HELP please, NHS direct told me to take him to hospital??

[billiejo]

Hello, i've just taken my ds1 (2.9 years) to a soft play thing and whilst i was in the loo another boy pinned him down and bit him on the belly. I'm not sure whether it was on his skin or through his top but it did draw blood. i rang nhs helpline and they asked the boys ethnic background and when i told them (he was eastern european) they said i need to take him to hospital? it seems a bit over the top but naturally i'm now really worried. he had all his baby imms and mmr but not TB cause we didn't live in an area where it was routine when he was born. what do you think?

just go to the damn hospital

what are you doing on here?

I would go.

I think you're wasting time gathering opinions if NHS Direct say you should be getting to the hospital.

I'd just go to the GP if you are worried

a quick call to your gp surgery will be fine, wash the area copiously , try getting himin the shower to do this. if the skin was broken there is a minute chance of an infection being passed but if you go to a+e they will send you back to your gp ! i wouldn't want my child being coughed/spluttered/vomited on in a+e ! try not to worry , there really isn't anything hte hospital will do immediately .

I would just do as they say, to be honest once I ring them I just take their advice verbatim

a human bite that draws blood needs to be seen in a hospital, hopefully you are already on your way there.

Apparently the bacteria in a human bite are pretty much the worst you can get, so I would definitely go to hospital...

Please take your son to A&E, a human bite is far dirtier than dog bite. (Used to work in A&E and treate loads of them)

you are worried to call NHS and come on here, so just take him and let us know how he is.....

this falls right in the category of "my dc is running a fever of 41 should I be worried"

Touche Cappuccino!

Take him - lisalisa has just had a horrible time with an infected wound (though not a bite).

Don't you find that NHS direct say that all the time though? Much as I appreciate the service, I've never been told anything other than to go A&E or the GP.

Hope he's ok Billiejo.

yes Mercy - I agree with you. Besides, she sounded like she (billiejo) was more concerned/worried than anything else but I'm afraid, once they have given you that advice, it's better to follow it.

Btw, a very high temp on its own doesn't necessarily mean anything. It's more how ill the child is. I only found this out after poor dd had a 41C temp which basically turned out to be something very minor!

Hi billiejo

I too have found that nhs direct always say go to gp or a nd e.

....however in this case I think you should go asap and get your son checked out, if you are reluctant then call your gp or take him there. You don't want to be left with an if only...

What a horrible and stressful experience for you both. I really feel for you - do come back and let us know how you get on. I hope everything turn.

Best wishes.

they have never told me to go to a&e, so they dont just say it to everyone. hope your ds is ok

Message withdrawn

I suspect that NHS direct asked you to go to A+E because they were worried about the risk of HepB transmission. Hep B is much more common in Eastern Europe than it is in the UK and can be transmitted through a bite that has drawn blood.

poor little boy - what a horrible thing to happen. hope he's OK.

hello all, thanks for your replies, much appreciated. i did take ds to a&e and they dressed the wound and gave him a course of anti-biotics to fight any infection that may occur . they said that it was good that i took him as human saliva can carry some really nasty things "one down from a rat" is how they described it....nice!! they did say, however, that the risk of another child transmitting anything really serious with a bite was pretty miniscule, regardless of their background. so thanks again for all your help. if i may just say one thing though, as a mum in a real panic looking for some quick assurance from MN it's quite unhelpful and a little condescending to have posters/replies saying "what are you doing on here??" as i said, i was just looking for a bit of advice should anyone have been similar situation, cause that's what we're here for right?

Billiejo - I read your thread yesterday but didn't reply because I didn't know what to say - I'm always worried about my dds being bitten at creche, so was very interested to hear the outcome! I'm glad all is sorted out, and that a&e have reassured you.

I felt bad about some of the negative replies you got on here. It could have been that people were concerned you were being too laod back rather than looking for reassurance - but there is a way to say thing and then there's a way to say things!

I am so pleased everything has turned out for the best.

There should be at least some element of reassurance from NHS direct - don't you think?

Best wishes to you and your little one

glad everyuthing is ok.