, or if it is, that it is just post-viral and clears up soon (very possible I think)

hi truthsweet, is she any better?
my dd7 had swine flu before xmas, she is still very emotional and clingy 1 month on. she is eating ok but gets very tired still.

is she still on abx cos they may make her feel sick

No she was only on a weeks course and that ended in November. They gave her an upset tum but that's it. DH had to carry her around tesco today as she got too tired walking to the store from the car park.

I would definately get her to dr's this week and try to get blood tests done...hope it all turns out OK

Have you looked at possible supplements for her??

I ask because I had very similar problems with my own DD after she had Pneumonia when aged 5, she just didn't pick up properly at all after the treatment, & her stomach was totally messed up from Anti B's etc......ended up on part time School & talk of Juvenile M.E, from Doctors as a result......pretty scary , as a sufferer myself it was the last thing I wanted to hear.

I used a lot of alternatives & supplements for my own problems but bar the gut flora powders (Viridian) I was at a bit of a loss as to what was safe for her, but after some research found out I could give her my SPIRULINA it was brilliant, after a week or 3 cut up tablets a day, she was almost back to normal, rosy cheeked & able to cope again with F/T School.

Might be worth you looking into....its a super food, so can't harm if you can get her to take it

I've ordered some multi-vits and omega 3 supplements (she has a multi-vit ordinarily but no omega 3). Not heard of spirulina as a supplement - I thought it was a food colouring!

She's fallen off the bed today and a few minutes later fell down the stairs (luckily we have a half landing so it wasn't a whole flight) and had to go on the school run in the pram as she was too tired/weak to walk. She's quite happily playing cooking now after her rest in the pram .

We went to the Drs yesterday who took us seriously. DD2 has got blood tests today for:-

Urea/electrolytes/creatinine
Glucose
Liver function
Bone profile
Thyroid function
Full blood count
ESR
LRP
Ferritin
Vitamin D level

and something that looks like Paul Burrell but I'm sure they aren't testing her to see if she's Princess Di's butler!

We've got EMLA cream to put on so hopefully she'll be ok and my mum's coming with us (have got DD3 who's 1y as well). The Dr said the test results will be back in 4-5 days so fingers crossed.

Thanks for everyone's support. I'm at such a loss as to what to do for her.

DD1 had very bad chicken pox when she was 3. The recovery took about 6 months, to have my normal jumpy smiling girl again. She had swollen nodes in her neck, some short burst of temperature randomly, and extreme tiredness. Docs couldn't find anything wrong with her.
I had to use the pram again even if she could run 20 min before that.
I hope there is nothing more serious. It is hard to wait for the results.
let her rest and use the pram again if you can put both on it. (do you have a sling/carrier for the little one?)
good luck

Yes, DD2 can run at times and others she can't even stand. It's really worrying but I'm glad to hear your little girl got better (even if it took 6m!).

I've got a ring sling for DD3 but she's getting bigger (though still a little bit at 9.4kg and 15m) and my backs killing me after the school run so it's not a permanent option really. I've started a thread on the Pushchair board to see what's the best/cheapest pram to get for the two of them so hopefully I can get something soonish.

DD2 is almost 1. 11 kg and 83 cm. I have an Ergo baby carrier (school run walking and pram unfreindly subway, so no other choice) and no back ache. can you borrow something similar?
ergo

She really needs to see GP, IMO

Should have said I have problems with my back rather than it's a bad sling. I had SPD and sciatica in pg which whilst it's better was caused by underlying wonkiness of my spine/twisted hips/different length legs so find carrying things difficult plus I have epilepsy so worry about baby in sling if I was to have a seizure whilst slinging her.

I'll ask around to see if anyone's got a spare double I can borrow - thanks for the idea!

The link here will give you more info on Spirulina..... www.resorthealth.com/herbs/spirulina.html

it has immune boosting qualities along with more easy digestible iron than livers, & LOTS more good stuff & is sometimes used in animal feed instead of anti B's....lots of research done on it (Russia I think) with excellent results, I use it myself & find it great stuff & my SIL uses it to help her B12 deficient (Pernicious) Aneamia, with great results ....its much better than the Vit supplements :) & natural too...& yes your right it can be a used as naturant colourant

Also, have you thought of getting a "Hippy Chic Hip Seat" .....when carrying your DCs it puts the baby/toddlers weight into your legs instead of your back....mine was a Godsend to my own back pain problems