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Original poster

Can a 3 yr old really be this poorly with FLU? any experience appreciated.

34 replies

mummyplonk · 26/01/2009 14:29

DS came down with a virus on Saturday whilst we were away for the weekend, within the space of 2 hours he was shaking, high temp, and very sleepy. We came home yesterday as were so worried (he was sick in the night), a rash developed on his tummy (tumbler test all ok) today he can hardly stand, move his arms and looks terrible.

Has emergency appt at 9am, she did lots of tests and thinks it is full blown flu. Does anyone have any experience of this with a toddler?, has it made them so poorly they cannot walk, if this is the norm can someone please reassure me. Thanks for reading. x

OP posts:
buggylovinmummy · 26/01/2009 14:30

cant help but wanted to bump for you

Pawslikepaddington · 26/01/2009 14:32

Dd gets like this-flu/chicken pox/viruses really hit her hard. She has to be in bed/in front of the tv/read to for about 4 days, then the next morning it is like it has never happened. Have had the ambulance car out SO many times at 2am thinking she was gravely ill, and she has always been fine. As high a dose of calpol as he can have, and do nothing but cuddle him if he can stand it, or sit with him and gently touch him somewhere that doesn't hurt (usually dd's feet) if he can't. You poor thing.

RedOnHerHead · 26/01/2009 14:33

your poor little one!
i'm sorry to hear he is so unwell - luckily for us, we've never had any experience like that, but i'm replying to keep this in active convos for you.
hope he gets better soon.

MrsTittleMouse · 26/01/2009 14:33

No experience of illness in toddlers - but when I had flu as an adult I was so weak that I could hardly lift my head off the pillow, I ached all over, and I was shivering uncontrollably at one point. Proper flu is nasty stuff.

crumpet · 26/01/2009 14:35

no experience of flu in toddlers, but when I had full blown flu I could not walk from my bed to the bathroom (next door) without having to lie down on the landing to rest 1/2 way. Had absolutely no strength at all - it was horrible.

Horton · 26/01/2009 14:43

Same here, I've only had flu once but I literally could barely get out of bed. If he really has flu then that is totally normal, although obviously horrible for him and really worrying for you. Make sure you check on him very often. Flu can be genuinely dangerous. If you're at all worried or he seems to be worsening, call NHS Direct or an ambulance or your doctor and don't feel silly about doing it.

CarGirl · 26/01/2009 14:44

Flu is serious in young children and the elderly it can kill in rare cases (more the elderly though IYSWIM)

pagwatch · 26/01/2009 14:48

I think you are confusing flu ( as in cold and flu ie the sniffles and feeling crap) with the REAL flu which required me to spend a whole week in bed so unwell that I couldn't stand and when i did I had lost a stone in weight. And I am someone who never goes to bed when i am unwell.

many people say dumb stuff like 'I have a touch of flu' which is nonsense - that is a cold.
The real flu is horrible.

herbietea · 26/01/2009 14:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
mummyplonk · 26/01/2009 14:51

Thank you all so much for your prompt replies, I think flu is probably one of things that unless you've had it (I realise now I have only had colds) you know the difference between the two.

I will keep a very close eye on him, am assuming it will last a bit longer than a cold? Poor little mite, dosnt even want any chocolate as a treat.x

OP posts:
Horton · 26/01/2009 14:56

Something like Ribena (the sugary kind) is good if he will drink it - plenty of fluid and some calories. Or something like apple juice. If he has a high temperature, he might find an ice pop or frozen juice soothing.

MrsTittleMouse · 26/01/2009 14:57

pagwatch is right - my DH told everyone that he had "flu" for a couple of days before Christmas. My family were all , as they had seen me with the genuine article many years ago.

I'd recommend that you give any medication that your doctor recommends, by the way. I'm always a bit reluctant to give Calpol, or whatever, but according to a nurse friend, it's better to keep on top of a fever, rather than quitting the medication and letting the temp go up.

Original poster
mummyplonk · 26/01/2009 18:28

He hasnt moved for 7 hours now on the sofa, he is exhausted and wants to go to bed but is screaming in pain if I move his arms or legs, cant sit him up or carry him.

Goodness me I never realised it could be so bad in a little one (or adult).

OP posts:
MrsTittleMouse · 26/01/2009 18:51

Poor you and poor him.
Don't feel embarrassed about phoning for medical help if he gets worse - that's what things like NHS direct are for.

Horton · 26/01/2009 19:08

Bless him, poor little thing. Could he fall asleep on the sofa if that's comfortable for him? You might be able to move him more easily when he's asleep. And definitely ring NHS Direct if you need to. If nothing else, they can be very kind and reassuring!

Ozziegirly · 30/01/2009 05:48

I had proper flu when I was 4 and it was dreadful. I was in bed for 2 full weeks and my mum said it took me another couple of weeks to recover after that. There's a picture of me back at playschool cuddling a teddy and looking utterly miserable and wan.

Hope your little one feels better soon. Maybe a snuggly blanket on the sofa with some nibbly bits of food?

Watusi · 30/01/2009 06:31

How is he this morning? I don't like to say it but that sounds possibly worse than flu to me. I really hope he has turned the corner, and had some sleep last night x

Original poster
mummyplonk · 31/01/2009 14:40

Hi, just a quick update tuesday night out of hours doctor came to him, she called an ambulance as high temp & couldnt move limbs. Hospital did full check and she confirmed yes, a nasty strain of the Flu virus for someone so young.

It's now Saturday 7 days on, his temp this morning was 39.6, he can move his arms now but still not his legs and is in so much pain if I move them an inch, so lethargic bless him, am happy the doctor reconfirmed the diagnosis.

Does anyone know if this is a usual length of time to be completely bedridden for a youngster?, I see varying things on websites like 48 hours to 2 weeks, can I please draw from any experiences how long your recovery took, and any exp where limbs didnt not move at all? Thanks everyone x

OP posts:
CarGirl · 31/01/2009 14:42

It sounds severe so I would expect it to be the full 2 weeks and several weeks of being unwell after that.

Original poster
mummyplonk · 31/01/2009 14:52

Thank you CarGirl & Ozziegirly, sorry didnt see ur post earlier, hmm sounds like he has similar to what you did as a child, he might be weak for a little while then after starting to stand again by the sounds of it.

OP posts:
pooka · 31/01/2009 14:55

Before Christmas dd had full blown flu. She is 5. I picked her up from school and she couldn't walk to the car because she said her legs were all wobbly. Got home, raging temp and she wanted to go to bed (at 4pm) with no lights because she said her eyes hurt.

IN the end, she was ill ill for about 7 - 10 days. Obviously the first few days were the worst, with bad temperature (40.5), no food and forcing her to drink. She was first ill on the 17th December. Bit of a spike around 23rd December. Was up and dressed on Christmas Eve but slept much of the day on the window seat. Slightly better on Christmas Day. Though is all a blur because in the meantime DH and I got ill, and ds (though not as bad, any of us, as dd).

Is grim.

Original poster
mummyplonk · 31/01/2009 14:56

Does anyone know also (sorry) if any of the Muscular Gels like "Ibuleve" would help him with the muscle ache, (he is complaining mainly about his knees so maybe it is more joints?) if you have had flu as an adult did you use them? and was is muscular of joint pain?

OP posts:
pooka · 31/01/2009 14:57

Oh and was properly better by about 28th December, still tired and by then had a little cold but generally much more her normal self (am rather specific of the dates because she missed almost everything planned this year and I felt so gutted for her).

pooka · 31/01/2009 15:00

Not sure about the gels for a youngster. Personally I would avoid and just make sure that the full dose of iboprofen (which is good for that kind of ache) is given whenever possible.

pooka · 31/01/2009 15:01

From when I've had flu, it's been more of a muscle ache from shivering/tensing. Nurofen the best thing.