Sick kid ... I need help

[reginaastralis]

My daughter (4) started running a temp on Thursday night ... she's been hanging out right around the 103 mark. I took her to the Drs yesterday, and of course the fever had broken when we got there. We got the usual speech from the doctor ... it could be bacterial, but it's probably viral, looks like she is over it.

Then, four hours later, the fever is back and won't break. My problem is, sometime between getting sick on Thursday (and taking her medicine) and Saturday morning, my daughter has started refusing any oral med. We were piggy backing tylenol and ibuprofen, but suddenly it's a no go. She doesn't like the "flavors" of the tylenol (they stopped making orange ibuprofen, and this was the one she would take) ... and I don't know what to do.

Any tips or tricks to getting the meds in her? She was FINE before she got really sick Saturday morning with taking the meds, and I'm worried she's getting worse. I just need to get the meds in her.

TIA

 

[kristinanderic]

My daughter (4) started running a temp on Thursday night ... she's been hanging out right around the 103 mark. I took her to the Drs yesterday, and of course the fever had broken when we got there. We got the usual speech from the doctor ... it could be bacterial, but it's probably viral, looks like she is over it.

Then, four hours later, the fever is back and won't break. My problem is, sometime between getting sick on Thursday (and taking her medicine) and Saturday morning, my daughter has started refusing any oral med. We were piggy backing tylenol and ibuprofen, but suddenly it's a no go. She doesn't like the "flavors" of the tylenol (they stopped making orange ibuprofen, and this was the one she would take) ... and I don't know what to do.

Any tips or tricks to getting the meds in her? She was FINE before she got really sick Saturday morning with taking the meds, and I'm worried she's getting worse. I just need to get the meds in her.

TIA

Have you tried suppositories?

Will she take chewables? We sometimes put them in a pez dispenser with other candies.

Mix the liquid in some juice or gatorade.

Walgreens will flavor any meds, even OTC. Find a flavor she likes and have it flavored.

Those are my tricks...I have a stubborn 4 year old.

 

[reginaastralis]

Have you tried suppositories? I'm not mean, but I threatened her that this will be the route will have to go ... or that we'll have to go to the doctor for a shot. She looked right at me and said "Let's go to the doctors, I'll take the shot."

Will she take chewables? We sometimes put them in a pez dispenser with other candies. I haven't tried chewables. She's a PITA with textures and flavors, but this is something I will try.

Mix the liquid in some juice or gatorade. Tried this ... she asked me what I put in her apple juice

Walgreens will flavor any meds, even OTC. Find a flavor she likes and have it flavored. I'll be calling our walgreens, thanks! I don't care if they charge for this ... but it's worth it


Thanks for your help ... I'm soooo over this illness.

 

[snoopy5386]

we like the meltaway tabs or thin strips, they dissolve in their mouth, perhaps have her mix it with some chocolate to cut the taste?

 

[RyJMom]

I think they do still make the orange motrin. Maybe your store was just out of it. This is the only one my kids like also. Good luck getting her well

 

[a1tinkfans]

My daughter (4) started running a temp on Thursday night ... she's been hanging out right around the 103 mark. I took her to the Drs yesterday, and of course the fever had broken when we got there. We got the usual speech from the doctor ... it could be bacterial, but it's probably viral, looks like she is over it.

Then, four hours later, the fever is back and won't break. My problem is, sometime between getting sick on Thursday (and taking her medicine) and Saturday morning, my daughter has started refusing any oral med. We were piggy backing tylenol and ibuprofen, but suddenly it's a no go. She doesn't like the "flavors" of the tylenol (they stopped making orange ibuprofen, and this was the one she would take) ... and I don't know what to do.

Any tips or tricks to getting the meds in her? She was FINE before she got really sick Saturday morning with taking the meds, and I'm worried she's getting worse. I just need to get the meds in her.

TIA

HOPE she feels better soon!

 

[poohfriend77]

My DD is a horrible medicine taker (I am too, so I can't blame her!) I usually give her a popsicle to make her tongue cold, then she'll take it. This last time she had a high fever, she refused, even with the popsicle. DH finally promised her $1, and she chugged that motrin right down! Of course, then DH didn't actually have a dollar, so I had to give her the only thing in my wallet... a $10 bill! Luckily, her fever broke, and she recovered pretty quickly after that. It could have been a very expensive illness.

 

[SGMCO]

We used to lace my DS popcycles with Meds he wouldn't take.
We would hollow out a long skinny ditch and put as much med.
that would fit in there and refreeze it. We would make up
several of these and have them ready in the freezer for future doses.
It worked, he would eat the popcycle without fighting.

 

[CastleCreations]

I have a little one at home right now with strep throat. It started with a fever that wouldn't go away..finally she says her throat kind of hurts. As a last ditch effort, I had her throat cultured, and it was positive. After 3 days of antibiotics, she is feeling better.
I hope your little one begins feeling better soon!

 

[stsomewhere]

My DD8 had influenza A and missed 6 days of school;
She ran a temp of 104 for 3 days.

 

[skw444]

Did they test for strep? My youngest had a 102 fever that started Friday night. This morning she woke up around 2 am vomitting. Took her to the doctor and they confirmed strep. Since she was vomitting, they couldn't give her amoxicillan because they were afraid it wouldn't stay down, so they gave her a Bicillan shot. The good thing is at least we don't have to do 10 days of antibiotics. Hope your dd is feeling better soon!

 

[3goofyboys]

Mix the liquid in some juice or gatorade. Tried this ... she asked me what I put in her apple juice

I'm sorry, but I had to laugh when I read this. Sometimes they are so smart aren't they! Both my guys are sick right now and have been for about a week, so I feel your pain! Hopefully she gets better soon!

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Did they swab her for flu and strep? If it is just viral and she isn't feeling terrible, I wouldn't worry too much about bringing the temp down. I don't know how your child typically runs fevers - this may be atypical for her and a real cause for concern. My DD6 typically runs about 103 if she has a virus or an ear infection - it is not a big cause for concern if she is 103, although I do try to bring it down if she feels bad. My DD9 almost never runs over 101.5, so I would be worried if she was 103. (She was 104.9 when she had pneumonia, and she was WAY sick very fast!)

Two things to consider:

If she is running a high-ish fever, she is prone to dehydration. Keep giving her fluids (with or without meds in them) to make sure she stays hydrated. Depending how stubborn she is, she may refuse to drink anything if she thinks you have spiked it.

If her fever went away on its own (not brought down by meds) and returned at a later date, she might have a secondary infection like pneumonia that she didn't have when the doctor saw her. Did she vomit on Saturday when you said she got "really sick"? If so, she could have aspirated and gotten pneumonia - it happened to my DD10 last year. If I am reading your OP right, her fever was only gone for four hours - that may have just been the meds if she had them then.

Both of my DDs have had to take children's prednisone liquid, which is very nasty-tasting. We mix it with sugar, then give either Hershey kisses or Skittles (depending on the child) before and after the medicine.

Good luck, and keep watching her to make sure she doesn't worsen. A viral fever can last a few days, but I would have expected a viral fever to be gone by now. Sometimes they do hang around for a long time, but I'd keep watching for other symptoms just in case.

 

[bambighsmom]

Try mixing medicine in applesauce. That always worked for me.

 

[Leajess99]

If her fever went away on its own (not brought down by meds) and returned at a later date, she might have a secondary infection like pneumonia that she didn't have when the doctor saw her. Did she vomit on Saturday when you said she got "really sick"? If so, she could have aspirated and gotten pneumonia - it happened to my DD10 last year. If I am reading your OP right, her fever was only gone for four hours - that may have just been the meds if she had them then.

Actually they don't always have to start running a fever at a later date to end up with pneumonia. I found this out last Monday with my 10 year old. She had had a viral infection 2 weeks earlier with high temps and then last week Saturday started feeling awful and coughing. First thing Monday we were at our ped's office and got the pneumonia diagnosis with the x-ray confirming it was in her right lung. Poor girl was miserable and told to stay home on Tuesday (talk about torture for a school loving kid). Well that stay home Tuesday has turned into 6 days later and still not back to school but that is because of weather not illness. She seems to be better but still has to be followed up.

I hope the OP's child is feeling better quickly.

 

[Sillyminny40]

Have you tried Popsicle rewards if they take the medicine?
My ds12 has always been awful for meds and has an obsessive aversion to needles (faints and carry ons)...

Are the ears okay too? Yes, a throat swab should have been done, that is easy to do and some clinics can get a reading on the spot for strep and not send it to a lab.
I am sorry you have this! Is there another doc you can see? I hate those awful "speeches" from docs! "Oh yes doctor, I really love dragging a sick child in here just to be told this. Why don't you come and stay at my house for a few days. Of course I want my child to build up a problem with the over use of antibiotics." Been there.

Reason a fever may abate or break is you are taking a child out of house into cooler area? Most good docs know this and understand people may perk up for an hour or two before they see them.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Actually they don't always have to start running a fever at a later date to end up with pneumonia. I found this out last Monday with my 10 year old. She had had a viral infection 2 weeks earlier with high temps and then last week Saturday started feeling awful and coughing. First thing Monday we were at our ped's office and got the pneumonia diagnosis with the x-ray confirming it was in her right lung. Poor girl was miserable and told to stay home on Tuesday (talk about torture for a school loving kid). Well that stay home Tuesday has turned into 6 days later and still not back to school but that is because of weather not illness. She seems to be better but still has to be followed up.

I hope the OP's child is feeling better quickly.

You're right, and I wasn't very clear. It is absolutely possible to get a secondary infection while the virus is still present or to get one later and not have a fever. What happened with our DD is that she had a fever for a few days, was checked out and told it was viral, fever left for a day, then it came back and she acted more sick. Took her back and it was pneumonia. It was the worsening after she had started to get better that tipped us off. But you can absolutely get a secondary infection before you have fought off the initial illness, or you can get it later and not have a fever. Thanks for the clarification!

OP, how is your DD today?

 

[reginaastralis]

Sorry I didn't get back to this sooner, but thanks for all of your advice!

She had a UTI. I ended up taking her back in on Monday, and the doctor was stumped, but worred because her fever was going up. Ears, throat and everything looked normal, so the doctor was about to run a blood test. Luckily my dd mentioned that her back hurt, so we got to have the fun of having her pee in a cup. Now that was fun!

She's been on her meds for almost a week now, and still puts up a fight with me. My dad has been watching her a couple of times for me this week, but she takes them for him, no questions asked.

I'm keeping in mind all of the advice for next time. Up until this time, she was a great med taker, I think she was just in so much pain she didn't know what to do.

Thanks again!

 

[dvcbnd]

Try mixing medicine in applesauce. That always worked for me.

This always worked for us too. My oldest uses it now to get down any meds in pill form. It works like a charm!