HELP! Baby sick at 5 weeks old...

[PrincessPeyton]

Hi everyone. I am usually a lurker but I could use everyone's advice, sorry it's so long...
Last week my 5 week old son had a 104.7 fever so his pediatrician sent us down to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to be checked out. The poor little guy had to have blood and urine test done as well as a spinal tap. His blood and urine test came back normal and the white blood cell count came back as a count of 13 (alittle low) so they sent him home.
Since then we have been battling his fever with Tylenol and thought we were finally winning. UNTIL TODAY.... he started getting little red spots all over his body. They are flat and look almost like heat rash. His ped said it's just another symptom that his body is fighting an infection/virus and just to watch him. I really like his peds office so I trust them but would feel better if I could hear from someone who has gone thru this also!
TIA!

 

[nicki.momof3]

I am so sorry to hear about your baby. I have no advise to help but my prayers are with you and your family.

 

[bellebuzzntink]

Having a little one now myself, my heart goes out to you! I haven't had this experience, but you might want to cross check the symptoms on the American Academy of Pediatrics website (just google it) or some other reputable baby care resource - Dr. Sears maybe. Hope he gets better really soon!

 

[kpm76]

So sorry your little one is sick. My DD is 2 yrs old and (knock on wood) is never sick. However, in early May she developed a very high fever, which was accompanied by a runny nose, congestion, lethargy etc. This began on a Sunday and I called the Dr on call for the weekend who suggested seeing her regular pedi in the morning. I had an appt at noon to see him but DD's fever kept going up and down very rapidly (peaking at 105) and she suffered a febrile seizure. Thanks God they are benign but it scared the heck out of me. I called 911 and we went to the Children's Hospital. Typically Motrin is better for fevers than Tylonol but we did both for a few days until the fever broke. However, she is 2 so I would not do anything with a 5 week old without consulting with your Dr first. Fevers are awful because you don't know what causes them and you feel helpless. DD tested negative for a UTI and they sent us home with no real diagnosis other than "virus." I suspect she had the swine flu but because she did not have any risk factors she was not tested. It doesn't really matter anyway because we would not have been able to do anything differently.....it just needed to run its course. I hope you little one is better soon

 

[Juliet25]

Aww, that's so rough! No direct experience, but a co-worker of mine was in a similar situation when her new baby was just a few weeks old. It sounds like your little one had similar tests run. In the end, he had a virus that needed to run its course.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

 

[HGD24]

It's so tough to see your little one go through any sickness. When our DD was 9 months old, she came down with a high fever (103.8) out of nowhere. It lasted 3 days and a few hours after it broke, she came down with a red, spotty rash on her torso that eventually spread to her upper arms & legs. It was called Roseola. A few months ago, she came down with another rash/fever and our pedi said the same as yours - it's just a viral infection that has to run it's course. I hope your little guy feels better soon.

 

[LWatson]

I feel you momma!!! At 3wks old my little one had a fever much like yours and they did all the same things...except my little guy was admitted to the hospital for 5 days. I hope all is okay w/ your little guy. Mine had test after test ran and nothing was found. Hugs!!!! GET WELL LITTLE GUY

 

[surfergirl602]

try alternating between tylenol and motrin to fight the fever every 4 hours. I bet he's picked up a virus.

 

[crisi]

Small kids run much higher fevers than older kids and adults, and often as a result, break out in a rash. Went through it many times with my two kids - and while I won't say "don't worry" - I will say "chances are you will get through this and wonder why you were so worried." Find out what the protocol your doctor or the hospital want you to follow (i.e. alternating Tylenol and Motrin, call if the fever hits 106 or if he doesn't wet diapers - they will have some guidelines for you to go back in).

My son used to have his fever spike so high he'd have seizures.

 

[Chereya]

I'm so sorry you're going through this wil your little one. It's so hard to see them being sick and not being able to do anything or know what's going on.

Is it maybe german measles/rubella?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubella

Has he gone in for his 1 month vaccinations? Maybe it is a severe reaction to one of the vaccines?

 

[kevschickee]

I am so sorry this is happening. I bet you the rash is roseola. Roseola is a rash that is caused by a virus. It starts with a very high fever then when the rash shows up it isn't contagious. The rash may take some time to go away though so don't worry.

 

[lil mermaid]

try alternating between tylenol and motrin to fight the fever every 4 hours. I bet he's picked up a virus.

NO! Motrin is NOT for babies under six months old.

 

[Iluvmickeymouse!]

Please just keep a close eye on him. Most of you are correct...many high fevers are viruses that just need to run it's course. Others are not. My daughter's was not. At eight weeks old she ran a temp of over 103. Took her in and we were immediatley sent to a larger hospital because her blood count numbers were also off. I am not trying to scare the OP, just watch him please, if you are not comfortable with how things are progressing, ask for a second opinion. It took two weeks at one hospital and a move to a larger one before they could diagnose my DD.

keep us posted on how he is doing!

 

[jen2207]

My son had a very similar situation as you have described. It was Roseola. High fever for what seemed like forever - 4-5days, then the rash. Once the rash came out though the fever diminished and then the spots went away after a few days - it was a 7-10 day ordeal I seem to remember.

Hope your little guy has something (or this exact thing) like this. It's one of those child illnesses that they get, and it goes away.

 

[KelleyGirl]

I think its good that you have already been able to see a specialist at a Children's Hospital. Take some comfort in knowing that tests have already ruled out anything serious.

My daughter was 18 months old, but still had the same symptoms. She started with a very high fever, and then got the rash. The rash started at her head and worked its way down her body. Every other week after that (literally, every other Wednesday for about 8-10 weeks) she would get a fever again, but lower than the last time, lasting for up to a week. So we started in the 104 range, then 2 weeks later 103, 2 weeks later 101, etc. She was also seen at Boston Children's Hospital, and it was just a virus.

Good luck. Its tough seeing little ones sick.

 

[JerseyMamaBear]

CHOP is a wonderful hospital but since he now has spots after your visit I would try for a second opinion just in case. Best wishes to your family and let us know how hes doing

 

[PrincessPeyton]

I am so sorry to hear about your baby. I have no advise to help but my prayers are with you and your family.

Having a little one now myself, my heart goes out to you! Hope he gets better really soon!

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers! The little man is sleeping right now luckily no fever and comfortable. My husband and I have been taking shifts the last couple of nights just so his fever doesn't spike and us not realize it because we are snoozing. We are a bit tired but I am not sure if I would be able to sleep anyway.

…. I had an appt at noon to see him but DD's fever kept going up and down very rapidly (peaking at 105) and she suffered a febrile seizure. Thanks God they are benign but it scared the heck out of me. I called 911 and we went to the Children's Hospital.

…. My son used to have his fever spike so high he'd have seizures.

This is honestly my greatest fear, I don't know how you made it through it. I would never sleep again! I am known in my family as the crazy one because I didn't sleep the entire first year my daughter was born. She is turning 3 this week and I still check on her to make sure she is okay in the middle of the night.

Please just keep a close eye on him. Most of you are correct...many high fevers are viruses that just need to run it's course. Others are not. My daughter's was not. At eight weeks old she ran a temp of over 103. Took her in and we were immediatley sent to a larger hospital because her blood count numbers were also off. I am not trying to scare the OP, just watch him please, if you are not comfortable with how things are progressing, ask for a second opinion. It took two weeks at one hospital and a move to a larger one before they could diagnose my DD.
keep us posted on how he is doing!

My daughter had a horrible pediatrician when she was first born, we were in the emergency room all the time since we could never get an appointment because they were overbooked. The only good thing that came out of that experience is that I am now more outspoken!

CHOP is a wonderful hospital but since he now has spots after your visit I would try for a second opinion just in case. Best wishes to your family and let us know how hes doing

This was our first (and hopefully last) trip to CHOP but I was amazed how great everyone was. They took him almost immediately into the triage area and then while we were waiting for a room they put us in a separate area from everyone waiting because he was so little. They were very good at explaining every procedure and keeping us up-to-date.

Anyway, thanks everyone for everything. I feel better informed and can ask the doctor questions when I talk to her tomorrow. Hopefully we should be more test results through out the week. I will keep everyone updated. Thanks!

 

[MomTo4+more]

I am glad your little guy is sleeping peacefully, and that yo have already seen doctors at a good hospital. If it is roseola, the fever tends to break after the rash starts. That would be a nice, simple answer. I hope he is back to himself soon!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I just wanted to offer . It's really hard when your little one is so sick, and especially a really young baby like yours. It sounds like you are getting good care from the pediatrician and the hospital.

It's good that you are more outspoken now when it comes to your children's health. Moms really need to trust their gut instinct and speak up when something doesn't seem right. The worst I had to deal with was RSV when DD was 6 months old. I had to take DD in to her pediatrician 3 times in 4 days (plus a visit to Children's Hospital for blood and urine tests and chest x-rays) before it was finally diagnosed. He kept brushing aside my concerns, telling me it was just a common cold that would run it's course. He said I was over-reacting. By day 4 when DD's chest was retracting with each breath, he finally caught on that I wasn't just being a hysterical first-time mom and something really was wrong. We got her on breathing treatments and she finally started to improve. Needless to say, I also found a new pediatrician.

 

[PrincessPeyton]

By day 4 when DD's chest was retracting with each breath, he finally caught on that I wasn't just being a hysterical first-time mom and something really was wrong. We got her on breathing treatments and she finally started to improve. Needless to say, I also found a new pediatrician.

I feel like everyone tells me that I am overreacting and honestly with my first I probably did! But when my second was born the doctor mentioned to look for jaundice because of his blood type. The next day I thought his eyes looked a bit yellow. Everyone told me that I was overreacting but I didn't care....well, he had jaundice! Thank goodness I didn't listen to everyone and my ped. trusted me. I would rather take a trip to the doctors than "wait and see"!