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General health

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Original poster

Please give me some advice about how ill my son is I am not sure how worried I should be and what is normal

29 replies

eenybeeny · 24/05/2008 13:45

My DS is 21 months. Normally healthy as a horse. Last night he woke us up at 3:30 covered in vomit all over the bed and him and everywhere and he was pretty much shrieking crying. It was awful. I held him and he kept being sick for a little over an hour. Had no temperature. Called out of hours doctor and the nurse seemed really laid back about it - she basically said only to worry if he seemed dehydrated.

He has not been sick today but HAS had really bad diarrhoea sorry if I spelled that wrong which was really bad and all over the place. He is refusing all food - hasnt eaten anything since yesterday lunch/dinner time and has only had about... I would guess maybe 3 oz milk and 1 oz water today we cant get him to take any more.

He seems alert and happy for the most part but I am really concerned that he has gone off food and drink and has lost so many fluids. What would you do?

OP posts:

Original poster

eenybeeny · 24/05/2008 13:48

bump

OP posts:

Fanella · 24/05/2008 13:52

I'm sure he's fine if he's alert. Does he have temperature? I'm no expert but I think even a little bit of fluid is enough to keep him hydrated.

Bumping in case anyone with more knowledge can help. Have you looked on NHS direct website for info? Might reassure you..

notjustmom · 24/05/2008 13:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lulumama · 24/05/2008 13:52

i would not give milk

give water.

let him suck a flannel or give him a medicine syringe of water, or an ice pop

if the skin on his tummy pings back if you gently pinch it, he is not dehydrated

check his fontanelles, if they are sunken or bulging,then seek medical help

if he is floppy and lethargic go back to the docs

sounds like he has a bug, and hopefully he will be ok in a day or two, but obviously keep a close eye

if he gets a temperature, then tepid sponging and infant paracetomal will help

artichokes · 24/05/2008 13:52

Sounds like a regular D&V bug to me. If he is alerty and happy I would not worry. If he gets lethargic or shows other signs of dehydration then I would worry. Its horrible but its quite common and he should be fine .

becklespeckle · 24/05/2008 13:56

He could have a touch of stomach flu, it can make their tummies sensitive for a while afterwards. MY DS2 had it a while ago (although he is much older than your DS) and he didn't really eat for about a week afterwards.

The shrieking crying could have been because he was frightened by the vomiting, especially if he isn't usually ill. DS2 was terrified the first time he was sick!

Also, you know your child best so if he seems to be 'himself' then just keep an eye on him and keep offering fluids. If he starts behaving unwell again then see a doctor.

p.s. Ice lollies are good for getting fluids into them!

Original poster

eenybeeny · 24/05/2008 13:59

he is crying now and has been for a while. We cant work out what is wrong he is saying "knee, toes, head etc etc" just naming his body parts. Obviously be is really young so its hard getting a straight answer out of him. Nothing we can do is taking his mind off it really. Should I give paracetomal? Still no temp. He isnt lethargic just upset.

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Madamejaffa · 24/05/2008 13:59

Sorry to hear he has been porly. Not nice for them.

Personally I wouldn't be too worried yet. A few days with out food will not do him any harm as long as you can get some fluid down him. If he is sick again I would leave off the milk and just give him some water as often as he will take. 7oz of water, 1 tea spoon of sugar and a pinch of salt will act as a rehydration solution to replace what he has lost. Little and often is enough to stop him becoming dehydrated.

I am doing this at the moment with dd2 12mths, she has a nasty cough and will not keep any milk down as she coughs and vomits after each bottle. She seems to keep the water down no problems.

If he spikes a temparature that is difficult to control with calpol then I would contact out of hours again. There are some tummy bugs going around at the moment.

Original poster

eenybeeny · 24/05/2008 14:00

will buy ice lollies asap! he actually has never had one before. poor deprived child!

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talilac · 24/05/2008 14:00

D&V bugs are an absolute nightmare slog, but the child generally bounces back fine. I reckon its harder on the parent, with all the worry, caring and cleaning up! We've had about 4-5 bouts this winter so I really do know how how rotten it can be at the time..

Basically give him whatever he fancies to eat or drink, give him lots of cuddles, let him sleep whenever he wants and watch cbeebies the rest of the time. He'll probably be fine in a day or two.

Re food and drink - do persuade him to take fluids as everyone says, icepops / frozen juice can be a popular way of getting it in. If he really wants milk you can dilute it 1/3 strength, so as to give him a chance at digesting it. Otherwise just let him go at his own pace..

Madamejaffa · 24/05/2008 14:05

I would give him some paracetamol, yes.... It is possible he is naming his body parts because they hurt... paracetamol may help ease any aches he has.

becklespeckle · 24/05/2008 14:05

Perhaps he is feeling a little achey which is why he is crying and naming body parts? I would maybe give him a little paracetamol anyway as it will probably make him feel better.

Original poster

eenybeeny · 24/05/2008 14:10

will give calpol. thanks!

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Original poster

eenybeeny · 24/05/2008 15:07

fuck he has a rash and is burning hot and crying. am calling doctor now.

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Madamejaffa · 24/05/2008 16:02

Geeee eeny, that was quick! Hope he's OK, let us know. Fingers crossed it'll be the "it's a viral rash". xx

Original poster

eenybeeny · 24/05/2008 18:16

i know it was quick. it was awful. We just got home from the out of hours doctor. The rash is a heat rash - and he is still vomiting and having VERY watery diahreoa which is really upsetting him. He hasnt been given any prescriptions or anything. We just have to wait it out until it hopefully gets better.

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talilac · 24/05/2008 20:06

sending tons of sympathy..

Madamejaffa · 24/05/2008 20:49

eeny, so glad it was nothing really serious. lots of sympathy heading your way, it's draining when they are poorly. Hope he feels better soon. x

becklespeckle · 25/05/2008 16:29

How is he today eeny?

Original poster

eenybeeny · 25/05/2008 16:31

crying a lot and not eating weeing or pooing. well he weed and pood this morning but not since. atm he is alright but am getting worried that he isnt weeing. I started another thread about it asking how long he could go without. thanks for thinking of us.

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becklespeckle · 25/05/2008 23:17

Hi eeny, sounds like he is having a tough time . Is it possible that he's not weeing too much because he is not drinking too much? Hope he is okay. Would call NHS direct for advice if you are worried x

FloriaTosca · 25/05/2008 23:24

My gp reccommends flat 7 up for rehydrating..she suggests sipping at 4oz every hour a time heated in the microwave for 30 secs and left to cool. Hope the poor mite gets better soon

Poledra · 25/05/2008 23:28

Hi, sorry to hear your LO is so poorly. If you have a medicine syringe, try syringing 5mls of water into his mouth every 5 minutes or so - it'll get him rehydrated without him having to do the drinking, it just sort of trickles down his throat. This was a trick showed to me by the paediatric A&E nurses when dd2 was a similar age - she had a sore throat and wouldn't swallow.

Original poster

eenybeeny · 26/05/2008 10:36

he seems to be doing better today so far. When we changed his nappy this morning there was a lot of wee wee in it so he had obviously gone a lot overnight. This morning he ate breakfast (!) and had a few sips of water! Hopefully we are over the worst of it!

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becklespeckle · 28/05/2008 00:08

Glad to hear that DS was doing better yesterday, hope he was even better today! It's so worrying when they are ill isn't it, especially when they are so small.

Just being nosey, I noticed you are in rural Essex, I just wondered where as I am only a couple of miles from the Suffolk/Essex border and it is fairly rural here, do not know any other MNetters close to me!

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