3 year old unwell and lethargic - Husband thinks a trip to A&E is needed but I feel staying at home is best. Please help and advise

[Biosblbay]

Our 3 year old has been very unwell since Saturday late night/ early hours Sunday. He hasn’t eaten since Saturday late afternoon, refuses everything, won’t eat yogurt, toast, ice cream, no fruit, nothing, but he is drinking plenty of water. His temperature is very up and down, currently it’s 37.5. He won’t take calpol, as per my previous post it is impossible and tried every single method and way possible! He hasn’t moved in 2 days, when he tries to get up he just lays straight back down, hardly talking, sleeping lots, but still watching TV/ films and able to focus on that (not sure if this is classed as lethargic). My husband is really concerned he isn’t eating, I am not as concerned as he is drinking water still and we are only on day 2, tomorrow will be day 3. I would rather avoid A&E if it is not necessary, I don’t want to spread whatever our son has and do not want to make him feel worse.

Can I have some others input please on what is best. A little unsure what to do. Thank you

Thinking of you and sorry to hear he has been more unwell. Well done for taking him, he is in the right place

I don’t think Op is in the wrong here either and I say that as a mum and a childcare professional. Not eating isn’t ideal at all but his fluid intake was fine, he was comfortable to rest on the sofa and watch tv and the temperature spikes weren’t high enough to be seriously worrying. Sounds like he went to a&e at the right time but riding it out before then (although ideally he would have had calpol but obviously won’t take it) wasn’t wrong according to advice online. Most doctors would be more concerned about dehydration so if drinking juice etc that is enough to hydrate and keep blood sugars in check in the very short term. If continuing into day 3 no food intake I’d be on the phone to the GP.

As a general guideline I have a 3 day rule on these virus-type things, in my experience if you’re caring for them at home with the symptoms OP describes after 3 days they either show signs of improvement, they’re still the same or they’ve got worse, and if it’s either of the latter two you seek medical attention at that point. Which she has.

Oh get off the cross, somebody else needs the wood.

His dad could have taken him any time in the preceding 3 days, let’s not leave this entirely with the mother. 🙄

The dad didn't post asking for opinions, did he? And was also the one who at least wanted to take him in, albeit two days after he should have been seen.

Oh dear, poor baby. Good that he’s being treated now though and I’m sure they’ll get him well soon x

Sorry he’s having to stay in. Hopefully they will get a line in soon.

Edit - sorry didn’t check for updates

I disagree with not an emergency. I know OP has him being seen now but you really need to assess the child, not just the symptoms.

A 3 year old who is only mildly unwell should bounce back, be alert when not sleepy etc. It was lethargy that made me realise how unwell my daughter was when she had an intestinal instruction (she had no fever at all).

OP I hope he is better soon x

I hope he’s ok. He’s in the right place.

You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Glad you are getting some answers they do bounce back very quickly and I very much hope that’s the case for you. Don’t beat yourself up for waiting at all. You’re there now that’s all that matters x

He’s in the best place, action was taken, we can’t all get it right all the time. It’s shit to bash a mother in this situation, if she’d acted earlier who knows, she may well have been dismissed and told to manage the symptoms at home and then that would have put her off seeking medical help now. He obviously fell off a cliff pretty fast, it happens.

They'll likely put the drip into his foot if they can't his arm. My toddler caught a mystery virus many years ago and they take that route as the veins are bigger. Don't worry he will be in good care ❤️

Lucozade is not ideal for sick kids because it has caffeine in it. Seven up or sips of dioralyte are better. Op your little fella will perk up once he gets some IV fluids in him. When one of mine was about 10 months old she had a vomiting bug. Went to A n E ( this is in Ireland so we aren't as hesitant in bringing sick kids to the hospital plus we don't really have out of hours clinics as such) and the dumb doctor kept insisting she try sips of water which she promptly brought back up. Eventually one of the nurses said that's enough put her on a drip and a few hours later dd was nearly bouncing around the place!

Thinking of you OP

True. But I didn’t read the OP’s post as him being unrousable though. I got the impression that he was sleepy but when he was awake he was alert just not wanting to get up and do stuff.

Kids are tricky. Even doctors get caught out by an ill but not seriously ill kid suddenly falling off a cliff fast just after they’ve been sent home.

I’m sorry to hear he’s taken a nose dive. Hope he picks up again as quickly. At least he’s in hospital.

Also please don't rely on dr. google.

Hope he's better soon OP. To every poster berating her, the child's dad could've taken him at any point! She has a baby to look after too!

He's in the right place, op. Hope he recovers soon. (If it's any comfort, I would have probably kept him at home too, as you did, and kept monitoring him. Good job you posted here, and got advice.)

In future you might find one of these helpful for giving calpol/medicine. I always found it so much easier, especially with ds2 who wouldn't take medicine off a spoon.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/406298495063?_ul=GB&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338365712&toolid=20006&customid=CjwKCAiA7LzLBhAgEiwAjMWzCGh3y8Ag5rKp71EgXOVQT9j6kFb3jrbmi7hWXe0JOiQs7y7t8d7crhoCx_wQAvD_BwE%7Cnull%7Cnull&gclid=CjwKCAiA7LzLBhAgEiwAjMWzCGh3y8Ag5rKp71EgXOVQT9j6kFb3jrbmi7hWXe0JOiQs7y7t8d7crhoCx_wQAvD_BwE&loc_physical_ms=9180658&adtype=pla

I'm glad he's been seen OP.
Hopefully he'll perk up with some fluids and electrolytes in him.