Dr Phil Kieran: My sporty son says he feels tired all the time 

For severe fatigue, I would expect either that he wouldn’t be able to participate (at least some of the time) or that he would feel quite unwell in the recovery period after overdoing it. Picture: iStock 

My 11-year-old plays a lot of sports. He picked up a virus about a month ago and recovered within days. However, he’s now complaining of being tired all the time. He pushes through because he doesn’t want to lose his place on the team. I know it’s fairly typical to feel under the weather after a bug, but at what point should we take him to see the doctor?

Fatigue after an infection is pretty common, making it harder for parents to know what is normal and when they should be concerned.

In your son’s case, I am somewhat reassured that he is able to push through and perform in sports. For severe fatigue, I would expect either that he wouldn’t be able to participate (at least some of the time) or that he would feel quite unwell in the recovery period after overdoing it.

From a home perspective, I would have a look at his sleep and diet. Is he getting enough sleep, and is it of good quality? An 11-year-old needs around eight to 11 hours of sleep per night, and sometimes, with school, homework, projects, and sports, this can be difficult to achieve.

Ensuring they have a reasonable, consistent bedtime and a bedroom free of distractions, such as screens, lights, or noise, can significantly improve sleep.

A healthy diet with a decent amount of fruit and veg and limited sugar is also key to having enough energy. In cases like your son’s, poor sleep or diet can slow recovery after an otherwise mild illness.

If his energy levels don’t seem to be improving, it’s a good idea to bring him to the doctor for a check-up.

I would be interested in listening to his breathing and looking for signs of any other issues, such as low iron, thyroid issues, bowel complaints or asthma. If there were no indications of these conditions after discussing all his symptoms and examining him, I may not need to carry out any further tests. 

If, however, I had any concerns, I would consider doing some blood tests (I don’t encourage blood tests for children unless they are essential) or referring him to a paediatrician. 

I would also consider glandular fever as a cause of his tiredness, even though he is younger than average (most commonly it affects 15- to 24-year-olds).

From your description, it seems unlikely that his fatigue is due to anxiety or worry. Still, I would always try to keep an open mind and give children the opportunity to explore the emotional side of their condition. Sometimes children put themselves under too much pressure around sport, which can cause disturbed sleep and fatigue on its own.

Basically, if his fatigue is getting better, I wouldn’t be worried. Check his sleep and diet are good, and see how things go. If the fatigue is static or getting worse, it’s time to see your GP.

• If you have a question for Dr Phil Kieran, please send it to [e-mail]