How often has your child been in hospital?

2Mad2BeMad · 18-01-2019 12:47pm #1

Hi all,

My son who is now 14months old has gone to hospital at least once a week on average since his birth. Been kept in for 2 days only on 1 occasion.
He seems to be sick every week he would have a few good days where there is nothing wrong then bam he would fall ill.

Thankfully nothing too serious.
He had bronculus?(butchering the spelling)
A few times which was what kept him in for the 2 days.
But generally all other hospital visits are because he has a (viral infection) as the doctors put it.
He's currently ill at the moment for the last 3 weeks he's been on steroids and anti biotics and only today have we noticed an improvement but as a side effect of the antibiotics according to the doctor we just left 5 minutes ago he now has blisters all over his mouth which he has had the past 2 days. He refuses to eat and drinks very little because of this and I know for a fact we will end up in hospital again over the weekend because of this.

I feel like I'm losing my mind. We must of been to the hospital/doctors at least over 100times since his birth and 9times out of 10 there is nothing they can do. We had to see the doctor 6 times in the last 2weeks and finally he caved in a gave us steroids and anti biotics.
It's at the stage now when we bring him to tallaght hospital a certain nurse gets angry at us and says "What's wrong with him now...."
I can't help it if my child is always ill but I do feel like we're wasting our time bringing him to a hospital which generally tells us it's viral and that we have to wait it out.
It's easy for them but my kid has been up all night the last 3 weeks crying in pain.

Sorry there's a small rant in there I'm just curious if anyone else has been through something similar

Subacio · 18-01-2019 1:13pm

First two kids have never been, but number 3 had a visit every 6 months for the first 3 years of his life. All visits were unconnected.

He had heart surgery at 10 days old. There were a couple of concussions and a febrile convulsion at various stages too. Another was an allergic reaction to orange Calpol (body covered in a massive rash).

In the last 10 years he's only been once (for a trampoline/football related injury).

Someday will be your last visit to A&E. You won't know it at the time, but you will look back and say thanks to your God that you haven't been back since.

2Mad2BeMad · 18-01-2019 1:19pm

His temperature is 39.4 were rushing him to hospital his clothes are stripped off the past hour.

Call me Al · 18-01-2019 1:20pm

That's the worst I've ever heard to be honest. I've only really noticed an uptick in general childhood illnesses (viral and otherwise) amongst acquaintances once babies start in childcare.
And your medical professionals are right ... if its viral there's nothing they can do. They can try to treat complications that might develop as a consequence though, although I'd have thought the gp would be just as effective for this as trekking to Tallaght A&E all the time.

2Mad2BeMad · 18-01-2019 1:26pm

Call me Al wrote: »

That's the worst I've ever heard to be honest. I've only really noticed an uptick in general childhood illnesses (viral and otherwise) amongst acquaintances once babies start in childcare.
And your medical professionals are right ... if its viral there's nothing they can do. They can try to treat complications that might develop as a consequence though, although I'd have thought the gp would be just as effective for this as trekking to Tallaght A&E all the time.

We go to the gp. They always refer us to the hospital.

Martina1991 · 18-01-2019 1:26pm

When the doctors say its viral, have they ever tried to identify what virus it is?

2Mad2BeMad · 18-01-2019 1:28pm

Martina1991 wrote: »

When the doctors say its viral, have they ever tried to identify what virus it is?

Never. It's just viral and we do ask but we get a shrug of the shoulders as a response.

[Deleted User] · 18-01-2019 1:28pm

2Mad2BeMad wrote: »

His temperature is 39.4 were rushing him to hospital his clothes are stripped off the past hour.

Really hope you get the care you need at the hospital.

PhoenixParker · 18-01-2019 1:31pm

39.4 isn't that high in a 14 month old, certainly not enough to warrant a hospital visit (absent other indicators of distress/serious illness)

I'd give paracetamol and if it doesnt come down call my GP.

Foweva Awone · 18-01-2019 1:31pm

Could you ask your GP to refer you to a paediatric consultant? The A&E doctors will only deal with the emergency situation as and when it presents itself, you need someone who can take an objective long-term view. Instead of just looking to stabilise and discharge him.

2Mad2BeMad · 18-01-2019 1:33pm

39.5 now. This is every week his immune system must be very bad for it to be so often

Loveinapril · 18-01-2019 1:33pm

Is he in a creche? Two of my friends have their little ones in creche and they have both had a stream of antibiotics and hospital visits. My little fella is 14 months and he has never been in. He has had a couple of minor viral infections and had thrush in his mouth but has never been on antibiotics. It seems like he is unusual in my circle of friends who have kids.

daheff · 18-01-2019 1:33pm

eldest was only in for allergy testing & finger xray (caught in creche door!!)

youngest was in for stitches & got a bug and stopped eating/drinking for >24hours, so went in to have her checked out. (she was 2 at the time -don't want people to think we overreacted)

all were fine..even the stitches were only paper (and she took them off the same day!!)

2Mad2BeMad · 18-01-2019 1:34pm

PhoenixParker wrote: »

39.4 isn't that high in a 14 month old, certainly not enough to warrant a hospital visit (absent other indicators of distress/serious illness)

He's limp eyes open but not moving and 39.4 is certainly high in a 14month old

Edit. He's only out of the gp over an over ago.
It was an emergency appointment there fully booked out all week.

Call me Al · 18-01-2019 1:35pm

2Mad2BeMad wrote: »

His temperature is 39.4 were rushing him to hospital his clothes are stripped off the past hour.

And how does it respond to Calpol and Nurofen?

It is a lot of medical care. I can understand why you're so distressed.

2Mad2BeMad · 18-01-2019 1:35pm

Loveinapril wrote: »

Is he in a creche? Two of my friends have their little ones in creche and they have both had a stream of antibiotics and hospital visits. My little fella is 14 months and he has never been in. He has had a couple of minor viral infections and had thrush in his mouth but has never been on antibiotics. It seems like he is unusual in my circle of friends who have kids.

He is in a creche. The last 6 months as we both work
But hasn't been in the creche since the Xmas break.

2Mad2BeMad · 18-01-2019 1:38pm

Call me Al wrote: »

And how does it respond to Calpol and Nurofen?

It is a lot of medical care. I can understand why you're so distressed.

He won't take calpol or Nurofen cause of the blisters in his mouth recently. We gave him a paralink 180mg but he's not due it again until 1.30 so I can't give him anything medicine wise to cool him down.

Martina1991 · 18-01-2019 1:48pm

Is he up to date with all his vaccinations? 6 in 1, MMR etc?

iamwhoiam · 18-01-2019 1:51pm

2Mad2BeMad wrote: »

He won't take calpol or Nurofen cause of the blisters in his mouth recently. We gave him a paralink 180mg but he's not due it again until 1.30 so I can't give him anything medicine wise to cool him down.

You can get Nurofen suppositories in a chemist . Nurofen is much more affective on a temp above 38.5

2Mad2BeMad · 18-01-2019 1:54pm

iamwhoiam wrote: »

You can get Nurofen suppositories in a chemist . Nurofen is much more affective on a temp above 38.5

Thanks.
We have them il try them when he's due

whiskeyman · 18-01-2019 1:55pm

That sounds so hard OP.
Are the infections specific to an area, like ears or throat?
We had constant ear infections and grommits helped.
I can't imagine what you've gone through.
Hope you're little one gets over these nasty bouts. It's not a great time of the year for them.

2Mad2BeMad · 18-01-2019 1:56pm

Martina1991 wrote: »

Is he up to date with all his vaccinations? 6 in 1, MMR etc?

All bar his 13month ones as he's been too sick nurse refuses to give them when he's sick but in saying that he's been sick with fevers when he was getting his previous ones.

whiskeyman · 18-01-2019 1:57pm

2Mad2BeMad wrote: »

Thanks.
We have them il try them when he's due

Pretty sure you can give them earlier than waiting for paracetamol.
Double check, but I remember using them in tandem with the others and it worked a treat.
Also, try get some water in. I know it's hard with blisters, but you really have to try.
I'm sure you know all this though.

iamwhoiam · 18-01-2019 1:57pm

2Mad2BeMad wrote: »

Thanks.
We have them il try them when he's due

If he hasn't had any Nurofen at all today you can give it now . Regardless of when the Paralink is due as they are not the same family

2Mad2BeMad · 18-01-2019 2:01pm

whiskeyman wrote: »

Pretty sure you can give them earlier than waiting for paracetamol.
Double check, but I remember using them in tandem with the others and it worked a treat.
Also, try get some water in. I know it's hard with blisters, but you really have to try.
I'm sure you know all this though.

We're in the hospital at the moment so I don't think we can give him anything unless the docs say so. There gone off to get him Nurofen and calpol they want us to try that first but I know he won't take it.
Funny enough he actually will drink water no problem not loads but will when he's thirsty it doesnt seem to hurt him

Il reply in a while. Cheers everyone for the help il let yous know the outcome

MAJJ · 18-01-2019 2:05pm

My son used to get similar extremely high temps and sometimes higher related to ENT ear issues.

It's very worrying but below is our experience.

We would always try both nurefen and calpol, cooling down, dabbing with water, even driving in car with windows down as our gp suggested. All being careful not to cause shock with extremes. Paralink was the quickest and most effective option. We would go to our GP and in rare occasions to on call care doc. To ensure we were doing all we could do, despite trying to avoid by all, antibiotics were often used and alternated but we all held off until necessary.
We never went to AE with this.

Bobeagleburger · 18-01-2019 2:07pm

PhoenixParker wrote: »

39.4 isn't that high in a 14 month old, certainly not enough to warrant a hospital visit (absent other indicators of distress/serious illness)

I'd give paracetamol and if it doesnt come down call my GP.

Agreed.

Neurophen can be used too.

I remember getting a fright before when one of ours had 40.1C, but managed to get it down below 38.5 with calpol and neurophen.

Paralink is a suppository that contains paracetemol. Good for getting a high temp down quickly.

Wildly Boaring · 18-01-2019 2:07pm

Our first was hardly at the doc nevermind hospital.

No 2 did a week in PICU in crumlin over Christmas. Bronchiolitis in CUH, seizures, stopped breathing. Onto ventilator for a week.

4 viruses and pneumonia

All good now.

39.5 is high and I'd be great believer in trusting your instincts. If anything else off I'd be straight in myself.

mloc123 · 18-01-2019 2:10pm

PhoenixParker wrote: »

39.4 isn't that high in a 14 month old, certainly not enough to warrant a hospital visit (absent other indicators of distress/serious illness)

I'd give paracetamol and if it doesnt come down call my GP.

Capol and Nurofen and see if it drops... I would not be running to hospital every time my son has a high temp. 3.5yrs and luckily we have never had to head to A&E

whiskeyman · 18-01-2019 2:19pm

Wildly Boaring wrote: »

39.5 is high and I'd be great believer in trusting your instincts. If anything else off I'd be straight in myself.

This is key. Always trust your instincts.
I know some advice mentioned here, but no one knows your baby better than you at the end of the day.
If you feel something is wrong, get help. Peace of mind is worth it.
Really hope you get over this phase OP. Best of luck

com1 · 18-01-2019 2:19pm

I know this wont help now but I would be looking to change my GP - your current one does not seem to be too proactive, just referring you to A&E at the drop of a hat. You need someone who will try to get to the root cause of the issues or at least refer you to a specialist and not just A&E.

How often has your child been in hospital?

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