Need advice...little man's sick

ChubbyCheekiesMom

Hi ladies,

I need some advice, so T has been sick since yesterday evening.  Fever under the arm being around 100.8 unless medicated, with a slight runny nose.  He did throw up this morning, but it's not unlike him to have an upset tummy with a fever and then gag to make him throw up.  I got a phone call last night from MIL saying that his cousin was sick as well, and she has a runny nose, fever and bad cough.  She's been sick since either late Sunday or Monday.  T and his cousin were together on Sunday for about 5 hours.  I got a call tonight from SIL telling me that T's cousin has walking pneumonia and it's very contagious and to just watch him.  They are getting antibiotics for her right now.

Other than the fever, he isn't really showing any signs of anything else, he is still happy, laughing, playing just needing more breaks and not eating or drinking very much. I think I got a bowl full of goldfish and half a nugget down him today.  He took a 2.5 hour nap today which is about 2 hours longer than normal, and is already down for the count.  I've been only trying to medicate him once a day and allowing the fever to run it's course before bed and then giving him another dose.  I guess my question is, yes...I had one. Should I take him to the walk in clinic tomorrow just to be safe?  We have new insurance so I can't take him to his old pedi (Group health), the walk in's at Everett Clinic take our insurance (but we have to pay out of pocket until our deductible is met).  Or should I just wait it out another day and play it by ear. 

I really didn't need this extra stress right now, I have so much on my plate as it is, and with H not being home to help I'm a complete mess.  Of course this has to happen the week after my mother is in town! Thanks for your help! 

Mama_v2.0

I would play it by ear tomorrow and probably get him in Friday if he is still running a fever (and/or other things develop.)

Seattle_JiLLn

So you add one for arm temps right? So his temp is more like 102? My ped would say 102 is fine with kids that age but toBring him in if the fever goes on with no other symptoms for three days or with cold symptoms for four or five days. Or if he's really not himself. If he's uncomfortable enough to be lethargic and not eat, I would give him meds during the day too.

StellaZ

We did 3 full days of 102-103 temps. Because he pulled his ears and said owie I booked an appt but he checked out fine (and his temp was down due to Tylenol so I just looked crazy I think). If he's acting okay I'd wait it out one more day. We were lucky that he kept wanting fluids though, just no food.

keri1013

I tend to wait things out at least for a few days. I would agree with not medicating the fever too often, of course you don't want him to be miserable but the fever is doing a job also. If you can get liquids in him, and the fever hasn't gone up, I'd probably wait until tomorrow and then take him in if there's still no change. I hope he feels better soon!

ChubbyCheekiesMom

Thank you for the advice ladies!

Jill- I knew to add a degree to the underarm temp, thanks though. 

Keri- That's why I was only medicating him twice a day so that way between doses the fever could do it's job.  He's mostly the worst at night, but by then he's just tired.  He slept great last night, I did hear him cough twice this morning but they weren't serious more like dry throat cough.  He still had a low fever 100 (after I added a degree), but I still gave him some medicine. He's acting like himself, still laughing, playing and what not.  He's not lethargic one bit. I think I'll just watch him for the day and if he isn't better by tomorrow I'll take him to a walk in.  

 

Seattle_JiLLn

Sorry I was the one who wasn't sure that why I was confirming my logic. I never do armpit. So I just wanted to make sure I was thinking of the right numbers when I added my two cents. that's why I wrote it all out so in case my logic was wrong you could ignore me.

Seattle_JiLLn

An I'm glad it sounds like he's on the mend this morning!

StellaZ

My Mom is a long time RN and is used to adding +1 on axillary temps...but she said they have now been instructed to NOT do that anymore. AND, when we took G in they took his temp that way and did not add...just FYI.

ChubbyCheekiesMom

StellaZ:

My Mom is a long time RN and is used to adding +1 on axillary temps...but she said they have now been instructed to NOT do that anymore. AND, when we took G in they took his temp that way and did not add...just FYI.

Oh really?  Ok, either way his temp wasn't over 102, and he isn't lethargic.  I guess his cousin was super lethargic (but she isn't an active child anyway), so that's why they took her in and her cough.  He has neither sign. I don't have any other type of thermometer here at home other than digital.  he's not ready for in the mouth and at the DR they do under the arm.  I  never asked them specifically if they added a degree. 

Jill-No worries, I know a lot of people don't know that.  I did look it up on Dr. Google first.  I also googled walking pneumonia which stated that you could have it for 2 weeks or more but signs won't present themselves until after that.  It also said it's not as serious as it sounds. She is always sick, at least monthly if not twice a month.  She obviously has a low immune system but T is sick maybe 3 times a year with a runny nose and cough.  

KNemo

Hey lady, I am just getting around to reading posts today. I am so sorry T is sicky, but I am glad he is getting better. Maxipot had a fever for three days (his actually got up to 102.5), but by the fourth day, he was fever free. He does have a nasty cough that I was concerned about, but it was only really bad for a day or two. Now it's just irritating, but not bad.

I hope little man feels better really soon. We can't wait to have a playdate!