Sick toddler - do I wake him?

Elle00

Just after some quick advice please.

My son split his lip in the CM's garden on Wednesday.

Then on Thursday he had a slightly raised temperature when I collected him but I couldn't get him into the docs for the last hour of surgery and felt it didn't warrant a trip to out of hours. So calpol, cuddles and bed. He seemed fine in the morning.

Friday when I picked him up he was a little warm and had had five diarrhoea nappies CM could have rung me but hadn't done because he seemed happy enough and this is true, he didn't seem unhappy or bothered at all when I collected him aside from drooling excessively.

Nurse found his temperature raised so prescribed Flucloxicillin liquid to clear the infection up quickly that had entered via the split lip.

He had one really foul nappy shortly after this with mucus and all (yuk) but has not passed anything in the 20hrs since which is a bit odd but maybe the penicillin worked quickly? He doesn't feel overly warm atm and has been eating and drinking as normal.

And now, having been a ratbag all morning he has been in bed since 12pm as I felt he needed a rest (hence the ratbagedness). That's an awfully long time for a nap. He often doesn't even have one anymore (21m) and if he does it's usually only an hour. He sleeps well through the night and didn't seem to have disturbed sleep though he was yawning and whinging right from when he got up this morning.

Do I wake him? It's been 3.5hrs now. He was due antibiotics at 3pm plus with the diarrhoea yesterday I'd like him to keep his fluids up.

I hate it when they're ill, I feel so helpless and useless! It's probably worth noting that as I'm allergic to penicillin (amongst other things) and he has inhertited my atopic tendancy it's probably why I worry so much when he gets ill (which is rare).

Rikki

The medicine could make him more drowsy than normal.
Personally I would just keep checking on him and give him the antibiotic when its due next.

Kimberley

Well to be honest your his mum, you know him better then anyone on here, you shouldn't really ask for advice from strangers when it comes to your childs health. Go with your instincts

fad1211

ring nhs direct 0845 4647

amandada

If he's anything like my 2, he's likely to be sleeping himself better. My daughter once went from 5pm till 7am!

The evil nappies are most likely to be due to the antibiotics, and the antibiotics can sometimes knock the stuffing out of children more than the infection they're treating.

I'd maybe give it till about 4.30 before I tried wakening him, if only to give him his medicine, and see how he is. Given that you have a penicillin allergy, I think you're doing right by keeping a close eye, and remember there's always NHS direct who you can call for advice

jackieb

If it was me i'd wake him. Even if you just stroked his face and spoke to him and he gave a bit of a response.

Elle00

fad1211 wrote: »

ring nhs direct 0845 4647

Thanks but they wouldn't tell me whether to wake him or not. They'd just say to check his breathing and if he's dehydrated or breathing funny then he needs to be seen urgently! Had several silly responses in the past, they're overcautious where very little children are concerned and quite sit-on-the-fence too. I totally understand why they do this considering the consequences bad advice can have but I'm asking on here (even though I know I am very naughty to do so) just for advice. I will always make my own decision responsibly with all things considered.

Elle00

And never mind anyway 'cos he just woke up!

My god he is screaming and beating his little fists... No temperature or anything so I just assume he feels run down still and the rest didn't help.

Right well thanks anyway but must fly, probably best if we try cuddles and CBeebies for a spell.

beckiem

its up to you but if its my girls i would wake them up and check their alrite if your asking then your clearly concerned he can always go back to sleep and i think its always best to get there medicine down them when its due and not to skip any

jackieb

Elle83 wrote: »

And never mind anyway 'cos he just woke up!

My god he is screaming and beating his little fists... No temperature or anything so I just assume he feels run down still and the rest didn't help.
.

Aw, bless him. I hope he feels better soon. I think it's when they're quiet you have to worry more.

inkie

Quote:
Originally Posted by fad1211
ring nhs direct 0845 4647

Thanks but they wouldn't tell me whether to wake him or not. They'd just say to check his breathing and if he's dehydrated or breathing funny then he needs to be seen urgently! Had several silly responses in the past, they're overcautious where very little children are concerned and quite sit-on-the-fence too.

Just a word about NHSD. They are guided to certain 'endpoints', by use of clinical decision softwear. The function of NHSD is not to diagnose, but, according to the history that is given, eliminate a more serious cause of symptoms. If it is unlikely to caused by something serious, then usually self-care advice will be given. It's not people sitting on the fence, the history and presenting symptoms will guide the end-point.