When your kid is sick -- how long are they sick for?

[Mickey'snewestfan]

My 10 year old was a very sick infant and toddler, due to a number of other medical issues, and has grown into the healthiest kid I know. Well, not really, he still has significant allergies and allergic asthma, but since he was 4 he hasn't had a single day of illness due to anything contagious (e.g. no fever, no sore throat, no coughing or sneezing at times when I couldn't point to an allergen, literally none).

Until yesterday, he's now home with a fever (don't ask me how high, I don't own a thermometer, but he feels warm and when I give him motrin he feels less warm) the chills, a sore throat, and lots of coughing like you'd expect from an asthmatic child who is sick. His best friend has the same exact symptoms, so I figure he caught something.

This is the worst week of the year professionally for me to be sick. I have a calendar full of things I'll need to cancel, including a trip across country on Thursday (he was supposed to stay with Grandma, but I can't have Grandma catch this -- that seems very unfair). Of course I'll do so without hesitation, but I don't how many days in advance to cancel. That is, if I'm definitely not going on Thursday it would be better to let the people know now, if I'm definitely not going to my meeting on Wed. it would be better to let people know now.

So, I'm already cancelling everything for tomorrow, but beyond that, what's the earliest he might be healthy?

[Piglets Mommy]

Originally Posted by Mickey'snewestfan

My 10 year old was a very sick infant and toddler, due to a number of other medical issues, and has grown into the healthiest kid I know. Well, not really, he still has significant allergies and allergic asthma, but since he was 4 he hasn't had a single day of illness due to anything contagious (e.g. no fever, no sore throat, no coughing or sneezing at times when I couldn't point to an allergen, literally none).

Until yesterday, he's now home with a fever (don't ask me how high, I don't own a thermometer, but he feels warm and when I give him motrin he feels less warm) the chills, a sore throat, and lots of coughing like you'd expect from an asthmatic child who is sick. His best friend has the same exact symptoms, so I figure he caught something.

This is the worst week of the year professionally for me to be sick. I have a calendar full of things I'll need to cancel, including a trip across country on Thursday (he was supposed to stay with Grandma, but I can't have Grandma catch this -- that seems very unfair). Of course I'll do so without hesitation, but I don't how many days in advance to cancel. That is, if I'm definitely not going on Thursday it would be better to let the people know now, if I'm definitely not going to my meeting on Wed. it would be better to let people know now.

So, I'm already cancelling everything for tomorrow, but beyond that, what's the earliest he might be healthy?

Sounds like what my DS has.....The Dr said it is Bronchitis. He was cleared to go back to school 24 hrs after the fever broke (fever only lasted a day) but honestly, he is Still sick...he got this Last Wed. is still Wheezing/coughing...was supposed to use his nebulizer for just 3-4 days, but he still needs it.

I hpoe your son is feeling better soon.

[NHdisneylover]

I hope your son feels better soon

I have weird kids. Niether is sick very often (we have gone over a year at a time more than once with only the well child checks at Drs offices and most of the off years have been for things like broken bones or needing stiches).

DS will strike a high fever (103-104) and then lay around miserable for about 12-18 hours and then he is FINE. The exception is if the illenss triggers his asthma (has happened three times). In that case by the end of the night he will be in the ER having a breathing treatment and then will spend the next week taking steriods and his inhaler. He will be tired for about a day after an ER visit.

DD will feel "off" for about 6 hours and start asking for manadarin oranges and grapes (always means she is comming down with something). Then whatever it is hits and she is out, totally exhausted and sleeping constantly for about 10 hours or so. Afterwards she wakes up fit as a fiddle except for a lingering cough which will alst 2-6 weeks. Doctors always look at her and tell us she is not contagious it is just a lingering cough and send her out into the world.

[Christine]

My son came down with this on Thursday evening (he also has asthma). I took him to the doctor on Friday because, if it was the flu, I needed him on Tamiflu due to the asthma. He did not test positive; however, apparently the false negative rate is high. So, he started Tamiflu on Friday. His fever finally broke on Sunday. So it was 4 days with a fever. Today is his "recovery" day. He has been over 24 hours without a fever so he will be fine to go to school Tuesday.

If it's the same thing my son has, I would say 5 days from start. But remember, the Tamiflu *may* have cut my son's illness short.

[JessicaR]

Fever and sore throat and chills and coughing - could he have the flu? Is it around by you? I know we have lots of strep throat around here now. Maybe a doctors visit?

Hope he is feeling better!

[minkydog]

For the most part, my kids are healthy. My youngest has severe disabilities, including a seizure disorder but he is otherwise my healthiest kid. I attribute it to the fact that he rolled around on my nasty 30yo carpet for 5 years until he learned to walk.

Anyway, Christian is hardly ever sick. When he does get sick he lays around for a couple days, then he's back at it. when he contracted chicken pox he actually learned a new skill--drinking from a cup! Now, DD16 is another kettle of fish. She has had multiple bouts of pneumonia--she was finally diagnosed correctly with asthma last Thanksgiving when we were in the ER after she got so so sick. When she gets sick it can last a week or longer and it takes her a long time to recover. She had some kind of virus when she was in the 4th grade which lasted for 9 months--I kid you not! She was so fatigued with a near-constant low grade fever and all her joints ached. She took a 4 hour nap every day after lunch. If we hadn't been homeschooling that year she would not have been able to keep up in school. We took her to every specialist you can think of. They really thought she might have rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or even cancer! But nope! Everything checked out and eventually she got better withoutt any treatment other than Advil and tylenol.

Hope your little guy feels better. Lay in a supply of jello and popsicles, and lots of videos. As long as he can get up and play with a toy every few hours, he's going to be fine. Just keep him hydrated.

[disneycruising]

Both my DD came down last Tuesday with: a fever 103, sore throat, chills, runny nose and cough. The fever was down to 100 on Friday, gone on Saturday. Both girls still have a runny nose and cough. It really wiped them out!

My youngest DD 9 said, she doesn't remember ever being so sick. No even last year when she had rotovirus.

[daisyduck123]

Hi! 1st grade teacher here

If your son is that sick, I think there is no way he will be going to school on Wednesday. Even if he were to suddenly be "fever-free" tomorrow, he's going to need another day of rest. As many kids as are sick right now (we had exactly 99 absent at my school today) you would not want him back in school around a lot of germs unless his immune system is working at its best.

I have already received three emails from parents of sick kids that they're children will be out the rest of the week (no school Friday due to a furlough day ). I give those moms KUDOS for keeping their kids home long enough to fully recuperate.

I hope your DS feels better soon.

[golfgal]

It sounds like influenza (H1N1 most likely). With his asthma you need to take him in to the dr. If he gets Tamiflu plan on keeping him out of school for 3-4 days, otherwise, he will most likely be out all week.