18 month old DD poorly, possibly Herpatic Gingivitis

[kaytek82]

I am hoping for any advice - I am worried sick. My DD is 18mo; she started off with a very high temp last Tuesday (it's Sunday night now). By Wednesday she looked to have trouble swallowing and that's the last time she ate anything. Took her to the GP on the Wed night and she was diagnosed as having a viral infection (non-specific). Covid test came back negative. On Thursday I realised I had developed a cold sore; DD had a furry, patchy tongue and a small pin prick ulcer on the inside lip. Called docs back, LLS nothing they could prescribe. By Friday her breath was horrendous - I can't get into her mouth at all without her screaming in pain, so her teeth haven't been brushed since Wednesday (something else I am panicking about). Managing the pain with Calpol and nurofen. Her temp came down and has stayed down since Friday.
Yesterday (Saturday) she was bleeding from her gums, which are now so swollen I can barely see her teeth. Her lack of food and the fact she hadn't really drank much panicked me - I called 111 who suggested she needed to be seen. I knee jerked and took her to the local hospital where they said she didn't appear to have any cold sores in her mouth but that she had gingivitis which would clear up of it's own accord within another week. They didn't seem concerned about her not eating but advised about keeping up with her fluid intake.
Today is Sunday and she's not eaten anything and is crying with pain. She's visibly lost weight already. I am beside myself with worry. Her crying breaks my heart and there's just no consoling her at times.
Has anyone experienced anything like this before? Any advice or reassurance would be so very welcome right now. She's my first baby - thank you so much in advance x

Take her back to the hospital. If she's visibly lost weight and is inconsolable, she needs more help.

Do you think that she is improving? Is she drinking and weeing? What’s her temperature like now?

Go straight to hospital... don’t ever wait for your child do it immediately ❤️ Bless the poor mite my hearts broken reading this x

Oh bless her, I agree with pp she sounds like she needs to go back to hospital, especially if shes visibly lost weight. I hope she is feeling better soon

My DS had herpetic stomatitis at 11 months - I was bf him still and he wouldn’t feed from me as it was too sore. He was really hot and had blisters all round his lips. The GP prescribed acyclovir but he didn’t lose any weight and the symptoms don’t sound as severe as your poor DD - definitely sounds like she needs another check over

Is she drinking enough as in is she having plenty of wet nappies? The lack of food isn't a huge concern for a few days, but I'd worry about fluid intake. If you've got even the slightest doubt, take her back to the hospital.

Oh dear poor thing...My ds2 had this aged 3...

He was so ill :(

Please go to the gp tomorrow and ask for anti viral meds. Ds2 was a different child within 24 hours.

Best wishes x

Poor baby! I wouldn’t be happy with that either I’d be up the hospital again. I’d of thought they’d admit her to keep an eye on her if she’s not eating or drinking she might get dehydrated ? Xx

Sorry or the gp , see if they tell you to visit the hospital x

Contact your gp today. What are her nappies like and if you pinch the back of her hand gently does the skin bunch up and stay up or pinch up then go right down?
Your GP should be able to prescribe aciclovir for her. And get a wee look over her to check if she needs paediatrician attention and if she does they can refer her right there rather than waiting at A and E etc as it’s neither an accident nor an emergency.

Thank you so much for the responses - just an update, She woke up at 2.30am and took some massive gulps of her water and has had two 7oz bottles of milk today already (it's nearly 11am), a couple of hours apart. Her nappies have been wet and the nurse/doc at the hospital said she wasnt dehydrated. She tends to get really upset when I try to give her calpol/nurofen by mouth so I've put calpol in her bottle this morning and she's drank the lot - I hope this doesn't reduce the efficacy but it seems to be a good way to get pain relief in to her.

She does seem brighter this morning, but she's still refusing any food. I've tried all of her fave soft foods - she must be starving but frightened of it hurting now. Her mouth and gums look less swollen and red. I've ordered some teeth and gum wipes rather than trying to brush her teeth.

Isadora2007 - her skin doubled back to normal; is this a good thing? Xxxx

@kaytek82

Isadora2007 - her skin doubled back to normal; is this a good thing? Xxxx

Bounced back not doubled

@Bee0808

Oh dear poor thing...My ds2 had this aged 3...

He was so ill :(

Please go to the gp tomorrow and ask for anti viral meds. Ds2 was a different child within 24 hours.

Best wishes x

It's so bloody awful isn't it! I've never heard of it before - I've got a big family too with lots of small children and they've never had it.

Do you remember what the anti-virals were called? Both GP's I spoke to last week said there's nothing they can prescribe (one did prescribe Zovirax but that's for external use only and she's not got any sores externally - they are in the mouth) xzxx

@kaytek82 yes that’s great it bounced back. No worries about dehydration there so that’s good. Don’t worry about weight loss yet as fluids and her milk will be enough for now. Yes the aciclovir is the ingredient of Zovirax and should be able to be given in an oral liquid medicine which tastes nice. So ask for that.

[quote Isadora2007]@kaytek82 yes that’s great it bounced back. No worries about dehydration there so that’s good. Don’t worry about weight loss yet as fluids and her milk will be enough for now. Yes the aciclovir is the ingredient of Zovirax and should be able to be given in an oral liquid medicine which tastes nice. So ask for that.[/quote]
Thank you so much - I am just calling the docs now and will ask for aclivor xxxx

Just an update for anyone who may need it if you're going through something similar. I took DD to dentist today and he said it's Gingivitis and teething - he said all of her big teeth are coming through - he looked genuinely gutted for her (I sobbed my heart out). He's referred her to the dental hospital to rule out anything nasty but it's just a precaution. He said, as hard as it is - to brush her teeth. So I already has Bought some gum and teeth wipes and he said it's fine to use those. And to keep up with bonjela (I've got some anbusol cos that's what the pharmacy recommended for the teething pain. She's now Eaten a whole yogurt and the bleeding is still there but the gums and bad breath are better. He said if it's viral to ride it out for 7-10 days and we should see an improvement. It's been hard but I am hoping this helps. Nightmare times but I am hoping I've been and seen everyone I can possibly see to help her. Xxxx