Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Original poster

Toddler unwell

51 replies

Sed1222344 · 19/09/2021 16:41

I know I always get overly anxious when my two year old gets ill which is why I’m posting to see if anyone has advice.

Have done an instant COVID test which is negative.

He has had a cold since last Sunday with just a snotty nose. Seemed well on tues/wed then Thursday vomited once in the night and sounded chesty. He’s got worse over the weekend has bad conjunctivitis in both eyes which pharmacist gave drops for, he’s so chesty and constantly coughing day and night which is waking him up. Hes got a temperature of 38.1 which was took underarm which I believe means 39.1? As last time he was in hospital I had the same underarm reading and there forehead thermometer read 39.1. He looks so poorly he’s drinking but barely eating.

Basically I’m wondering could it be a chest infection or just a bad virus ?

OP posts:
Original poster
Sed1222344 · 20/09/2021 21:00

@ohIdoliketobebesidethesea

The nurse checked him over and said it must be viral - chest ears and throat are fine. I’ve managed to get his temp down again now from 39.5. Just hope it doesn’t last long I feel so bad for him 😥 xx

OP posts:
ohIdoliketobebesidethesea · 20/09/2021 21:02

[quote Sed1222344]@ohIdoliketobebesidethesea

The nurse checked him over and said it must be viral - chest ears and throat are fine. I’ve managed to get his temp down again now from 39.5. Just hope it doesn’t last long I feel so bad for him 😥 xx[/quote]
Aw bless him, hope it clears soon and he feels better x

Original poster
Sed1222344 · 20/09/2021 21:06

@MaverickDanger

That is exactly what I was trying to say, everyone instantly assumes it’s covid. I dont want to continually test him either when I’m already pinning him down to put eye drops in which are making him wretch , it’s horrible.
Thank you xx

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

2 year olds Children's health Families General health
Original poster
Sed1222344 · 20/09/2021 21:24

@leakymcleakleak

Thank you for the advice.
I saw a nurse because he was barely eating or drinking and I needed peace of mind. I wasn’t looking for gp advice on conjunctivitis I know that’s not serious so I got eye drops from the pharmacy. Your probably right about there being nastier viruses circulating this year. I really don’t think he has covid, haven’t decided wether to retest him or not yet after looking online. He had an instant test last week when he only had a snotty nose so i think it’s highly unlikely.

@MilkywayMonarch22
Sorry to hear your child had it too ,isn’t it awful. I’m sure we have got a lot more of these “viruses” to come too 🙈My sons not been eating much or drinking even refuses Ice cream 😱 but had him checked over and confirmed viral x

OP posts:
Whitewolf2 · 20/09/2021 21:31

We had similar here with our little one this past week and it turned out to be Hand Foot and Mouth. The itchy spots didn’t turn up until 5/6 days after the flu symptoms (high temp, runny nose, not eating etc) - not saying that’s what yours has, just that unfortunately there are lots of horrible things going around! Hope he gets better really soon. It’s so awful when they’re ill, I feel so anxious it’s hard to sleep. But then if I don’t sleep I get more anxious as I’m so tired!

T0rt0ise · 21/09/2021 09:00

We had a similar sounding virus a couple of weeks ago (gunky eyes, snotty nose, temperature, rattly chesty cough) and the cough is still lingering. Because of the temperature he had a PCR test (don't bother with the LFT if symptomatic, get a PCR test) but GP was still happy to see him (outside) whilst we were waiting for the results. Thankfully just a virus but it's definitely knocked him for six.

Original poster
Sed1222344 · 21/09/2021 15:09

@T0rt0ise

Oh really , how long did your child’s temp last ? We’re on day 4 of the temperature now 😩

OP posts:
T0rt0ise · 22/09/2021 11:51

He was up and down for 2 or 3 days maybe but pretty miserable for a while? Chesty cough is still hanging around. I know you've done the lateral flow tests but I would honestly consider getting a PCR test done. Whilst it is quite probably not COVID the lateral flow tests were designed to pick up asymptomatic cases and are far less sensitive than the PCR tests.

rhonddacynontaf · 22/09/2021 12:09

My DD has now been poorly since Friday 😩

Never had a fever, had a wet occasional cough and was pale and sleepy all weekend. Complained of tummy ache on Mon. Vomited everywhere on Tuesday. Sneezing like an absolute machine today and has toxic nose goo.

rhonddacynontaf · 22/09/2021 12:10

I should add, because people will ask, yes we did a PCR and it was negative. (She doesn't have a fever or persistent cough anyway)

hotelharibo · 22/09/2021 12:20

@Sed1222344

How is your DS today? Hopefully on the mend. I found jelly really good when mine were poorly. Sugary so gives them energy but so contains plenty of water which is great for keeping fluids up.

The instant tests you've used only pick up 50% of cases which is why I think previous posters were saying he needs a PCR test. Tbh it's the same experience for the child just a swab up the nose.

Obviously it's up to you if you don't want to keep testing but the govt guidance is that he should of had a PCR test.

You are obviously worried about DS, I think some poster are worried about people close to them who are vulnerable to COVID now people have stopped following guidance as much!

Original poster
Sed1222344 · 22/09/2021 17:42

He’s still not well and still running a fever nurofen seems to work better at bringing it down but about an hour before next dose it’s up again 😢 is it ok to have a fever for 5 days +? Still barely eating and woke up vomited twice last night. Yes I totally get people are worried but I think one of the posters was being rude, there are so many other infections and viruses that can affect vulnerable people. I have done another test anyway waiting the results.

OP posts:
Poppy709 · 22/09/2021 19:00

I would call docs again and say you’re struggling to control his temp with nurofen. Sending hugs it’s so hard when they’re ill xx

hellcatspangle · 22/09/2021 19:16

Can't you use nurofen and calpol? (alternate two hours apart)

Wowthisisreal · 22/09/2021 19:29

@Sed1222344 -
@Pissinthepottyplease has a point. When my toddler has been sick with similar symptoms, the first thing they ask is "Have they had PCR test?". Lateral flows mean nothing to them and they won't consider the results reliable. After 5 days of fever you really don't have an excuse not to have taken for PCR.

Also, on a practical level, I've found hospitals and GPs are much more helpful when they know it's NOT COVID because they can start looking into alternatives.

In terms of your LO. Fever for 5 days isn't right and it really should be coming down if you are alrernating Calpol and Nurofen. I think NHS guidelines say you need to seek help from 111 if it hasn't shifted in that time. From recent experience of my LO, keeping fluids up is essential. My toddler was blue lighted to hospital after 5 days of fever after became unresponsive and hands and feet went very cold. Basically body was struggling to fight the fever and LO was also dehydrated. The dehydration made it worse.

Hope your LO feels better soon.

Original poster
Sed1222344 · 22/09/2021 20:16

Yes I’ve been alternating with calpol and nurofen Temp still goes up before next dose.
The nurse was really helpful they didn’t refuse to see me I went into the Docters surgery and she advises me to do a pcr and said most people don’t know the instant ones are when you show no symptoms. She was very friendly and polite about it unlike the other person has been.
That must of been terrifying, I’m really hoping the nurse was right and it’s just a virus. I will call them back tommorow to check what to do.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sed1222344 · 22/09/2021 22:33

Could anyone tell me if it’s ok to keep giving calpol and nurofen if it’s been 5 days? I feel like it might mask the fever now if it could be something else ?

OP posts:
olidora63 · 22/09/2021 22:39

I would definitely insist that toddler examined by Dr . My grandchild had a fever that we couldn’t control and 111 sent ambulance…she had tonsillitis.We now relise in hindsight that this wasn’t the first time but Dr hadn’t examined her in the past ..just prescribed AB over the phone!

olidora63 · 22/09/2021 22:41

Carry on giving the calpol/ nurofen in the meantime.

Bobholll · 22/09/2021 23:21

Why do people not get this. Covid symptoms = PCR test, NOT a lateral flow quick test. They aren’t accurate enough. It doesn’t matter that ‘you don’t want to keep testing him’ .. do the correct test in the first place! It probably isn’t covid but you should do a PCR, that’s literally the rules. It’s not hard to understand.

My kids have had multiple viruses over summer with fevers & coughs & vomiting. It never was covid but I PCR tested every time they had one of the 3 symptoms. Drive to a test centre, swab, done.

If you end up needing A&E, they’ll PCR test your kid anyway. Mine ended up being admitted over summer & had 3 tests at hospital 😩 My GP did see my DD on multiple occasions while we were waiting for tests to come back. We just had to go to the red zone due to being symptomatic 🙈

Original poster
Sed1222344 · 23/09/2021 07:22

@Bobholll

Don’t talk to me like that I’ve been up all night with my sick child still running a fever and I don’t need to log on an see your shitty patronising message so take your negativity elsewhere.

Maybe because not everyone knows all the guidlines about the stupid tests, they change the rules and advice every five minutes ?!?!?!? Like the nurse told me most people don’t realise !

OP posts:
Original poster
Sed1222344 · 23/09/2021 07:24

I’ve been in a & e before when he had a fever and rash last year and we weren’t in any red zone... I’m not worried about seeing a gp or hospital if I need to see them before my results back there not going to leave a child to potentially die are they.

OP posts:
JasonMomoasgirlfriend · 23/09/2021 07:27

My son (also 2) is the same but Dr says it's viral and so no antibiotics.

He is slightly better now after a week but still coughing a lot. He went right off his food and tbh we just gave him anything he wanted
He liked mini milks.
Mum took him one day and he had jelly and half an orange and the rest was just sweet crap but that's all he would take. They also gave him a hot chocolate made with milk which he enjoyed and at least for fluids into him

He also has conjunctivitis but not as bad as yours. These things just happen and it is so crap. :(

Out of interest how did you do the covid test?! Cause I ordered a pCR for my son but there's no way I can swab his tonsils and it looks like the Intructions have been changed to say they must be done both in throat and nose.
I guess the people who wrote them don't have a toddler though!

JasonMomoasgirlfriend · 23/09/2021 07:31

It's deffo fine for calpol over 5 days. My Dr said you could give a child calpol every day of their life and they won't be harmed in any way by it.

Nurofen is definitely stronger on the kidney so if ask Dr about that

T0rt0ise · 23/09/2021 09:26

If he's still running a fever I'd want him seen again. Five days of fever is a long time.