Poorly Four Year Old

[sherrardk]

Thing 2 has been poorly since the weekend. Monday and Tuesday complaining of a bad head, not eating, sick once on Tuesday evening. Kept him off school on Wednesday so he didn't spread any bug he might have. This morning he was complaining the the light hurt his eyes but was adamant he was well enough for school (he seemed 95% well enough to me). I kept asking him when we got to the school if he wanted to come home but he said no. Had to get him from school at 11.30. He looks terrible, underneath his eyes look like he has been crying for a week (he hasn't) and he is still complaining about his head. He has no rash or neck stiffness. I think it is a virus or nasty bug but wanted to know what others thought (he is not going to school tomorrow, he looks rubbish). Thank you.

[woofgang]

I'd be talking to a doctor tonight....likely it's a bug but just in case.

[bednobs]

any temp? Any rash? is he drinking enough?

[ummmm]

If he's saying the light hurts his eyes then I wouldn't take any chances.

With meningitis they don't always display all the symptoms.

My sister was given hours to live with it. If one symptom stood out I'd be at the emergency GP.

[sherrardk]

Hi, he is drinking and eating plenty. Seems to be worse in the evening. Actually my friend picked him up from school (I had left the village for the first time in a month) and she didn't say that she thought that there was anything amiss. Do you think it might be poor eyesight (I know he is only four but he does lots of proper school work and 'concentrating' on stuff including intensive speech therapy (which means concentrating in pictures and individual letters), sums and learning to read).

[sherrardk]

He's not complained about the light tonight, I think his eyes might hurt coupled with not feeling well?

[vodkancoke]

Do you have an out of hours Doc you can ring or maybe ring NHS24 just for reassurance?

[vodkancoke]

I'm just thinking, could it be migraines?

[sherrardk]

I think I might take him for an eye test, he is very compliant with 'authority' figures and would take an test with no problems (thing 1 still hasn't passed the ordinary eye test that all little kids do, she wouldn't put the funny glasses on). Ihavejust woke him up to go to the toilet and put the bathroom light on and it didn't bother him.

[ummmm]

My youngest had his first eye test as a baby. If he isn't speaking it might be an idea to take him to the doctors who should refer him to the hospital for an eye test.

[sherrardk]

Ummmm, his speech is not right yet but he has come on so much! I can't tell you how much he has improved. His confidence has improved so he is trying to talk more and he is like a different boy. Most people can understand what he is trying to say and the range of words he is using is huge (much better than thing 1). He has worked really hard at his speech therapy (according to school) and because he is bright he is thriving (I would also admit to any of them being a bit dim, I am not bigging him up). He sometimes has to stop and think of the word he is looking for but he is doing really well on the speech front.

[ummmm]

That's good :-) Make an appointment with a normal optician. They still might refer him though, just because of his age. They do different tests at the hospital designed for kids.

[Sqad]

Doesn't sound anything urgent, perhaps some ibuprofen may sort this out.
Keep us informed and monitor the situation.