HELP!!! My Kids are Sick and we Leave on Friday!

[mjaclyn]

I don't know what to do. Last week my kids had a fever and vomiting which has now turned into a severe cold with hacking cough. I just heard my son coughing again and it sounds like he might have the beginning of croup. He's turning 1 on Tuesday. I'm very worried. I don't know if I should buy trip insurance just in case he does have croup and we can't go to Disney. Everything is already paid for and at this point we'd lose all of our money. My kids health is my #1 concern and a trip to Disney wouldn't be fun at all if they were sick anyway. My son has his 1 year checkup scheduled for Tuesday but I'm wondering if I should take him in tomorrow instead to see if I can get an antibiotic or something. Why does this always have to happen right before we go on vacation?? Any ideas?

 

[Colinsmom]

Don't bother with trip insurance now - since they are already sick, the trip insurance won't pay if you cancel.

A lot can happen before Friday. I'd take them to the doc Monday or Tuesday just to be sure that they are on the mend.

 

[Bibbidi]

I would just take them in tomorrow to get them checked out and you should be set by Friday.

 

[mjaclyn]

They first got sick last Tuesday, their fevers were gone by Thursday but then by Friday afternoon they had the start of coughing/sneezing. Now they're coughing a LOT...it even makes them gag sometimes. Now my son's cough sounds like it's barking...like croup. I thought for sure they'd be over whatever this is by the time we have to go, but now it seems like they're getting worse, not better.

 

[ancestry]

I hope they get better soon! Take them into the doctor and see what the doc says.

I just got over a really bad respiratory virus. Started with a fever for a few days and then it turned into the worst cough I ever had. My cough lasted for four weeks! I didn't feel sick other than that annoying cough and of course in public people avoided me like the plague. I went to the doctor several times and she kept saying I just had to ride it out since it was a virus. I sounded way worse than I felt.

 

[Kelrykengab]

Hope they are better soon. I would take them to the doctor and make sure they realize you are leaving on Friday in case there is the slightest chance they can be given (if appropriate) an antibiotic. They may be fine by then or their cough might have chilled out a little. Good luck and I wish you a magical trip (we leave Friday too- to stay in a hotel near our airport and then an early flight to WDW Saturday morning).

 

[DaniB]

My son had croup once, sometimes twice, each winter until this winter. A couple times I thought it was going to turn into croup.

The first time (18 months) was so bad he ended up in the hospital getting steriod treatment through a mask over his face. Poor guy hated it and we had to hold his hands away so he wouldn't tear it off. His doctor gave him a prescription for steriods for a couple of days after that.

The next two winters, as soon as I phoned the doctor ,he faxed a prescription for steriods.

THis season - nothing. Maybe he's outgrown it finally! KNock-on-wood.

Seriously though - a couple of nights on steriods cleared the croup each time!!

 

[PiperPizzaz]

Do you have a humidifier going for him at night? That should help a bit with the cough. I second the steroid idea. It sounds like you had two different things going on. Although everyone around here is sniffling and sore throats but, I think it is the weather.
I would MUCH rather one of us get sick right before we leave. Usually there are only at most 3-4 really bad days of most common illnesses for us so by vacation we would be ready to go. Maybe just some leftover sniffles or something. We have gotten sick during vacation way too many times and it stinks!

 

[Evi]

Personally I would call and find out if you still qualify for trip insuarance just in case. I'd also take them to see family physician and see if they have any suggestions. I'd add a humidifier and ensure that they are getting plenty of vitamin C and add some garlic to foods your cooking for them its great for boosting the Immune system. Make sure your wiping everything down with disinfecting wipes I worked with kids and they reinfect themselves with colds from stuff they touch. During winters we would sanitize everything they touched from markers to computers to doors knobs.

good luck I hope they feel better and have a wonderful trip.

 

[mjkacmom]

Sounds like 2 different virus', back to back. My twins have reactive airway disease, which is pretty much viral induced asthma. We have a nebulizer, so I just abuteral them up with colds. If I can't control the wheezing, my lovely pediatrician gave me a prescription that I filled for oral steroids (so I don't need to run to the ER). They work wonders! They pretty much make my kids insane, so I only use them when nothing else works.

 

[frkymcky]

They first got sick last Tuesday, their fevers were gone by Thursday but then by Friday afternoon they had the start of coughing/sneezing. Now they're coughing a LOT...it even makes them gag sometimes. Now my son's cough sounds like it's barking...like croup. I thought for sure they'd be over whatever this is by the time we have to go, but now it seems like they're getting worse, not better.

A few weeks ago my daughter had similar symptoms. I treated her at home and her fever went away, but this cough just wouldn't go away. To me it sounded like croup as well. I ended up taking her to the doctor, the dr thought it was allergies but said her throat was a little red so she put her on Omnicef and had a follow up appt. The Omnicef did help but the cough started to come back, now she is on Zyrtec and she is fine. It seems she had some type of infection on top of the allergies. It is very possible your kids maybe experiencing the same. I would suggest taking them to the dr and see what the doc thinks is going on. It would give you some peace!

Good luck, I hope they get well soon!!!

 

[mollybug2]

My son has had croup a few times and when he gets the steroids he is better FAST. I would get your kids in ASAP and definitely let the doctor know you are traveling so they can prescribe with that in mind. Sounds like it could be a slower paced vacation with more down time, but if they are feeling OK you will still have fun! I don't know a thing about trip insurance... I hope your kids are feeling better by the time you leave and that you all have a fabulous, healthy trip!

 

[Kelrykengab]

OP: How are they now? I have been thinking about you guys.

 

[mjaclyn]

Thank you SO much for the thoughts and kind words!! The kids are still coughing but not as much as before. Thank GOODNESS my son doesn't have croup. He does have a terrible diaper rash that just started to bleed in the really bad areas. I feel SO bad for him. It really hurts him and he cries every time I change him. He's had diarrhea for over a week and it's irritating his skin. I've gone through three tubes of Burt's Bees just in the past week, and it's healing slowly but certain areas just seem to be worse than others. Poor little thing. :-( Does anyone have any suggestions on a good diaper cream to use besides Burt's Bees? That has always worked for me but I'm thinking of getting something else because it's not helping that much.

 

[C*Beans]

Thank you SO much for the thoughts and kind words!! The kids are still coughing but not as much as before. Thank GOODNESS my son doesn't have croup. He does have a terrible diaper rash that just started to bleed in the really bad areas. I feel SO bad for him. It really hurts him and he cries every time I change him. He's had diarrhea for over a week and it's irritating his skin. I've gone through three tubes of Burt's Bees just in the past week, and it's healing slowly but certain areas just seem to be worse than others. Poor little thing. :-( Does anyone have any suggestions on a good diaper cream to use besides Burt's Bees? That has always worked for me but I'm thinking of getting something else because it's not helping that much.

Your LO might have a yeast rash. In that case, regular over-the-counter diaper creams can make it worse. I'd take him to the doctor to check it out. If it is a yeast rash, your doc will most likely prescribe nystatin cream. Hope it clears up soon and he feels better!

 

[mickeyluvr004]

Your LO might have a yeast rash. In that case, regular over-the-counter diaper creams can make it worse. I'd take him to the doctor to check it out. If it is a yeast rash, your doc will most likely prescribe nystatin cream. Hope it clears up soon and he feels better!

Yes that is exactly what i was thinkin also.. make sure u take him in nysatin cream works great and it will be gone in no time.. have a great trip and try to enjoy!!!

 

[Kelrykengab]

If it is not what is mentioned above, I always found warm baths and rinsing instead of wiping helped and also Arbonne Diaper Rash cream (I don't sell it) or my favorite is putting vasoline on the entire area after it is clean and dry. And of course changing the diaper constantly or letting them run naked if at home and if the sickness if over of course. Glad to hear their cough is better! Have a great trip!!

 

[frkymcky]

Thank you SO much for the thoughts and kind words!! The kids are still coughing but not as much as before. Thank GOODNESS my son doesn't have croup. He does have a terrible diaper rash that just started to bleed in the really bad areas. I feel SO bad for him. It really hurts him and he cries every time I change him. He's had diarrhea for over a week and it's irritating his skin. I've gone through three tubes of Burt's Bees just in the past week, and it's healing slowly but certain areas just seem to be worse than others. Poor little thing. :-( Does anyone have any suggestions on a good diaper cream to use besides Burt's Bees? That has always worked for me but I'm thinking of getting something else because it's not helping that much.

My DD had a terrible rash like your describing and it was not a yeast rash/infection....We were told to use Butt Paste, you can find it in Walmart/Target or most pharmacies. It is fantastic, once I used it for the rash, I continued to instead of going back to my norm of Desitin. Also I would recommend making sure the wipes you are using are free of perfumes, that can sting the irritated areas.

Good Luck!!

 

[4Pirates&APrincess]

Your LO might have a yeast rash. In that case, regular over-the-counter diaper creams can make it worse. I'd take him to the doctor to check it out. If it is a yeast rash, your doc will most likely prescribe nystatin cream. Hope it clears up soon and he feels better!

There is a compound cream that can be prescribed that works WONDERS!
You will have to take it to a pharmacy that will mix compounds. CVS around here does. But it works so much better than Nystasin. My son had chronic diaper rash and nystasin didnt work for him.
Hope it gets better fast. That is no fun for little ones or for the mom either. You dont want to put your kids through more than you have to.
Good luck!

 

[nmmom95]

Have you tried Balmex?