Can the doctor really not do anything for the 'flu in a 4 year old?

[NatalieJane]

DS has been really poorly since Sunday with what I think is 'flu, he literally hasn't been off the sofa since Sunday night, he has all the cold type symptoms, belly ache, head ahce, ear ache, back ache, hip ache, everything ache....! Really bad hacking cough that is only seeming to get worse (he can barely talk with out setting another bout off), and a high temp, I've been dosing out the calpol and cough mixture since Sunday, he has had nothing to eat since then, but I have been pouring sweetened fruit juice down him like there is no tomorrow.

I haven't taken him to the doctors because I don't think there is anything they can/will do, and to take him out when he is as poorly as he is seems really unfair, but is there anything they can do? Or that I can do from home anyway?

Thanks

The doctor is more than likely to advise what you are already doing. Antibiotics don't work in colds/flu.

Offer fluids, even soup, to get something in to him!

Hope he feels better soon. My dd has tonsillitus & is very much the same at the mo!

If it really is the flu then no there isn't anything really. Antibiotics wouldn't work. The best thing is to give him paracetamol and brufen to ease his symptoms. It might be worth taking him along all the same though and getting him checked out, let the doc listen to his chest and rule out anything other than the flu. Would aslo reassure you - always good to hear you are doing the right thing! Hope he gets better soon

Thanks, I didn't think there was much I could do, clutching at straws a bit really as I am 39+ weeks pregnant and I really don't want to bring a newborn into this!

I hope your DD gets better soon, it is awful when they are ill.

If you're only giving him calpol then do give him ibuprofen as well, NJ - it is allowed and makes a huge difference when they're this ill. They can have calpol 4-hrly and ibuprofen 6-hrly, so you have to watch the clock and stagger the doses, but it really does help - that plus rest and fluids is all you can do.

OTOH if the cough is still bad after a week do take him to the GP because it could have turned into a chest infection, which can be treated.

Hope he feels better soon, poor love.

Flu' is horrible, but tends to be over much quicker (3 - 4 days) than a common cold, which can hang about for weeks. I would say if your DS doesn't start showing signs of getting better by Friday, I would take him to the doctors. It could be that he has developed a chest infection (hence the hacking cough) due to being run down with the flu'.

X post with JanH re: chest infection!

Thanks everyone, I will get DH to pick some ibuprofen up on his way home (is that the calprofen or whatever it is called?) and if no change by tomorrow I'll get him down to the doctors.

The poor little thing, all he has wanted all week is to go to school.

Yes calprofen or nurofen for children - samething - hope he is better soon

A virus has to run its course.

Giving anti-biotics REALLY not a good idea at all.

DD1 just saw the doc today to rule out bacterial infection.

It just has to run its course.

Lots of fluids, paracetamol and ibuprofen, and rest.

Hope he feels better soon!

DD1 is on her 3rd day of it.

Thanks again

It's so hard when they're ill, NJ! I know.

Try to sleep when he sleeps.

Also, don't forget ice lollies! A good way to get fluid into him AND help his temp.

OMG, Nellie!!! I was thinking of you the other day, Jen turned up on a thread out of no where and now you do the same - how strange?

I am due on Wednesday, but things look like they might be moving already, don't know if I want the baby out more than I want him to stay in till DS is better!

Hope everything is OK with you?

Expat, I'm not sure I even remember what sleep is anymore, I have had an hours worth of dozing on and off yesterday morning since Sunday, I'm getting more and more zombie like by the second! DS has been sucking just plain ice cubes, I offered lollies for the extra sugar but he didn't want them - first time for everything!