Staphylococcus aureus & Pericarditis

About Staphylococcus aureus, Pericardial Rub, Pericardial Effusion & Pericarditis

What should I do if my child seems to be getting worse or isn’t recovering quickly?

• Please be wary of being told your child has a virus, as this can’t always be accurate and may well need further review.
• If not improving fairly quickly, take your child/young adult back to their GP, call the NHS helpline for an urgent assessment and, if no access to this advice or gut feel tells you otherwise go straight to A&E. You know your child better than anyone else. Trust your instincts.
• Do refer the medical teams to this web page as a reference point.
• Trust yourself and push for your son/daughter to be seen again and again if necessary.
• Request a blood test to rule out a bacterial infection.
• Request x-rays and scans and ask whether a lumbar puncture would prove the point.
• Most of all, never feel you are a nuisance. You are dealing with one of your most precious commodities – your child.