Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Really urgent - need advice and support re sick teenager....

38 replies

callmemadam · 31/12/2007 22:51

DS1 (16) was admitted to hospital today and I really need any calming words I cna find. He went down with a fever and severe chills on 18 Dec and 2 days later his neck swelled like a balloon on one side. He was given penicillen which reduced the swelling but he finished course on Sunday and this morning at 5 am he came to me with fevers, chills and a swelling neck again. Admitted today, and early tests show lymph gland infectivity, no pus in gland, probably not glanular fever, and bloodtests that doc won't discuss until tomorrow. He's on IV antibiotics, penicillin and something else. Has anyone else experienced this - both dh and I are catastrophising despite efforts not to panic so advice would be gratefully received. Thanks

OP posts:

orangehead · 31/12/2007 22:54

Soory no advice, but hope he is ok

SpawnChorus · 31/12/2007 22:54

I haven't experienced this, but wanted to send you some positive thoughts. Really hope he has a fast recovery. Could it be something like mumps?

Lotstodo · 01/01/2008 08:58

A work colleague's son had infected mumps and was very ill but recovered quickly once diagnosed and treated.

shrinkingsagpuss · 01/01/2008 08:59

Sorry, no advice, but and try not to worry about what you don't know.
Please update when you can, thinking about you lots.

flamingtoaster · 01/01/2008 09:22

Sorry no advice but I know how worrying it is waiting for hospital blood test results. Hope he is on the mend soon.

needmorecoffee · 01/01/2008 09:24

Mumps?

FuriousGeorge · 01/01/2008 10:06

This EXACT same thing went around reception at dd's school a month or two back.2 children were admitted to hospital out of 4 who got it.The teacher was off for 2 weeks with it & I caught a minor version & had to have antibiotics to shift it.It was determined to be a lymph gland infection & all affected recovered within 2 weeks.

I hope your son is feeling better soon.It is a really nasty bug.

suedonim · 01/01/2008 17:12

I hope ds is feeling better soon. Although his symptoms were nowhere near as dramatic as your ds's, when my ds1 had GF it took three tests before it showed up in his blood, so it may be worth asking for a GF re-test if they find nothing else.

Original poster

callmemadam · 01/01/2008 21:24

Hi all - thanks for concern - it really helps! So far he has white blood cells (good) and massivly enlarged hard glands (not good). They say he has lymphadenitis (sp?) as a result of infection but not sure where . Not mumps, and GF test not back yet. Was kissing in 6th form disco a while back though . Docs say they are hoping pus will form so they can lance and drain lymph nodes affected. Also discussed tubercular gland?????? Lymphoma not so likely now (I hope) but still very sick and throwing up when antibioitics go in. Also very uncharacteristically stroppy and unco-operative which is not helping much....

OP posts:

Original poster

callmemadam · 01/01/2008 21:28

Suedonim - what were symptoms of GF please? DS has had feverish bouts but temperature very low (sub 34 deg) and chills. Also antibiotics include one to kill fungal activity [puzzled emoticon].

I blardy HATE dcs being ill.....

OP posts:

suedonim · 01/01/2008 22:17

Oh, your poor boy. They kind of regress when they're ill, don't they, no matter how grown-up they seem. (Heaven knows, I regress when I'm ill and I'm 50-something! )

From what I recall of ds1, he had general malaise, a low-grade fever that came and went, a nasty throat that wouldn't go away and swollen glands, though not horrendously swollen. ISTR it was about three weeks before the tests showed positive for GF.

They may be giving your ds different kinds of a/b's to prevent secondary infections creeping in, which is always an issue when your body is low.

Winetimeisfinetime · 01/01/2008 22:33

My sister had a tubercular gland when she was about 9. She had to have it removed and then a course of steroids - she made a full recovery and is absolutely fine now at 37 with 2 dcs. Lots of best wishes to you and your ds and hope he's feeling better soon.

suedonim · 02/01/2008 16:26

How is he today, CMM?

Original poster

callmemadam · 02/01/2008 20:00

Well consultant did 3 needle biopsies on glands this morning but results not back yet, and then MRI scan which freaked him out a little. Glandular fever result came back negative but maybe sometimes that happens? I don't know. What is a tubercular gland BYW - v curious.

Just very stressed and trying not to be, and so is DH and most of all DS who is pretty switched on for 16. Am NOT Googling ANYTHING and am trying to stay very relaxed

OP posts:

suedonim · 02/01/2008 20:22

Oh crumbs, that's horrible to be left hanging. I hope you get a diagnosis of something v simple asap.

PaperChain · 02/01/2008 20:26

Is his neck totally swollen, or is it a swollen lump? (my ds had a lump in his neck a couple of years ago so I have some knowledge of that, but this may be totally different, for which I apologise in advance)

{{{{{{{{{{{{}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Original poster

callmemadam · 02/01/2008 21:44

Paperchain - it's a very swollen lump under and behind his left ear, which did extend to beyond his earlobe in width, but which has reduced with antibiotics slightly, but inside the lump are three very enlarged and hard glands (or lymph nodes, not sure if there is a difference). Please don't apologise - it's just nice to be able to talk it through

OP posts:

PaperChain · 03/01/2008 09:18

Sorry I wasnt here late last night. (I've got a small medical problem myself atm and it was troubling me last night).

Re your ds, it could be similar to what my ds had. He had a thyroglossal/branchial cleft duct cyst removed a couple of years ago. Thankfully it was benign, but it was very worrying at the time. It appeared along the line of the lymph glands in his neck/throat. The lump was successfully removed by surgery and despite occasional swellings of the lymph nodes now, we have had no more major problems with it.

Perhaps you could mention this to the docs? It might be a similar thing?

GOOD LUCK and do let me know how your ds is, as and when you can

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{}}}}}}}}}}}}}

PCx

Winetimeisfinetime · 03/01/2008 13:11

Callmemadam - as far as I remember my sister's tubercular gland symptoms were a lump in her neck { I think it was at the front } which didn't go away and was there for weeks. I don't think she felt really poorly with it but my mum took her to the docs on more than one occasion with it and was told it was due to a growth spurt. She eventually took her back when a locum was on duty and that gp sent my sister straight to hospital that day as she thought it was something serious. I'm not sure if it was before or after the gland was removed that TB was diagnosed but the doctors did struggle to diagnose it as TB was so rare then. She was lucky that it was caught just in time as the gland was very close to bursting when they removed it. It was a form of TB but I'm not too sure of whether her lungs were involved - she was on steroids for ages afterwards I remember and the family and her whole school were tested for TB. It was a bit of a mystery how she got it and I got the impression that it was something quite rare. She is absolutely fine now though and if your ds has something similar then thankfully at least he is now being investigated and not being left for weeks for it to get worse like my sister was. If you need any further info I will ask her or my mum about it.
Best wishes to you and your ds and I really hope he is sorted out and feeling better soon - please let us know how things are as I do keep thinking about him and wondering how he is.

Original poster

callmemadam · 03/01/2008 23:38

Hi again - thanks for responses - DS was called for full biopsy today after MRI scan yesterday. They say he has inflamed and necrotising lymph tissue all down the left side of his neck from ear to clavicle wrapped around the vein (or artery?) there. Surgeon today felt what he biopsied wasn't tumour so I am more hopeful, but still a mystery as to source and type of inflammation? Paperchain - hope your problem settles soon.

OP posts:

onebatmotherofgoditschilly · 04/01/2008 00:04

oh, callmemadam, you poor thing. Thinking of you, hope you get some sleep.

Original poster

callmemadam · 04/01/2008 19:04

Anyone with any other ideas would be great - and does anyone know about Glandular Fever and negative tests?

OP posts:

Wallace · 04/01/2008 19:19

Can't really help much but I did - probably - have glandular fever as a teenager, but tested negative. IIRC The doctors did say false negative tests are very common

sarahanna · 05/01/2008 13:26

re glandular fever
the most widely used screening test - the monospot - often gives false positives - in other words it is negative when they have the disease. but they will probably also have done serology tests (picking up antibodies) and these are much more sensitive tests and are rarely wrong.
it doesn't sound like GF as is only in one set of lymph nodes. it could be TB or other type of infection which will be treatable and i'm sure he will be fine.
i think the best thing is on monday to ask to speak to a senior doc (tell them how much they you are stressing out) - a registrar or a consultant and ask them to tell you their thought processes and explain everything. maybe write down the questions you have beforehand and remember there is no such thing as a stupid question!
i find often worrying about the possiblities is far worse than knowing the truth!
good luck and stay calm (difficult i know)
x

nightcat · 05/01/2008 15:59

could it be an old ear infection gone on for too long? or a rotting tooth? or infected sinuses gone wrong?

Flip

1 2