Suddenly ill 5 y/o and young baby in the house! V worried

[BEAUTlFUL]

Please would you give me some advice, I've made myself frightened.

My 5 y/o DS1 seemed fine at school yesterday, then complained of a headache at bathrime and developed a fever of 102. I stripped him and gave him Calpol, but this morning he is on fire and says he feels "very poorly".

When should I call the doctor? I'm giving him Calpol but he really is burning up.

Also, I have a 4-month-old baby. How can I make sure I don't pass any virus/germs over to him?

I've got myself in a right state, imagining Meningitis, etc etc.

Dr this morning, ring now and say it is urgent.
If the calpol isn't working he needs to be seen now really. xx

Sorry my post is so unspecific. I'm just panicking a bit. You feel they're really big, healthy DC then all of a sudden they seem vulnerable.

Ring gp and if no joy, nhs direct.

Nothing you can really do about passing on germs though, it will already have happened if it's going to so stop worrying about that. Just get your ds to the Dr's if you can. Can you get there? Do you need some help - someone to take the baby while you go?

If they can't see you go to A&E - not to panic you but just to get seen. A fever like that needs to be brought down.

{{{hugs to you}}}

Firstly, I had this exactly the same with my 4.5YO last week. He woke up in middle of night crying with headache, had a fever too. Ate some breakfast and threw it back up. I was in a quandry about calling doctor but nureofen brought his temp down and within 24 hours he was fine. My 20mth old DD was unaffected.

Secondly I think there is absolutely no harm in calling the doctor and getting him down there. What's the downside? Chances are it's a bug going round but no harm in popping him down just in case.

It's Ok btw, I always panic too - it never gets easier does it, however big they are!

I hope it will just pass...fwiw my Ds1 also had a high fever the other night. He was better by the next day really. It seemed to pass very quickly.

Squiffs - sounds like a virus doesn't it?

Glad yours are Ok now.

Take a deep breath, remember that children of this age get all sorts of bugs all the time. There are lots going round ATM.

First, check his symptoms:

Sensitivity to light
Headache
neck stiffness
Rash
If he has a rash do the tumbler test.

Meningitis is comparatively rare.

If he has any of the above, ring GP or NHS direct.

Otherwise, give him calpol 4 hourly, if you have neurofen/ibuprofen you can give that 4hourly, but half way between the doses of calpol IYSWIM.

If he can take clear fluids, encourage him to drink plenty.

Ice cubes or ice lollies are good if he is feeling sick or has a sore throat.

Make sure you wash your hands after "handling him", and before handling your baby.

If you are breast feeding, you are doing the best thing to boost your baby's immunity.

HTH.

So is the calpol bringing his actual temperature down? If it isn't I'd contact doc for advice. Maybe you could do the alternating paracetamol/ibuprofen thing? Other than that lots of fluids and sleep prob.best bet! Hope he's feeling better soon.

Don't think there's much you can do to make sure your baby doesn't pick it up other than obvious hand washing, and keeping them as apart as possible. The baby may well not get it though!

You are so soothing, thanks.

I'm not breastfeeding! WHY didn't I persevere.

Just rang Dr... They don't do home-visits for children, I'd have to bring him up there, which will be hard as he is flat out. A Dr will ring me.

Thanks for telling me he'll be OK. He hasn't been ill for years so I am suddenly hopeless!

squiffy, sorry your DS had this too. Mine was also sick last night, so it could be the same thing.

I can't wait till he is awake, complaining and naughty again! Never thought I'd say that.

If it is a consolation, I panicked a bit too because my DS has never before had a headache, and he was so upset by it. I came close to shining a torch in his eyes in order to check light sensitivity . And the childrens health books don't help because they all scream out meningitis wherever you look up headache & fever.

But I would definately take him to GP if nurofen isn't bringing his temp down (for some reason with my DS caplol doesn't work as effectively with temperature as nurofen seems to).

Ask him to sit up and touch his chin to his neck. That's another good meningitis check. YOu can also ask him to stick his feet out straight in front of him and touch his toes with his arms.

I had a GP who used to roll my kids heads around checking for any signs of stiffness.

And someone else posted another sign of men was a temperature but cold feet and hands (I think that is right - oh god what a lot of use I am).

crazy that they don't come out for children isn't it?

incidentally my DD had something v similar and calpol nurofen didn't really work either, within 24 hrs the fever had broken and she is ok now. At least he is verbal so you can ask him to tell youhow he feels .....

Cazzybabs, you are helpful - your plaintive "oh god what a lot of use i am" message made me laugh!

I think he's OK. He is complaining, anyway -- when I was on phone to Doc, he was shouting his head off. "I wanted the telly on! You stupid woman!" So embarrassing, but doc was laughing saying, "This is a good sign."

Thanks for posting those meningitis checks, will do them now.

What WOULD I do without all of you?

He passed meningitis checks. Phew.

Apparently he "needs" chocolate biscuits so I'll have to bake him some.

His neck has gone stiff. SHIT. I dunno if it's cos he was sitting in one place for too long, at the end of the sofa, or what. Shit shit shit.

We have Doc appt at 3:30pm, thank goodness.

And he is still v hot, despite 2 Nurofens and 1 Medised today.

can you ring NHS 24 - they have been brilliant every time I have called and arranged an appointment at the hospital within the hour.

have you done the meningitis neck checks on him again? What is his temp?

keep calm and keep posting

His temp is 39.4 (102.9), that's despite Nurofen at 12pm. I can do another paracetemol one now.

He says his neck hurts. He has slightly bloodshot eyes & a v furry tongue.

He just asked me to pull the blinds down as the light is making his eyes water.

I'm going to take him to A&E, I think.

Yes, take him now.

go to A&E - I am sure he is fine but if there is any worry/doubt take him straight there - you have not panicked - they will not think you have - just go.

And remember to post when you get back so that we're not worried!

A&E now - no point waiting for DR's appointment. get him there now even if it(hopefully)turns out to be nothing serious - always better to be safe. That's what they are there for. Hope all's well. Take Care .

dd1 has this headache/temp thing, had it tuesday and pretty much slept it off and dd2 had it yesterda, however, dd1's is back today and calpol/nurofen not bringing temp down and shes screaminig about her head hurting, feckin useless Dr's are ringing me back as they dont have emergency appts or any cancellations in the afternoon. If it continues as soon as one of my parents or dh home to have dd2 I'm taking her to a&e

Thinking of you