Sick child and we leave tomorrow!

[annabelle]

We've had this vacation planned for TWO years now and we're finally supposed to leave tomorrow. Sure enough, our 4 yr old came down with a FEVER this morning and again tonight (about 100.8).

Our kids haven't been sick since flu season and now... this. She has no other symptoms, just low-grade fever. I haven't called her pediatrician yet... since there was just a little fever this morning and disappeared pretty quick. She was fine all day until after dinner. Then she definitely wasn't feeling well at ALL. Poor thing... I wish I knew what was wrong.

So, I'm afraid if we take her on the trip, she'll just get worse... but if I stay behind with her, she might just have a 24 hr thing and but miss a week long trip! We've got 2 other children and we planned on meeting my in-laws down there (including my SIL, BIL and their 2 kids). We've been really looking forward to this for a very long time. But I don't want to do anything that will jeopardize my daughter's health.

What do I do????

Annabelle

 

[ms.ojo]

oh my goodness. It's so difficult to say. You're really going to be the only one who can make this call. And yes, so often it's only a 24hr bug! I guess you'll have to see how she is in the morning. I DO know friends have been at Disney when their kids became sick and they RAVED about the good care they rec'd. Dr came to visit IN the room. One had to go to the hosp'l and after, Disney arranged to get them back to their hotel too! Hopefully none of that is in your future...just wanted you to know you can receive treatment for your child down there easily. But if she has any sort of ear infection...flying is probably not a good thing to do. So sorry you have to make such a tough dec'n.

 

[marcbelt]

Go to the pediatrician. I'm pretty sure he/she will give you precise instructions as to the care you should give while on vacation. Don't overdo it and your child's heart will not be broken...or yours.

 

[swincha]

We've had this vacation planned for TWO years now and we're finally supposed to leave tomorrow. Sure enough, our 4 yr old came down with a FEVER this morning and again tonight (about 100.8).

Our kids haven't been sick since flu season and now... this. She has no other symptoms, just low-grade fever. I haven't called her pediatrician yet... since there was just a little fever this morning and disappeared pretty quick. She was fine all day until after dinner. Then she definitely wasn't feeling well at ALL. Poor thing... I wish I knew what was wrong.

So, I'm afraid if we take her on the trip, she'll just get worse... but if I stay behind with her, she might just have a 24 hr thing and but miss a week long trip! We've got 2 other children and we planned on meeting my in-laws down there (including my SIL, BIL and their 2 kids). We've been really looking forward to this for a very long time. But I don't want to do anything that will jeopardize my daughter's health.

What do I do????

Annabelle

thats a mild fever. there are viruses out there that go on for a couple of days just with a fever. personally i would go. just pace yourself. i would watch for more symptons. if you can get her to the ped to make sure she doesn't have anything that would be bacterial ie ear infection, strep throat that she would need to be on antibiotics. i'm sure you can find an urgent care center if she gets any symptons you would need medicine for. having a mild fever and going to the parks isn't going to hurt her. you just want to keep in mind about passing anything to other people ie washing hands. its really low grade. go and have fun. but keep in mind she will be not as active as usual and needs more rest periods. with this in mind you can have a good time. i'm a pediatric rn also with 4 kids from 17 to 5

 

[jjan]

We just went though this for our trip in May when my DD7 got sick with a bad head cold a week before we were supposed to go and I thought "This is great! She will be sick now and not next week", well.. NO... it lasted all week and right before we were supposed to go she went from have a 100-101 degree temp on and off to having a 103 degree temp round the clock despite Motrin. Took her to her doctor the day before our trip to look in her ears and check her chest... got the clean bill of health, so to speak, and off we went and I'm so glad that we did. Yes, she had a bad cold, but she would have had a cold at home too. She didn't get any worse and we took it really easy for the first 2 days and then eased up a bit for the last couple of days when her temp was gone. No, it wasn't the same as when she was well all of the way, but she had a wonderful time and really was glad that we went and I felt that we made the right decision for our situation. Good luck with your decision and trip.

 

[swincha]

also a fever isnt[ going to harm her its helping fight off either a viral or bacterial infection. this is just low grade.

 

[qtwns]

Go to the ped. and then go to WDW. Take it slow, keep her hydrated and rent a stroller so she can relax and save her energy. Taking it slow can be such a wonderful thing to do at Disney. Have fun and I hope she's better soon.

 

[annabelle]

Thanks guys... I really apreciate the advice.
I'm going to try to take her to the pediatrician tomorrow morning... but I don't know if we'll be able to get in. We leave for the airport at noon!

At least we'll have access to docs down in FL if need be.
It would break my heart if she missed seeing the "princesses" next week!

Annabelle

 

[jlima]

Are there quick care or urgent care clinics where you live . . . just had to deal with this earlier this week; had to travel for a family funeral and the night before DS11 said "mom it hurts when I swallow". This was at 7:10pm and the clinic near us closes at 7:30; we hustled over there; saw a dr, got a antibiotic prescription and 24 hrs later got on a plane to go away for 2 days. jjan is right; your DH will be sick if she's at home or on the road. Get her to a doctor and then take your trip!!

 

[daisy_77]

Hope your trip goes well and that your child feels better very soon!
January

 

[rhodisney]

Two words for you.....
Prayer and Motrin.

The sight of Mickey will make ME feel great even at my sickest.

I hope your child will feel better soon and you all get to enjoy this much awaited trip.
Also just a gentle reminder that there are first aid stations in every park should you need any minor medical attention for her.

 

[seashoreCM]

Can she withstand the plane trip? Ear congestion can be painful, notably on descent. (Been there done that! And the pain was enough to make a grown man let alone a child scream and persisted for several hours after landing.)

Airlines reserve the right to deplane a sick person. At least if you give her enough cough syrup and antihistamines so she does not look sick ...

Walk slow so she does not expend a lot of energy. Be sure she is bundled up against chills but if she starts to perspire, feel free to let her go with just one more layer if the temperature is under 80 and just as scantily clad as other family members if the temperature is above 80 with no breeze. Have a sweater for her for indoor air conditioned places.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[jeannej]

Take your daughter to the Dr.'s and then go on the trip. My children, when they were toddlers and preschoolers, would get ear infections all the time. So, I was going to WDW with a bottle of antibiotics. Like everyone else recommended keep the pace slow for her and realize that for the first couple of days or even perhaps the entire trip, you might not be able to everything you wanted. When you have kids it happens.

The kids and I are suppose to leave Monday for a two week road trip and guess what? My 14 year old is coming down with something.
It is always something. So, keep a sense of humor. And guess where I am spending my Sunday, my husband's father's day? In the peds clinic.

jeannej

 

[crazymomof4]

thats a mild fever. there are viruses out there that go on for a couple of days just with a fever. personally i would go. just pace yourself. i would watch for more symptons. if you can get her to the ped to make sure she doesn't have anything that would be bacterial ie ear infection, strep throat that she would need to be on antibiotics. i'm sure you can find an urgent care center if she gets any symptons you would need medicine for. having a mild fever and going to the parks isn't going to hurt her. you just want to keep in mind about passing anything to other people ie washing hands. its really low grade. go and have fun. but keep in mind she will be not as active as usual and needs more rest periods. with this in mind you can have a good time. i'm a pediatric rn also with 4 kids from 17 to 5

Absolutely agree with the above..........exactly what I was going to post-- Funny, bc I'm also an RN and have 4 kids ages 16-4.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

OP-
I hope your little one was feeling better by the time you left!!

DS was only sick ONE day out of the ENTIRE school year 2004-05, and it was the day before we left for WDW! He had a low fever on Monday and just generally felt sick. Dr. checked him out, did a strep test, didn't find anything so we figured it was a virus. His fever was actually higher on Tuesday, which made me very nervous. We did go ahead and do a course of antibiotics just to make sure the virus didn't turn into a sinus infection or ear infection while we were gone. Don't flame me about the use of antibiotics on a virus - I KNOW that is not what they are for and I know they shouldn't be overused. But he hadn't had any antibiotics for months prior to the trip and hasn't needed any since, so I don't think it was all that terrible.

We left for the airport about 4:30 AM on Wednesday and DS was fine - no fever, and he felt fine for the whole trip.

Best of luck to everyone with sick little ones just prior to departure! Like anybody needs MORE stress during that time!

 

[allie&mattsmom]

I'm sorry. This seems to happen to us a lot. Not as much now that DD is getting older but it used to be a common occurence for us. Do you have a clinic nearby? When this happened last time we almost canceled our trip but I ended up running DD to the pediatrician and found out she had strep throat. We picked up an antibiotic and left the next day. After 24 hours on the antibiotic she wasn't contagious so we were good to go!! Good luck!!

 

[annabelle]

You guys are so wonderful!

I talked to the nurses at her doc's office. They said that there has been a specific virus going around our town last couple of weeks or so (forgot the name). She said the same thing's been happening with other kids: low grade fever, comes down with motrin, they're fatigued for a couple of days then they're fine. She said it would still be ok to go, but just like many of you said, just pace yourself.

She even said if the fever is UNDER 101, I don't have to medicate and that it would be a "good" thing to let the fever run it's course (it's the body's way of fighting off infection). BUT if my DD is miserable or gets a fever over 101, definitely give some motrin. She said that DD doesn't need to be seen unless I wanted her in...

BUT WE LEAVE IN 45 MINUTES!! So I think I'm going to take that advice and just get on out of here as planned. Thank goodness everything has been packed since last night! And I've got the doc's number, plus I'm sure we can find a local clinic if need be.

We're scheduled to land at 4 pm FL time. Nothing scheduled for tonight (activity wise)... or tomorrow... (well, we're going to do a small church service just in the condo) then nothing the rest of the day... then O'hana's Sunday night for Father's Day dinner.

Monday: partial day at SeaWorld (we'll see how she's doing)
Tuesday: our ONLY day at the MK (got PS's for a princess lunch in the castle)
Wed: REST, SWIM
Thurs: partial day at SeaWorld
Fri: come home

I'll let you all know how it goes!!

Annabelle

 

[Mimi Q]

This is a post by FeralPeg who lives in the Orlando area:

DD has been sick for a few days. Yesterday I decided I had to take her to a clinic. I found After Hours Pedicatrics. It is in the strip mall at the corner of Dr. Phillips and Conroy.

This was a wonderful place. They are open seven days a week (including holidays). Each exam room has a TV with a tape running (we had The Garfield Movie) and a padded rocking chair for the parent. The doctor was great. It turned out that DD has bronchitis. I would definately recommend them.

To get there from Disney property, go to the Crossroads and head north on Apopka Vineland (CR536). Stay on that road until you hit Sand Lake. Make a right on Sand Lake. Make a left on Dr. Phillips Blvd (there is a light there and it is right beside Panera). Go north on Dr. Phillips until you reach Conroy. It is in the mall on the left.

No one wants there kids to be sick while on vacation, but if you need a place to take them, this is a good place.

 

[Mimi Q]

Here's a link to that thread if you are interested:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=822151

The address is 5018 Dr. Phillips Blvd. Their phone number is (407) 363-5753.

 

[shariskates]

2 days before we went to WDW last year, one of our DD's got up in the middle of the night complaining of ear pain and had a fever. So later that day I brought her to the pedi and sure enough she had an ear infection. Twin DS woke up the following night with the same problem (the both had colds previously), so back we went to the pedi's and yes, she had an ear infection too. Funny part (well not really) was on the plane, the only one of my kids who complained about their ears was big brother, who was perfectly healthy!

=0) shariskates