tamiflu....has your toddler had it?

Mrs.Saxy

I'm trying to get in touch with the dr to see if we need to go in.  DS started with 102.7 fever around midnight, then vomiting 2 times since then. He's so lethargic, won't eat his toast, and is just laying down watching TV....so abnormal.

so, I'm trying to figure out if Tamiflu is worth the dr trip, if in fact he does have the flu. 

boo-bitz

Tamiflu would not be used for a stomach flu, which it sounds like your son may have. Tamiflu is more commonly given for influenza, which is like getting a cold but more severe and with aches and fever. But vomiting is not a symptom of influenza but is for sure of stomach flu. The problem with stomach flu is that while it can be viral, it can also be a bacterial as well, so giving an anti-viral will not help too much.

Your best bet for the wee one is to let him rest as much as he wants, give him tylenol as it is not as hard on the stomach as say advil or motrin, let him have as much clear fluids as he wants (apple juice, water, flat ginger ale), and maybe even grab some pedialyte mr freezies. Also a luke warm bath will help bring the fever down as well.

The good thing about stomach bugs is that they come on quickly and generally go away equally fast.

goodheartedmommy

boo-bitz:

Tamiflu would not be used for a stomach flu, which it sounds like your son may have. Tamiflu is more commonly given for influenza, which is like getting a cold but more severe and with aches and fever. But vomiting is not a symptom of influenza but is for sure of stomach flu. The problem with stomach flu is that while it can be viral, it can also be a bacterial as well, so giving an anti-viral will not help too much.

Your best bet for the wee one is to let him rest as much as he wants, give him tylenol as it is not as hard on the stomach as say advil or motrin, let him have as much clear fluids as he wants (apple juice, water, flat ginger ale), and maybe even grab some pedialyte mr freezies. Also a luke warm bath will help bring the fever down as well.

The good thing about stomach bugs is that they come on quickly and generally go away equally fast.

I agree with this, though sometimes people do vomit with influenza. I would not give tamiflu yet even if he does have influenza. It is not dangerous for most people, and it will run its course. You can alternate tylenol and motrin to help with the aches and pain, but I'd avoid the motrin while he's vomiting. We had much higher fevers with the flu--like 104 high, but with stomach flu the fever is usually a little lower.

Tamiflu is a very potent drug and not one I'd give my child unless I felt like they absolutely needed it. We had H1N1 last year, with my youngest being only 10 months at the time. It really sucked, but we made it through with nothing more than tylenol, motrin, lots of liquid, and lots of rest. 

Good luck! Hope he's better soon!

swoop24

Just to give a different opinion, we are currently giving DD tamiflu and it honestly seems to be working wonders.  My husband had the flu early last week, I had it really badly Thursday through Monday and am still fighting it, and DD started showing signs of it late Monday/early Tuesday.  She vomited early Tuesday, which she commonly does when she gets sick even if it isn't stomach flu. 

 Took her to the doc yesterday, they confirmed the flu with the swab test, and prescribed tamiflu.  They make a children's formula so obviously that's what we're using.  If the trip to the doc is not that far, then I would say it's worth it but it's a personal decision.  You also have to start administering within 48 hours of the first signs, so if you do go it would be good to go as soon as you can.