Baby - Is it a cold or a virus?

[Tiger926]

Our 17 month old baby has been spitting up since last night @ 3:00 am. No fever, diarrhea or rash. Here is his history:

- asthma (daily puffers x2)
- frequent double ear infections (just spent 24 days on antibiotics)
- frequent fevers
- unexplained hives
- very high gag reflex
- allergies with postnasal drip

He hasn't eaten anything since last night at 7:00 pm, but he is still drinking breastmilk and water. He also had a few bites of Pedialyte freezie pop. I called our pediatrician but it's a snow day here, and not many people are working, so I called our Telehealth number and spoke to a nurse who believes that it's a cold with him being very plugged up. He is spitting up at least 1x per hour - a few teaspoons of liquid and mucous. He doesn't seem dehydrated as he is filling his diapers, cried, saliva in mouth.

Not sure what to do - he seems to be in good spirits, but he is lethargic as I think his sugar is low and he is tired. He is in the shower steam with hubby for the 4th time today, humidifier in room and fluids.

What would you do? What do you think he has? Tiger

 

[ilandrazdsw]

Sounds like a cold and the spitup is from the post nasal drip down to his belly. Sounds like you are on the right track...humidifiers, liquids, and lost of love . If he is in a good mood then I wouldn't worry about any pain. He is proabably a little sleepy from not sleeping well...being up at night, stuffy, etc.

Hope your little guy feels well soon!

 

[mjkacmom]

Whether or not it's a cold, or another virus, there really isn't much to do but let it run it's course - going to the doctor isn't going to help. Keep doing what you're doing!

 

[bumbershoot]

Well, a cold IS a virus.


Nurse nurse nurse! And nurse some more. You're making antibodies and passing those through your milk, so nursing is absolutely the best. Your baby (and you!) are superduper lucky you're nursing still; I don't know how we would have gotten through the little colds DS got without nursing, and now that he's pretty much weaned I feel like a very important tool is missing.


Now, if you're interested, as a former chiropractor, I would say you should get baby into see a gentle chiro. Why? Because ear infections are one of the first things that disappear when kids get under chiro care, and your baby is prone to them. Asthma is another systemic issue that can be relieved (or in my case "disappeared" when i'm under regular care) when people get under good chiro care. Then with the frequent fevers (baby's body trying to get RID of something...be careful when you decide to lower those, as you are decreasing the body's natural response to kill those bugs) and the hives, that big picture is just screaming to me that baby could REALLY use some good, gentle, chiropractic care. Most likely an upper cervical vertebra is a tad bit out of alignment, which is causing things to be a bit out of whack systemically, and if you were to find someone to help with that, you might find baby's overall health improving.


But regardless, nurse nurse nurse.

 

[Tiger926]

Well, a cold IS a virus.


Nurse nurse nurse! And nurse some more. You're making antibodies and passing those through your milk, so nursing is absolutely the best. Your baby (and you!) are superduper lucky you're nursing still; I don't know how we would have gotten through the little colds DS got without nursing, and now that he's pretty much weaned I feel like a very important tool is missing.


Now, if you're interested, as a former chiropractor, I would say you should get baby into see a gentle chiro. Why? Because ear infections are one of the first things that disappear when kids get under chiro care, and your baby is prone to them. Asthma is another systemic issue that can be relieved (or in my case "disappeared" when i'm under regular care) when people get under good chiro care. Then with the frequent fevers (baby's body trying to get RID of something...be careful when you decide to lower those, as you are decreasing the body's natural response to kill those bugs) and the hives, that big picture is just screaming to me that baby could REALLY use some good, gentle, chiropractic care. Most likely an upper cervical vertebra is a tad bit out of alignment, which is causing things to be a bit out of whack systemically, and if you were to find someone to help with that, you might find baby's overall health improving.


But regardless, nurse nurse nurse.

I feel so silly now that I've seen my title - you are right, a cold is a virus! I have serious sleep deprivation going on here - LOL!

Thanks for your detailed response. I have been thinking of a chiropractor (we all used to go) but with so many appointments we just haven't had time. Both hubby and I work full time (teacher and banker) with a very busy 5 year old, so our baby's illnesses have turned our family schedule upside down. I have every intention of checking back with our chiropractor (she is very gentle, specially trained in infants/young children and doesn't crack) for both my kids and myself.

Regarding nursing, you are so right! This has saved my baby as he has been dehydrated as he spikes very high fevers (because they are 105 we have to use meds - we start giving Tylenon at 101 and nothing lower) and the only thing he likes is Momma's milk. We are going on 24 hours now and he has pretty much only had my milk - he has spit up the water and broth. I think it was because he drank too fast as he was thirsty. He seems to be ok at the moment, but we are worried that tonight will bring a fever. He has been in the shower steam a bit ago and that seems to help and he is still wetting diapers, so that is good. We have our 1st family Christmas party tomorrow, so hubby and daughter may have to go themselves though if he manifests the same symptoms. It is hour by hour with our sweet boy most days, especially the weekends, so we will see.

Thanks to all for your best wishes. We wish we could get his illnesses under control (looking for natural ways, but it's hard as he gets very ill).

Thanks, Tiger

 

[aaronlisar]

Has your son seen a pediatric allgerist? If not I would check into it. Until you get the allgeries under control you are going to continue to have the frequent double ear infections, although you probably already know this. They might be able to explain the hives also with allgery testing. My oldest had to go thur the allgery testing.

 

[Tiger926]

Has your son seen a pediatric allgerist? If not I would check into it. Until you get the allgeries under control you are going to continue to have the frequent double ear infections, although you probably already know this. They might be able to explain the hives also with allgery testing. My oldest had to go thur the allgery testing.

Not yet - my allergist who was the best in the city, suddenly and sadly passed away of cancer last year, so we are underserviced. A new pediatric allergist has moved in, so we are hoping to consult with him. We just got our ENT appointment, so we'll see what happens there.

The other problem is that all of these illnesses, meds and milk at night have wrecked his teeth. He was supposed to have dental surgery last week, but couldn't due to another double ear infection. We have been rescheduled to January 9th - another source of stress for us as he has to be put out, but he needs to have dental work done so as to protect his remaining teeth and gums.

Thanks for all well wishes, Tiger