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What is lethargy in a young child?

1 reply

CompetentlyIncompetent · 19/05/2023 11:27

I know in children it can be a sign of a serious illness but how do you know what is just tiredness and irritability from being ill and when it's time to worry and to go to A n E?

DS (22 months) has croup and an ear infection. He's started taking antibiotics day before yesterday but he's still absolutely miserable. He just wants to either lie in his bed or on my shoulder. When he's on my shoulder he just stares into space. He isn't playing or eating or doing any of the other things he normally does. He's thankfully still drinking enough to have wet nappies.

I went again to the GP today morning and he checked him over and said he is as expected and there's nothing else he can do as he is already on antibiotics. He also said he's not lethargic. I like and trust my gp so I'm not doubting his assessment but I am wondering what is lethargy and will I be able to spot it when ds actually is lethargic? I thought just wanting to sleep and not doing anything else is lethargy. Or staring into space half awake. Somewhere I've read it's being difficult to wake but that could be also because someone is just tired, isn't it?

He's again sleeping but I'm assuming that's because he was coughing a lot in the night so maybe didn't sleep well.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
jacquec · 19/05/2023 11:36

No, difficulty rousing is very different to just being tired. It's an altered state of consciousness that could be suggestive of something systemically wrong. Antibiotics can take several days to have a noticeable effect and still feeling rough 36 hours after commencing some sounds very normal. A&E would be appropriate with symptoms such as increased work of breathing, no urine output for 8+ hours, difficulty rousing, etc. From what you've described, at this point I'd be inclined to agree with the GP and just monitor closely and wait.

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