Help! sick 3yo - sepsis?!

[PaleGreenAndBrightOrange]

Hi all

I am probably being paranoid but there is something wrong with my 3yo.

He said his tooth was hurting in the evening. We have him some calpol, he had dinner, had a bath and went to bed. At bedtime he began to scream inconsolably. He said it was his tooth. We gave him ice and ibuprofen, he screamed all evening til about 10 when he finally fell asleep in my bed 2 hours after bedtime.

He woke again at midnight screaming. I gave him more calpol (with difficulty - VERY unusual!) and asked him what was hurting. It was harder to get out of him as he was inconsolable but eventually he told me it was his elbow. He also freaked out because there was some light coming from a different room so I had to turn that light off so he’d calm down.

I’m now thinking joint pain, light sensitivity = meningitis/sepsis… he is cool to the touch though. Definitely no fever. Can you have a life threatening illness and no fever?!

He’s gone back to sleep now but should I have called 111? Essentially his only symptom is crying and potentially tooth ache… he might have just said his elbow hurt because I was pressing him for an answer.

Thanks for your help.

Have you got an ear thermometer? Take his temperature. Sometimes with sepsis body temperature drops.
Then call 111. If you’re worried then it’s best to check.

I'm a physio, and I work with really vulnerable patients so I've had a fair amount of training on spotting sepsis.

Those symptoms aren't typical of sepsis on children. But if you are worried, there is no harm in calling 111 for reassurance.

Have a look at the Sepsis Trust website, it might help put your mind at ease.

Please call 111.

I’d ring 111, does he have a low temp?
We had a sepsis scare with a very cold toddler. Checked out and just a virus in the end. But he was really cold, don’t remember actual temp.

It honestly sounds like an abscessed tooth. Hospital won't be much help but an emergency dentist will be able to prescribe antibiotics. I ended up taking my dd to a pediatric dentist to have the tooth removed.

Thanks for the help everyone. I called 111 and they said no need to go to hospital. They actually made me wake my son up and he was absolutely fine, said his elbow didn’t hurt and nor did his tooth then fell back to sleep with no screaming… typical! No complaints here though! So relieved he’s not in pain anymore!

@unidentifed my mum said the same thing… will book in with the dentist if he’s still in pain in the morning/when the painkillers wear off.