Maybe just being paranoid, but could my son have septicaemia - and what should I do?!
Question: Maybe just being paranoid, but could my son have septicaemia - and what should I do.?
My son is 2 and a half years old and this afternoon he fell over on some concrete (which it may be worth noting, right next to a dog kennel that has been used by dogs for many years but not for a few months) and had a small but painful looking graze on the palm of his hand. He refuses to let me look at it well or touch it, even with any antiseptic and won't touch it himself, but has been very upset and troubled by it until bedtime. He has awoken a few times since going to bed (it is almost midnight here) crying, very upset and seems troubled by his hand. He is sweating profusely (it's cool in his room), but doesn't seem to have a temperature. It is worth noting that he is quite overtired, and this could be the cause of his unrest, but I only worry because of the sweating, as well as his pain over the injury (this is however, probably the most proglonged painful feeling he's had that he can remember so perhaps that's all it is). I am a little worried as a friend had septicaemia after getting minor gravel rash falling from her bike so maybe just paranoid. What I would like to know is : could it be septicaemia.? If it is, how quickly can it come on in a toddler and what other signs might I be seeing.? What should I do.? I would call the nurse line but he doesn't seem too bad at the moment, has no fever (except sweating) and I feel a bit silly. I will call if he gets worse. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.Health Question & Answer
Answers:
I had septicaemia. It started with a hangnail. It became infected and pussy. It took appx. one week of red, inflamed little pussiness before I noticed a red line going from the hangnail to my wrist. A day later it was up to my elbow. I never had a fever, I just became drowsy (but this was when the line was to my elbow). Wait until after lunch and a good nap. His hand may be throbbing a bit and that would keep him awake. Health Question & Answer
you need to take the baby to a doctor immediately.Health Question & Answer
1. Wash wound in water and a little soap.
2. Treat with Benadine, apply with a cotton bud.
3. Or, Wash wound with soap and water in bath or shower.
4. Apply dettol etc. cream and band aid.
Borrow books from the library or the doctor, dentist etc. Let them apply stuff to you make a game of it and apply antiseptic to each other if need be. Borrow books with nice stories from the library. Plus when my daughter was young she hated taking panadol in any form but there was occasion for her own good, her temperature was sooo high that one of us held her down to get it into her. I still give her tepid showers if her temperature is up and always sipping water.Health Question & Answer
2. Treat with Benadine, apply with a cotton bud.
3. Or, Wash wound with soap and water in bath or shower.
4. Apply dettol etc. cream and band aid.
Borrow books from the library or the doctor, dentist etc. Let them apply stuff to you make a game of it and apply antiseptic to each other if need be. Borrow books with nice stories from the library. Plus when my daughter was young she hated taking panadol in any form but there was occasion for her own good, her temperature was sooo high that one of us held her down to get it into her. I still give her tepid showers if her temperature is up and always sipping water.Health Question & Answer
If he gets a fever, or you notice small red lines emanating from the site of the injury, call a doctor immediately, because once septicaemia sets in it can spread quickly, especially in a child. In the meantime you might want to put some antiseptic on it or at least wash it with warm soapy water, even if he cries and doesn't want you to!Health Question & Answer