Does Your Child Need Urgent Medical Attention? By Dr Kathleen Thompson

 

Healthy children, who have died following a short but severe infection have hit the news recently.

The problem is that young children can become sick within hours. Most recover equally quickly—but, despite best care, some don’t, particularly if they have meningitis or other overwhelming infection.

One year-old William Mead died of sepsis, apparently after ‘111’ staff didn’t appreciate how ill he had become. I won’t comment without knowing all the facts, except to say it can be difficult, sometimes even for experts, to assess whether a small child is seriously ill.

However, as an ex-paediatrician, I do have concerns about telephone diagnosis, whether the 111 service, swine-flu helplines, or GPs asking parents to hold the telephone over a child’s chest so they can hear their breathing (yes I have known this to happen). Professor Neena Modi, a senior paediatrician, has also publically voiced similar concerns recently.

Small children have an immature immune system, and consequently don’t react to, or show signs of, illness in the same way as adults. Whenever I was asked to see a sick child, my first concern was whether they needed immediate emergency treatment, or whether I could take my time, asking more questions and making a detailed examination. The signs in the Table would help me decide, and sometimes I just knew from experience.  I remember assessing a new-born baby, who simply wouldn’t stop crying. Something wasn’t right. We did some tests on the special baby unit—he had meningitis and needed urgent antibiotics. Happily he made a full recovery.

I am not suggesting that every crying child needs an urgent medical assessment—just that signs of illness in babies and toddlers can be subtle, and experience helps.

So how does a parent know whether to seek urgent medical help?

Does Your Child Need Urgent Medical Attention? signsofillnessinbabiesandchildren

The Table provides pointers, however, you know your child, and, even if they don’t shown any of these signs, if you are worried, you must insist they are seen by a doctor—better to ‘waste someone’s time’ than miss a serious infection. As a personal example, I was convinced one night that my young son had meningitis. I rushed him to A&E department, where he made a miraculous recovery, just before my colleague came in to examine him. Embarrassing, but I would do it again.

So if you are worried, what should you do?

Options include:

  • Phone your GP
  • Phone 111 and ask to see a doctor that day (or within the hour if you are really worried)
  • Go to your local A&E department (check first that it is open).

If all else fails, and your child is getting worse, dial 999 for an ambulance.

Although it is important that you are aware of these signs and what to do, please do remember, though, that overwhelming childhood infections are relatively rare. Most infections are not serious, and most times your child will be dancing around the next day.

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q

Further information:

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/spotting-signs-serious-illness.aspx

http://www.news-medical.net/news/20120704/Signs-that-a-child-is-seriously-ill-Interview-with-Professor-Middleton.aspx

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

 

 

Film Extra Caught Out Pretending To Be Stormtrooper In Star Wars Film by Lucasfilm

Film Extra Caught Out Pretending To Be Stormtrooper In Star Wars Film by Lucasfilmtwitter
An aspiring actor and film extra got caught out lying about being a stormtrooper in the new Star Wars film…by Lucasfilm. Alex Rolt had a lot of positive feedback when he told his local paper that he played the stormtrooper who says the line “Traitor!” in the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens film. The drama school graduate told the paper he had been chosen because of his fencing experience to fight against Boyega. He told the journalist: ‘They got me in the stormtrooper outfit but the prop didn’t have a clip or anything on the uniform, so I had to hold it in a certain way then deliver the line: “Traitor!” ‘ The interview then went viral.

The interview came to the attention of Star Wars production company LucasFilm who revealed the role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens was played by veteran stuntman Liang Yang.

Film Extra Caught Out Pretending To Be Stormtrooper In Star Wars Film by Lucasfilm2

Rolt made a public apology and admitted he only had a small extra role in the production. He said on Twitter: “Sorry for doing this to all the fans. Was a joke that got out of hand. My career is tarnished.”

Acting is a very hard career and actors do embellish their careers sometimes. Unfortunately, Rolt did not simply embellish, but took the credit for another actors part. It probably was a joke that got out of hand. It remains to be seen if he can redeem his reputation in the industry but it could be possible. He has already publicly apologised and that is the first step.

What do you think? Should Alex Rolt be forgiven? How wrong was what he did?

Catherine Balavage has been an actor for over ten years. Her book on acting, How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur, has gotten numerous five star reviews and has been called the ‘best advice available’ by numerous sources.