Suspected Meningitis

[themorrigan]

My 12 year old son has just gone with his dad to A&E suspected meningitis. headache and drowsy since yesterday, elevated (39.9c) temperature despite regular doses of Calpol and paracetamol. Emergency doctor did over the phone diagnostics and told us to take him straight away to urgent care at the local hospital. He has no rash or stiff neck and is not photosensitive, has not been sick but had mild diarrhea -could it (hopefully) be something else?

[gness]

M...guess there are many things it could be...but just wanted to say thinking of you and hope there's good news very soon....let'd hope it's just a bug.
Love Gx

[sherrardk]

Easy to say, but try not to worry. I expect it could be lots of less sinister things. You've done the right thing. Is the hospital far away? If the emergency doctor was really concerned he/she would have sent an ambulance.

[themorrigan]

The urgent care unit is about 15 minutes away. thankfully the emergency Dr. turned out to be our own GP we've known for years so he's in good hands. We were offered an ambulance but the ambulance has to come from a town 30 mins away -a ridiculous situation-so OH just bunged him in the truck. Thank you for your thoughts, I'm going up the wall with worry.

[237SJ]

Could it be dehydration from the bout of diahhroea? Just a thought. He`s in the best hands anyway.

[kylesmum]

My nephew had viral meningitis.He projectile vomited in the morning, he was drowsy all day.An on call GP came out to see him later in the day and diagnosed a lung infection, by the time my brother had been to collect the script from the pharmacy he had to call for help again, he deteriorated within half an hour.Photo sensitive, stiff neck.He took him into hospital himself on the GPs advice as it was quicker than an ambulance. He was fine after a few days under obs and recovered fully.

So guess what i'm saying is that you acted quickly, you did the right thing and he certainly is in the right place. It's a terrible worry though, it sounds more viral (anything) to me but i'm just trying to reassure you, i'm not a doctor.Keep us posted and try your hardest to relax x

[sherrardk]

I know what it's like to be out of your mind with worry, you can't make time go faster but the hospital will do everything it needs to do as quickly as it can. (Have v recent experience of both ambulances and a & e and they were fabulous).

[gness]

Bu99er off with stupid comments China.....you don't know who else might need caring for at home....and sometimes it helps to chat on here when you are worried and waiting...eejit.

Sorry M...but she made me cross! ♥

[sherrardk]

Maybe she has other children to be with? My husband got taken to hospital and none of us went with him, he got transferred to QE in Birmingham within five hours and we weren't with him (he didn't actually want his children to see where he was). Families have to be sorted out and priorities have to be sorted out. The boy is with his dad, the mam is sorting the other stuff out, it will be ok.

[themorrigan]

Thank you for that chinajan, he's with his dad at the urgent care centre being seen by the doctor. If he needs to stay overnight I'll drive myself down there with some pyjamas and things for him.

[Mamyalynne]

Well you can be reassured that you were not fobbed off and your boy is getting the best attention - I pray for a good and speedy recover whatever the diagnosis. x

[kylesmum]

I agree it was crass, hope there is a Mod on duty tonight who can remove that comment, themorrigan came on to get support not for judgement.

[themorrigan]

He started with the diarrhea about 24 hours after the headache started. he's never ill -the last time he was at the docs was about 2 years ago.

[themorrigan]

I'm just sat here waiting for the phone to ring and its really helping me to share this so thank you all for your kind words. If I stop posting its because I have to go somewhere but I will post news when I get it. Thank you x

[sherrardk]

They get all sorts, could be anything or nothing. He's in the best place, they will know if it is meningitis or something else (or nothing to worry about). If in doubtful to a & e. Have done it twice in these circumstances - 2 her old hospitalised for dehydration and grow up had a follow up ct scan (where the docs said we had done the right thing). If it feels wrong, it's wrong. That's what the NHS

[sherrardk]

.... Is for.

[kylesmum]

I still think its a virus of some description but again i'm not a GP and can only go on my nephews/brothers experience. The good news themorrigan is he doesn't have a rash. He's not photo sensitive and he hasn't projectile vomitted. There is a simple test which indicates meningitis on arrival at hospital, the Consultant simply shines a torch into their eyes and he can tell immediately if the brain is swollen. You'll know very soon or you would have by now. I hope he is better very soon.

[gness]

Isn't it always worse when the child is usually so fit and healthy. I had one like that...rarely ill but when she was a little thing always seemed so much worse than with one who was often ill...just because it was unusual I suppose....scare the living daylights out of you don't they? x