My 4 Year Old Is sick...any Ideas?

Hi K.,

My kids had this exact virus last week. My son (2.5) started 2 weeks ago today -headache and slight fever. Had the fever until Wed. Very high at times (105.5 -in the ear, which is always a little higher than actual). No other symptoms other than extreme irritability and tummy ache. My 5 yr old daughter started on the following Tuesday. Same thing, high fever, tummy ache, no appetite and irritable. Took my son to Acute Kids (Someone already mentioned this -fantastic clinic in my opinion) on the Sunday afternoon and Dr. thought it could have been Strep throat or a UTI. Test was neg for Strep and I said no to the test for the UTI because I didn't think it was (he was peeing with no complaints).

We ended up taking my daughter to Acute kids the following Sat because she started to complain of a sore neck (just muscular from lying in bed for so many days) but they said many children had been in with this virus -very high fever for 4 - 5 days and just keep plenty of fluids in them. My kids both go to the same montessori school and I was told it was going around there.

Good luck, sounds like you might be towards the end, keep up with the fluids and cuddles. Also alternate between tylenol and motrin. I have also been told in the past that meds will only take a temp down 2 degrees. If your 6 mo old gets it I would def. bring him in to a dr. asap because of his age.

L.

Hello K.!!

Ok...I am coming in here short and fast.....not to be mean, but who is your regular pediatrician? What does he say? ALWAYS KEEP YOU APPOINTMENTS, KIDS CAN GET SICK ON A DIME!! (QUICKLY) What ER did you take her to?? ANY STOMACH PAIN gets first priority!! I am not a Doctor, but she is dehydrated!!! She needs liquids bad!! How is she doing now, no, is not NORMAL FOR KIDS TO RUN 106 temp, that Doc who told you that is CRAZY!!!! What is wrong w/people!! That is a serious infection especially in a 4 year old!!!

UTI or not, she really sounds like she should have been admitted to the hospital. I am sorry, but girl you have to be AGGRESSIVE WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR CHILD'S HEALTH!! You are the ONLY advocate for your child's health!! The heartrate, yeah that might be questionable, but the fever that is not good.

There are several ER places that are open during night time hours and weekends. You need to go to just a KID place during weekend or night time hours. Do you know about ACUTE KIDS CARE? Their is one in Frisco off Preston (been there 3 times)and another one off 121 Plano/McKinney/Frisco borderline...find them on the web or google them...

Also, got to WWW.WEBMD.COM if you ever want to research any symptoms or just to find out what is going on about anything. I am not telling you to not trust Doctors, but honey THEY ARE NOT GODS!!! They are just like you and me but w/ a little bit more education. They don't know everything and they are NOT always RIGHT!! Any physican worth their salt will question or at least get a referral or tell you "I DON'T KNOW"!! That is most honest thing a physican can tell you!! Insist on tests/ blood work or anything that will try and give them some information about what it going on.

I pray she is doing better, but please don't sit on this when your child is ill.

I could tell you a few stories, but won't go into them because of their ending, but when my son woke up from his nap (about 18 months old) at 102 temp, and throwing up everything and making visible shaking motions, (had already put a call to my pediatrician) I didn't wait and I threw everything in the car and took him to the ER where everything was taken care of and we saw his pediatrician the next day. He wound up w/just a stomach bug and was eating mac & cheese the next day, but you cannot be too careful!! They sometimes get sick quickly and then get well just as fast. TRUST YOUR MOMMY INSTINCT!!

Good Luck and prayers!!

G. B.

Any doctor who would say 106 fever is okay is an idiot! My younger brother had seizures when his was not even that high - it is very dangerous! She obviously has something wrong with her (not to alarm you) so take her to a doctor ASAP. I know you are in Greenville but I love my doc in Mesquite & I'll gladly give you his name & number. Sorry to be blunt, but you know your daughter best & God gave you your mother's intuition for a reason! If she gets worse before you can get her to the doctor (or fever rises again) take her to the ER right away. I know you've seen those moms who are seem very mean & insist to see a doctor right away - be one of those and get your daughter some help!

Have them check her appendix! Demand that they do this!!!

http://www.medicinenet.com/appendicitis/page2.htm

I'm so sorry to hear you are going through this! My best to your little one!

Jodi

K.,
I am sorry you are going through all of this. I kn ow it is horrible to have a sick child. As a mom you want to make sure you little one is all better as soon as possible.
I have been a Pedi RN for 14 years. I work in an office with 5 MD's and 2 NP's. What you have described are classic symptoms of a virus. The temp going way up at night, the HA, etc.... The pulse rate in kids goes up w/ temp- as does the respiratory rate. Saying that a fast pulse is is a sign of dehydration is a bit misleading- just like a cough is a symptom of the flu, it can also be a symptom of cold, allergies, etc...
There is nothing wrong with a child running a fever. (I am NOT talking <6mos old). Fever is the bodies way of dealing with illness. It helps to fight the virus.
Here is a great article http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/emergencies/fe...
I am happy to give you more info or answer any questions you might have. Please feel free to e-mail me.

D.
____@____.com

You need to take her to the ER asap and demand to see a doctor. Explain the symptoms and how long she's had these symptoms. When you see a doc, ask about meningitis.

And your regular doctor is a quack, 105 fever can cause seizures anything over 106 can be fatal. I'd report this doctor to someone. Also, if she's dehydrated, she could have kidney failure if you don't get some fluids in her and keep them there. Get her Pedialyte...the popsicles, the juice, whatever she'll take. I really hope she's ok.

I FELT I NEEDED TO ADD THIS: A FEVER MAY BE YOUR BODIES WAY OF FIGHTING OFF ILLNESS BUT IT IS CERTAINLY NOT ONLY A SYMPTOM OF A VIRUS...IT CAN BE A SYMPTOM FOR ANY THING!!!!!! NAUSEA, VOMITING, DIARRHEA, AND FEVER ARE THE FOUR MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS OF ANY ILLNESS. ALSO AN ELEVATED WHITE BLOOD COUNT MOST OFTEN MEANS THERE IS A BACTERIAL INFECTION. AND IT IS NEVER, I REPEAT NEVER OK FOR A CHILD TO HAVE A FEVER OVER 105 DEGREES. PEOPLE CAN SUFFER SEVERE BRAIN DAMAGE FROM FEVERS THAT HIGH AND A SEIZURE IS NOT SOMETHING TO TAKE LIGHTLY EITHER, IT CAN ALSO CAUSE DAMAGE. MY MOTHER HAS BEEN AN O.R. NURSE AND IS NOW THE DIRECTOR AND MY GRANDFATHER IS A PHYSICIAN AND HAS BEEN FOR 45 YEARS AND THEY BOTH SAID THAT A FEVER THAT HIGH IS DANGEROUS AND CAUSE FOR SERIOUS ACTION. KEEP GETTING SECOND OPINIONS UNTIL YOU ARE SATISFIED

I hope you have some answers by now and your little girl is doing much better. But if you don't, definitely have them check her appendix. I had mine removed when I was 18, but I was in the hospital for a week before they took it out. It was already leaking and it almost burst. I was having pain in the middle of my lower stomach area so the docs were constantly doing pregnancy tests which were coming back negative. When they finally did exploratory surgery to find out what was causing me to be so sick they found that my appendix which was about to burst had expanded so much it was wrapped around my fallopian tubes which is not the normal place for the appendix and that's why I was having pain the middle of my stomach instead of on the side.

Again, I hope you're little girl is getting the medical attention she needs and is doing much better.