DS(6) came home from school.......

[Desnik]

DS(6) just came home from school coughing saying his throat hurts and he doesn't feel good. He is burning up with fever now! I am so worried!! I really hope it isn't anything serious, like the flu. What are the symptoms I should be watching for? Poor little guy, I hate when he gets sick!

We leave for Disney on Sunday for our vow renewal along with 50 of our family and friends. I really hope this is just a virus and no one else gets it!

 

[golfgal]

Coughing, sore throat, fever, body aches---sorry, it does sound like the flu. I would call your dr and explain the situation and see if they will give him Tamiflu.

 

[maroo]

oh no. That really stinks!

Unfortunately those are the symptoms of a TON of stuff...including H1N1.

They can do the rapid test...but it is really not accurate. So even if he does have the flu, it will probably not show up.

ETA: I agree with PP - see if you can get Tamiflu...considering the situation.

 

[themilesfamily]

Sorry to hear it. to you!

That would be awful if he had to stay home from your vow renewal!!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Probably the flu. My dd just got over it, sort of. She got sick on Thur. and was fever free yesterday. So it was 6 days of down for the count.

Even though she is fever free she still looks/feels like "blah". She did go to the nurse and got some Motrin and had her temp taken in an attempt to go home though.

I don't know what to tell you but to see if you can get him in, swabbed and maybe get some Tamiflu if it is postive. That really stinks.

Sending some PD you way.....

 

[DMickey28]

I'd get on the phone ASAP with the ped office and see if you can get a RX for Tamiflu called into the pharmacy before the end of the day. If not I'd get in there first thing in the AM. Starting that ASAP is going to help him feel better faster.

How high is his fever? You can alternate tylenol and motrin every three hours to keep the fever and pain at bay. A lukewarm bath will help. Keep him hydrated in whatever way you can ... popsicles, jello etc.

WASH everything. Odds are if it is the flu he has been contagious for at least a day or two before he started feeling this way and will continue to be contagious for a few days. Keep any other kids you have away from him, wash your hands a lot, try not to get any fluids on you while cuddling him or anything. I know it's hard ... All the practical advice is great but when your little one is sick you do what you need. I am SCARED to death of throwing up, to the point where my therapist has investigated a phobia to it, but when DS got a stomach virus I was holding him while he threw up over my shoulder. Of course, I got it.

Good Luck ... I hope your DS feels better soon.

 

[golfgal]

If you get Tamiflu, ask for pills, not liquid. The liquid can be more upsetting to the stomach.

 

[ols386]

It does definately sound like the flu...not sure if it's H1N1, but some time of flu. I'd do like some pp's have said, call the dr. and see if you can get Tamiflu for him, right away. If he does get the Tamiflu, then maybe he won't be ill for as long a period of time.

Hope he feels better soon.

 

[Desnik]

Thank you all very much for the great advice and well wishes!

Called the Dr. and I will bring him in first thing in the morning. They said it could be anything because a lot of kids sicknesses start with soar throat and fever(strep, virus).

My cousin just called and her kids have coxsackie virus! She is freaking out also cause we fly down together on Sunday. Her kids are 3 and 1.

Why did this have to happen now!!

 

[traviesojmt]

My DD6 had the same thing just over a week ago. She ended up having strep and not the flu. Normally, after 24 hours on antibiotics, you are not contagious with strep. My daughter also ended up croup and needed steroids for her swollen throat. She was fever free and feeling good on the 3rd day. I hope that he is feeling better soon.

 

[Wonderlandmom]

T
Called the Dr. and I will bring him in first thing in the morning. They said it could be anything because a lot of kids sicknesses start with soar throat and fever(strep, virus).

Why did this have to happen now!!

If it is the flu, call and beg your Dr for Tamiflu for you and DH, taken as a preventative. Explain the situation and they may be willing!
Good luck and I hope your trip turns out as planned!

 

[mjkacmom]

Sounds more like strep to me - hope it is, because that clears up fast on antibiotics!

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

If it is the flu, call and beg your Dr for Tamiflu for you and DH, taken as a preventative. Explain the situation and they may be willing!
Good luck and I hope your trip turns out as planned!

They might be willing under normal circumstances but I've heard that Tamiflu is actually in short supply right now along with the flu vaccine. I'll keep my fingers crossed for the OP, though.

 

[paintnolish]

That stinks! However, hopfully it is strep (so it can be taken care of wit han antibiotic!) or a virus. Yes. I know it soundsa like the flu, but like a few PPs have said, those are the symptoms of lots of things. A few weeks ago, bot of my DCs had similar symptoms and th dr. sdaid they were causes by a virus-no aches and pains, no high fever (101 was their highest), and it was short lived. The day they missed school, almost 30% of the kids were absent! So, there is hope!

 

[james'mommy]

Could be strep or the flu. I would call the doctor and make an appointment. Tamiflu only works if they catch it in the forst 48 hours. The doctor probably won't prescribe it over the phone. I tried when I had H1N1 to get Tamiflu for my son to prevent him getting it but the doctor would only prescribe it if he tested positive. He ended up testing positive for the seasonal flu a few weeks later. The pharmacy probably won't have the pediatric dose of Tamiflu. Every pharmacy here is out of it. What they would do in that case is open the adult capsules and pour the correct amount of powder into a liquid.

 

[disney1990]

http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/qa.htm

From the CDC Website


What are the signs and symptoms of this virus in people?
The symptoms of 2009 H1N1 flu virus in people include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea. People may be infected with the flu, including 2009 H1N1 and have respiratory symptoms without a fever. Severe illnesses and deaths have occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.

 

[aprilgail2]

ETA: I agree with PP - see if you can get Tamiflu...considering the situation.

If its the flu/swine flu tamiflu really won't help much with a trip on Sunday! It may make the child fel better but they are still contagious up to 7 days so a trip on Sunday would be a no go! My daughter is up and around just fine but she is not back in school since its not a week yet and she is still considered contagious!

 

[golfgal]

If its the flu/swine flu tamiflu really won't help much with a trip on Sunday! It may make the child fel better but they are still contagious up to 7 days so a trip on Sunday would be a no go! My daughter is up and around just fine but she is not back in school since its not a week yet and she is still considered contagious!

I disagree-DS14 got Tamiflu and was feeling MUCH better within 24 hours. The guidelines are no fever for 24 hours they can go back to school-a trip on Sunday should be just fine.

 

[aprilgail2]

I disagree-DS14 got Tamiflu and was feeling MUCH better within 24 hours. The guidelines are no fever for 24 hours they can go back to school-a trip on Sunday should be just fine.

Thats our schools guidelines too- 24 hours fever free- but the hospital and her Dr both stated that it is still contagious 5-7 days even with no fever present which is why its spreading so much- people are sending their kids back to school while still contagious and taking down all their classmates with it. The Dr's have sent notes to the school district asking them to change their guidelines to the correct ones.

 

[stacy347]

Thats our schools guidelines too- 24 hours fever free- but the hospital and her Dr both stated that it is still contagious 5-7 days even with no fever present which is why its spreading so much- people are sending their kids back to school while still contagious and taking down all their classmates with it. The Dr's have sent notes to the school district asking them to change their guidelines to the correct ones.

Yep, my DD15 just got over H1N1 and the guidelines for it are definitely different than regular illness w/ fever. Our norm is also 24 hours fever free without medicine but the new guideline is 5-7 days out for kids with H1N1 symptoms. My DD was quarantined to her room (per the ER doc) for 5 days. She felt better in 2 days with Tamiflu, but that didn't mean she was better.

All that being said, I hope it is NOT the flu and I hope your DS feels better soon!!