Surely this is more than a virus?

[Honeyplease]

DS is 2. He has been poorly for about 3 weeks now. First it was a cold, cough, then sore sounding throat. I took him to the doctors about the throat and saw nurse practitioner. Full examination all fine, slightly red throat but its a virus.

Since then he’s stayed the same until Monday he suddenly developed this horrible barky cough. Mon and Tues night barely ANY sleep, up all night coughing waking himself up every 20 mins or so. He’s been an absolute nightmare today, won’t eat, won’t sleep and won’t let me leave him at all (mummy mummy all day) he is coughing and spluttering and sneezing all day long and this cough sounds dreadful.

Took him to the doctors again today after 30 mins sleep all day and no food and saw the same nurse practitioner. Full examination - all fine, slightly red throat.

I am used to dealing with toddlers with constant colds but this is like something else. He is literally so tired but cannot sleep longer than a few minutes before waking up shouting “mummy help me” and crying. I’ve barely had time to eat today, thats how clingy he’s been!

Just wondered if anyone had experienced similar - also HOW do I get him to sleep!?
(given calpol, ibruprofen, anti-histamine, humidifer in room, calpol plug in, vicks! you name it!)

Bumping!
ds was awake all night last night, every 10/20mins coughing so much. He's miserable 😣

I don't know what to suggest but poor baby and poor Mama.
Maybe go back again- he's saying 'Help me!' & that's strange from a tot.

Trust your instincts

Go to A&E if you think you need to and they assess far better

Has your DC got croup now? That horrible barky cough sounds very much like it. He will need antibiotics if so. The cough can eased by sitting in a steamy bathroom with a hot shower running until he feels better - not particularly environmentally friendly but we are talking about your child's ease and comfort here.

Am thinking of croup too.

This is bad advice for croup

Cold air helps reduce the swelling in the trachea.
Steroids may be needed if stridor apparent when breathing not just the cough.
Croup usually viral, eg RSV, antibiotics don't help

Was also going to say it could be croup. I think its 'going around', i know 3 toddlers that have had it over the past few weeks.

If he's got a croup type cough video it at home if you can. We used to find that with ours when you went outside to go to the doctors it would stop due to the cold air, that would last long enough to see the doctor but then come back after being at home for a while 🙄
Good luck, kids being ill can be horrible. A virus can go on for quite a while but if you're not happy and think something else is going on go back to the doctors.

Take your little one to hospital honestly this is just like my little one and the doctors would not give him antibiotics as soon as I took him to a and e they prescribed them straight away! Always trust your gut x

That sounds awful! Now I know that nurse practitioners are great. We have recently had dealings with an excellent one for our son but I'm wondering if it's worth requesting an appointment with a gp for a second opinion. He sounds quite distressed.

I agree that croup it is often viral originally and has in my experience developed bacterial infections which often may need antibiotics. But OP should return to her GP for further advice and not necessarily head to Urgent Care. 111 may have other options.

Go to A and E. we went through similar with our ds and were fobbed off. He ended up in hospital needing oxygen.

Sounds like croup. He needs a steroid.

I would go back to GP or A&E. he's so little, they go downhill so fast

I would take him to A&E!

Sounds like croup, steroids might be necessary

Of course I'd advise seeing the doctor again, but also I always found that when my children had an ongoing bug that disturbed their sleep, just having an extra couple of pillows or something under their mattress to keep their heads up a bit really helped them at night.