Temperature and "spasms" ??? *UpDated* She has croup

[Beatlesfan]

Imogen had a very high temperature yesterday and worse last night. We noticed it about 4 pm yesterday,gave her ibuprofen. She cooled down, went to bed usual time (7pm) then woke very distressed about 9, again burning hot. We gave her calpol and stripped her down to nappy and tried to cool her with a cool damp muslin cloth (which made her more upset! ). She had a few sort of spasms, it was like the sort of spasms that you have when you drop off to sleep. But she was awake and they really frightened her. She was very upset. She did not lose consiousness and they came in ones/twos and spaced apart by a few minutes. She had about 4 of these. We called NHS direct and understandably they said take her to A and E. She cooled down by 10pm and was playing fine til 12. We decided to hold off going to A and E a bit as she had cooled at this point and did not have any more "jolting" episodes. The thought of getting her dressed, putting her in car seat for twenty mins and then facing A and E made us think it would distress her more. She fell asleep on me at 12. She woke at 2am same as 9pm, burning, had one spasm and I gave her nurofen. by 3am she was cool and playing. At 5am I put her in the pram to try and get her off and she slept for an hour. She woke at six again hot, no spasms, OH got up and gave her a bottle and she fell asleep about 6.30 - 9am. 9am she seemed better in herself, but still hot (not as hot as before) and we gave her some calpol. She has been fine since then and just gone down for a sleep after having breakfast at 9.30am and a bit of my toast at 10.30am. She's been playing fine etc.


She had her MengC and Hib jab on Tuesday and I wondered if it might be to do with this - a delayed reaction?
And what about these spasms? Do you think I should get her checked out? I checked up on convulsions and intantile spasms and it doesn't seem to be as bad as those (no rolling eyes, unconsiousness etc.)

Anyone else's LO suffered with this sort of thing after the jab?

Thanks in advance. x

 

[Beatlesfan]

I spoke to the doctor today. She said the spasms were probably just involuntary movments like when you go to sleep and it shocked Imogen. Phew. She has been fine since having the calpol this morning. Playing well etc. Glad I trusted my instincts of not going A and E - I really think think this would have distressed her more and maybe calpol and cuddles were what she needed. Hope she's all better and on the mend now poor little thing. It's horrible to see your baby upset isn't it. Instinct takes over - I couldn't leave her at all.

Has anyone any advice to share??

 

[ninjawomble]

Ive no advice hun, but wanted to give you , hope she feels better soon.

 

[MagicMarkers]

My first though was that it was a febrile convulsion in response to the jab, and although the doctor has said it PROBABLY wasnt, theres still a chance it was, i think its an odd coincidence that the first time she has these twitches when she falls asleep coincides with the jab.
I would always advice going to A&E as id rather be there being told its nothing by a professional, than sitting at home whilst it gets progressively worse, especially as she spasmed again at 2am.

I assume you called NHS direct for a reason and im not quite sure why you didnt follow their advice IMO the stress of taking her to hospital is no more than the stress she was already obviously in


I know i sound horrible, but i cant imagine not taking my little one to A&E in the circumstances, im really glad shes ok now, hope she feels better soon

 

[millylillyrose]

ugh, that sounds horrible, im sorry you and your LO had to go through that. India just had her second set of jabs last week and had a bit of a rough time with high fevers and things from it. we just did the same as you though, stripped her down, cold wash cloths and medicine.
Its SO horrible when they're sick, and you feel so helpless. lucky for us mummies though, babies mend pretty quick.
How's she doing now?

 

[Beatlesfan]

My first though was that it was a febrile convulsion in response to the jab, and although the doctor has said it PROBABLY wasnt, theres still a chance it was, i think its an odd coincidence that the first time she has these twitches when she falls asleep coincides with the jab.
I would always advice going to A&E as id rather be there being told its nothing by a professional, than sitting at home whilst it gets progressively worse, especially as she spasmed again at 2am.

I assume you called NHS direct for a reason and im not quite sure why you didnt follow their advice IMO the stress of taking her to hospital is no more than the stress she was already obviously in


I know i sound horrible, but i cant imagine not taking my little one to A&E in the circumstances, im really glad shes ok now, hope she feels better soon

OH wanted to call NHS direct. My gut feeling was that she was very hot, and needed nurofen/calpol and cuddles. I wasn't sure what the spasms were and so when that happened I agreed. The NHS direct person asked many many Qs, all of which we answered no (blue nail beds, trouble breathing etc.) and at the end they said go to A and E anyway - the doctor today said NHS usually say A and E esp. with babies, which is understandable. They also said febrile convulsions last for a number of seconds, around 20, this was not the case with Imogen. I can't really say why I didn't follow their advice per se - as I mentioned my instinct told me she needed cuddles and medicine we had in house to get her temp down. She was so clingy to me and only calmed when cuddled into me, I could not bear to try and distress her more by dressing her, being seperated from her in car and the whole A and E experience. Don't get me wrong, I am the first one to go to A and E in fact I was there by myself yesterday for 3 hours to get a cut to a finger dressed and a tetenus in minor injuries.

Imogen does twitch and spasm just as she goes off to sleep, this was not a new thing, what was weird was that she was awake... that's why the doc said it probably shocked her.

OH and I stayed dressed all night so we could leave ASAP if we felt we needed to go to A and E. I know I shouldn't feel like I need to justify our decision, but I don't want you to think I am a bad mum MagicMarkers....

Update... she has been right as rain today. having a normal day sleeping, eating, playing and her temperature has stayed steady.

Thank you all ladies for your kind thoughts and wishes. It has been a long night/day for me... I am hoping we all get some sleep tonight.

x

 

[Beatlesfan]

PM'ed you back MagicMarkers. Thanks for your message. x

 

[Gem & Leland]

obviously not injection related but you might remember leland has had some mega temps recently and ended up in a&e twice , the 2nd time he did that twitching , spasms as if he was shaking but like you no eye rolling etc so who knows ! glad she is better tho !

 

[Beatlesfan]

thanks Gem&Leland for that info, I must have missed your posts, I will have to go back and read them. We are definitely going to docs tomorrow - she has woken up half hour ago with a very nasty cough.. I am wondering croup?? I used to get this and it sounds exactly the same. keep you posted. she's not got a temp now, just the cough. x

 

[Beatlesfan]

I took Imogen to the doctors this morning. She does have croup. That was what the temperature was all about and the cough. She's had normal temperature all night, slept downstairs on sofa with OH last night to keep her in a semi-upright position as lying down can make it worse.

I got 7.5 hours straight sleep last night in my bed, alone!!!! So comfy and so needed. OH is going into work late today as he is understandably shattered. You don't sleep well with a baby on you on the sofa do you?

Will keep an eye on her today but if she's OK doc advised to spend some time in steamy bathroom before bed to help clear airways etc. and dose of paracetamol before bed. He thinks she is over the worst. PHEW!!!!

Imogen is asleep now - she doesn't normally go for nap until half tennish but she must be shattered too. Poor baby.

 

[DebbieM]

My nephew had croup last year and ended up in hospital over night on a nebuliser and having steroids for 24 hours so just keep a very close eye on her.

 

[Beatlesfan]

My nephew had croup last year and ended up in hospital over night on a nebuliser and having steroids for 24 hours so just keep a very close eye on her.

I will do thanks DebbieM. Sorry to hear your nephew had it that bad and had to be hopsitalised. Poor love. x

 

[indie78]

the "jolting" sounds like rigors- its no a febrile convulsion, just a normal body reaction to high temperature. some babies/children have rigors with fever, others dont. they aren't harmful but do indicate a high fever

 

[lisa&alex]

awh hun..just wanted to say.. if you have a shower take her in the bathroom before bed and let her breath in the steam.. also.. if she has a coughing fit.. then take her into the cold air.. as it really helps im not sure why it does.. but it does.charl has croup every year.. guarentted.. we have learnt to leave her bedroom window open now.. because the cold air really helps. xx

 

[Beatlesfan]

awh hun..just wanted to say.. if you have a shower take her in the bathroom before bed and let her breath in the steam.. also.. if she has a coughing fit.. then take her into the cold air.. as it really helps im not sure why it does.. but it does.charl has croup every year.. guarentted.. we have learnt to leave her bedroom window open now.. because the cold air really helps. xx

Thanks for this info/advice, we have been doing this and it's definately eased over the last 3-4 days. Thanks everyone for your advice. x x