What the heck is wrong with my 20-month-old?!

[snottagecheese]

So last Tuesday/Wednesday he had a very high temperature and what looked like a large mouth ulcer on the inside of the lip (though none in the mouth as far as I could tell - bit hard to persuade him to let me look!). By Thursday the temperature had gone and by Friday so had the ulcer, yet over the weekend and today he has been SO VERY GRUMPY.

Normally he's a sunny little thing, prone to crossness when prevented from eating scissors/climbing in the dishwasher/drawing over himself with felt-tip etc, but for the past week he has been cross and screamy over almost every little thing. I am at a total loss! (And rather at the end of my tether.) Plus he's waking a lot at night (also not really like him).

I've had a look (as much as I can) and I don't think it's teeth - he only has the last 4 molars to come and there's no sign of them, no swollen gums, etc (plus none of the usual teething signs - drooling, chewing fists, pulling ears and so on). His appetite is a bit diminished but he's still eating a fair bit - including crunchy stuff like toast and acidic stuff like mandarins, so I don't think his mouth can be sore.

Any ideas?!?! I'm trying to get a GP appointment but they have no slots for 6 days. TIA! xx

Is there a walk in centre you could take him to? Really he does need seeing by a GP. Make sure that the Doctor checks his ears and throat and take your red book

It'll just be a bug or a virus so I wouldn't worry too much- although I know it's hard when they're little.

Give him plenty of fluids and see how he is in a few days

You don't mention whether you are using calpol or similar, but please do. As pp said, I'd be checking his ears out. Your GP must have emergency slots for babies?

I agree that he should be seen by a GP in less than six days. Most GP's see young children as a priority. I'd insist. Or take him to a walk in centre if there is one near you. Or failing all that you could see a pharmacist at your local chemist and see if they can suggest anything. They're usually very helpful..

Thank you all, and sorry for apparently disappearing! It's hard to find time to log in with a screeching toddler clinging to your knees .

I've been alternating Calpol with Baby Nurofen, and did manage to speak to one of our local GPs yesterday, who said 'It's probably viral, he'll be fine in a couple of days'. Hmm. Though she also said they'd check his urine if I wanted, in case of an infection there. Trying to get a urine sample from a 20-month-old will be fun! However, he did seem much more himself yesterday evening and this morning, so fingers crossed he may be on the mend...