How would you decide if your 3 year olds stomach bug was okay to be treated at home, or if you need to get him seen

[Overrun]

I find it hard to make these kind of decisions. Sometimes I think I worry too much and get them seen unnecesscarily and then other times perhaps because last time I took them I was told I needn't have, I hang back iyswim

I have been on line and its inconclusive so can I share his symptoms with you, and ask your advice please.

On thursday night when we checked on him at bed time, he had been copiously sick all over his bed and his floor. We had him in with us on a make shift bed and he was sick again. He also had very loose bowel movement.
On friday he was very pale and just slept all day, and was sick once. Not interested in food at all. He drank but not as much as I would have liked. High temp too
Saturday, still very pale, and he slept all day apart from 10 minutes here and there where he sat dociley looking zonked. In the afternoon he had two really bad offensive poohs pretty much diarrohea but not at the watery stage. Doesn't complain about this just lies there. He did ask to eat at one point and we gave him a slice of bread and he had a few mouthfuls of banana. Still high temp.
Sunday morning: He is still sleeping all the time, very pale. He asked for breakfast though, which we took to be a sign of recovery. Has been drinking but not as much as we want. But then he is asleep all the time.
Mid morning he was tucked up in a makeshift bed on the sofa, and I came in to find him on the floor asleep. He had had the worst diarrehea ever. Soaked through nappy, pjs, duvet,pooled on the floor, all over the sofa.
He has had drink and a bath and is now asleep again. No temp today.

Do you think he is getting better or worse? Do you think I should get him seen by out of hours dr? His lips are dry but not cracked, if you pinch his skin it bounces back. So no signs of dehydration there.
But all this sleeping, is it just because the virus has knocked him out, or it can be a sign of dehydration.

So I am undecided and worried

I'd ring nhs direct and seek advice - they may or may not arrange for you to see the out of hours docs but at least you will feel as if you are doing something useful. It is horrible when they are so lethargic and you feel sooo sorry for them.

Poor you and ds. It sounds a nasty bug. If he is drinking and keeping it down, this is positive. Can you give him Dioralyte? I think I would call the doc just to be on the safe side. Hope he feels better soon. (I think there have been a few others on here with v similar symptoms (inc the lethargy), so it's obviously doing the rounds and pretty nasty).

Thanks for your input Seona. The reason why I don't ring Nhs direct any more is that I find that they always tell you get them seen. And then you take said child to A&E or out of hours and they give you a telling off.
I am not so much worried about that, but keen to not waste their time, when they are so stretched.

thanksbigwombat, if that is the case, then maybe I will just hold tight until tomorrow. Then I can take him to our gp

Does his breath smell of anything? Pear drops or acetone?

How old is he?

If he is keeping small amounts of fluids down that is positive.

oh darling, that poor boy! I agree with bigwombat.. however, listen to your instincts and if for any reason you think you should take him in to be seen the do it and don't worry that "they" might think you're being silly.

It's good that he's wanting to eat and yes it's likely that the v&d are making him want to sleep. Glad the temperature is gone.

Sounds like the virus is working its way down his system if he's not being sick any more, but profuse diarrhoea is v unpleasant, poor man.

I'd ring the dr for some reassurance I think.

I found you overrun - If I rang our GP surgery now the phone would go to answerphone and then give the emergency number for 'out of hours' doctor.

If yours is the same why dont you ring the emergency doctor and ask for his advice over the telephone.

Im not that much of a fan of NHS direct either.

I will check his breath. When he is asleep, he doesn't move at all, and his eyes are almost not quite closed, and it is a very deep sleep where he doesn't respond to any noise around him.
I guess sleep is the best thing for him. I am going to get some lemonade and make it go flat and put some sugar in it, as I think thats what they recommend.
Thanks again

That's the trouble with NHS Direct though isn't it, they just tell you to visit GP or refer you to out of hours doc who just tells you to visit GP . I think someone on the other thread recommended drinking sugar water as it is easier to keep down or Lucozade drinks - also to keep on trying to give more drink at every opportunity, even just little sips. It's so worrying isn't it? Perhaps still give out-of-hours GP a ring if he doesn't perk up soon

marmadukescarlet - his breath smells slightly sweet, but I couldn't say oh yes that smells like pears. He is 3 by the way but quite small for his age.

Why did you ask about the his breath smelling btw?

I was only in this do I or dont I situation the other week, my lesson learnt is its better to get the, you brought him in for no reason look, than the why have you left it for so long look.
Infact dont worry about the look at all and go with your gut felling, just for your peice of mind.

Our friend's daughter (4yrs) vomitted on Tuesday and again the next day and then didn't eat until Friday and a better amount on Saturday. Several kids in her school had the same. She did not have a fever. Our toddler threw up on Friday a.m. and has had a fever on and off. Didn't want to eat yesterday except a nibble here and there; gets excited for her favourite foods and then takes a bite and then not much more. Ate a little more today but sleeps more than usual. Called our GP and was given the number for...perhaps emergency on the answering machine. Got a lady to ask few questions and then a nurse called us back quickly. She asked a lot of questions and then suggested that we just continue to give her fluids...even a little but often...and give her calpol and watch to see that nothing gets worse, etc.. I found the call very helpful; I'm guessing it was NHS Direct? First time!

Marmaduke -- I'm also wondering why you ask about the sweet smell?

HTH.

My Ds is 3.5 and small too (16kg)

If their breath smells of PEAR DROPS it can indicate they are entering keytone acidosis. Basically if you are not getting enough energy input (calories) in your body your body starts to reabsorb fat deposits. It goes into a 'fast burn' mode which produces the by product of keytones on the breath and urine.

(Do you know anyone that has lost a lot of weight on Atkins diet? It is the same chemistry, their breath smells too)

My DS enters this state VERY quickly as he has a glucose metabolisation problem caused by a rare gentic condition. So his reaction is quite extreme.

Before we knew he had this he had D&V (rotorvirus) but nothing to major, but after 8 hours he couldn't sit up. I called the out of hours service and I spoke to a GP who said he wouldn't even consider coming out unless DS had been V for 24+ hours (he was 18 mths at the time) Dr was quite unhelpful. After 24 hours DS was unconscious and admitted into hosp for IV glucose/rehydration.

I didn't know about the pear drop breath thing before, it also happens to diabetics when going into Hypo.

Once they get into this state it can be hard (imposs for my DS) to 'pull out of it' because generally they will vom up the slightest amount of fluid.

If this does happen putting a spoon of sugar or glucose in their water can help.

Thanks marmadukescarlet for explaining. I will bear that in mind. Thanks also to tstar and Tricey.

Since I last posted he has had diarrohea 3 times and been slightly sick once. Which is very worrying. However, he has also had his longest period of being alert, talking a bit, sitting up (although he quickly sags down into a slouch) since then.

He has also drank a lot of squash for me, the one with sugar in it, so I am pleased about that.

I think for now, I am going to adopt a wait and see policy, but reserve the right to change my mind at any time

diarrohea 4 more times since last post, but as he is drinking and more alert, I am going to just go with it

Overrun, it can be the temp that makes people vomit. Are you doing regular Calpol/Nurofen so that he is getting something every 2 hours? (i.e. Calpol 1pm, Nurofen 3pm, Calpol 5pm etc etc). How is he? Chech torso/tips of fingers for skin discoloration for me. No panic, just curious.......

Do monitor what fluids he has (the time and how much, teaspoon, half cup etc). Children can dehydrate very very quickly and it has been a few days.

On the whole, sounds like he is a little better though...... will check in later x.

Thanks frumpy, he is on the mend. Unfortunately dt1 went down with it yesterday afternoon. He has been sick quite a few times now, and also had diarrohea so they are both currently wrapped up on the sofa watching cbeebies.

Thanks for your concern, I am giving capol regularly, so will keep doing that

Thanks for the explanation, Marmaduke. Never knew that. Our LO still has a fever on and off...about 100 (sorry, I don't know the translation into C) or so. She likes to lounge a lot....resting her head, etc., which scares me because she never likes to lay around. (She is asking for a lot of different snacks today...and wheatabix and rice.)

Question. She gets up in the morning and seems to have a bad taste in her mouth; I'm not sure if it's just dry or if it's distasteful, but she asks for water...cold water. She's never had this before; could it be the calpol? Could calpol also make her sleep more? I also see her walking on her tippytoes sometimes and that makes her wobbly sometimes...which of course also scares me.

Overrun, your posts have helped! Others' too. Cheers.

Tricey, I think from my own experience the sleep in my dss case was just because the bug knocked him out so much
They don't seem to get drousy with capol. If she has been sick, or her mouth is dry, that would explain the odd taste maybe?

: ) I'm guessing the same. Thanks. Hope for warm, happy and healthy fun soon!

Overrun, my DT2 spent last night vomitting. Cuppa my love?

Thanks love, biscuit?