Hospital now or Doctor Monday?
September 18, 2010 7:27 AM Subscribe
Sick toddler question: my almost 2 year old had a fever (about 103) that came on Tuesday night. He was so lethargic and complaining of neck and back pain (Both complaining and having a fever slow him down much are NOT like him) I took him to the hospital.
Even though I just given him Tylenol they gave him Motrin and said to alternate every 3 hours. It did a better job of keeping his fever down and I felt better but he didn't. They said he probaly had a gastro bug.
So he's been complaining a bit of pain but I figured it was aches and pains from what ever virus he had.
So last night despite being pretty tired, pain kept him up. Knee and abdominal pain and a pain under his armpit (I assume a swollen gland from an infection).
He got up this morning in a bit better and no fever but with stiff legs (knees) and seems really wobbly.
After he'd been up a little while we enticed him into a sword fight with his brothers he enthusiatically jumped up then kind of just sat on the ground saying he had too many "owies". Sore knees and elbows.
He also has a sore in his mouth (he's never had one before).
A side note. He has sensory issues and normally pain is NOT a problem. He can bloody a knee and it wont bother him so him complaining of pain is unusual.
I hate to drag this poor kid to the hospital again if this is just worried mom. Do you think this is a wait to call doctor in 2 days or maybe you should take him in kind of thing?
Even though I just given him Tylenol they gave him Motrin and said to alternate every 3 hours. It did a better job of keeping his fever down and I felt better but he didn't. They said he probaly had a gastro bug.
So he's been complaining a bit of pain but I figured it was aches and pains from what ever virus he had.
So last night despite being pretty tired, pain kept him up. Knee and abdominal pain and a pain under his armpit (I assume a swollen gland from an infection).
He got up this morning in a bit better and no fever but with stiff legs (knees) and seems really wobbly.
After he'd been up a little while we enticed him into a sword fight with his brothers he enthusiatically jumped up then kind of just sat on the ground saying he had too many "owies". Sore knees and elbows.
He also has a sore in his mouth (he's never had one before).
A side note. He has sensory issues and normally pain is NOT a problem. He can bloody a knee and it wont bother him so him complaining of pain is unusual.
I hate to drag this poor kid to the hospital again if this is just worried mom. Do you think this is a wait to call doctor in 2 days or maybe you should take him in kind of thing?
*Continue! Fecking iPhone autocorrect.
posted by Biru at 7:30 AM on September 18, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by Biru at 7:30 AM on September 18, 2010 [3 favorites]
Is there a nurse hotline in your area? We've called ours a couple of times to run similar scenarios past them. They'll tend to be fairly conservative, though - in case of any doubt, they'll suggest a visit to the ER or an immediate care center. Our calls were prompted by cases of oddball things which turned out to be strep.
posted by jquinby at 7:33 AM on September 18, 2010
posted by jquinby at 7:33 AM on September 18, 2010
Why would you hate to take your son to the hospital? Take him to the doctor immediately.
posted by EatingCereal at 7:40 AM on September 18, 2010
posted by EatingCereal at 7:40 AM on September 18, 2010
I definitely second calling a nurse helpline if you have one. If not, I vote for taking him in. Do you have an Urgent Care you can take him to instead of an ER?
posted by TooFewShoes at 7:44 AM on September 18, 2010
posted by TooFewShoes at 7:44 AM on September 18, 2010
I'd call the nurseline either for your ped or for your health insurance.
Be careful with urgent care and the ER before doing this step.
posted by k8t at 7:54 AM on September 18, 2010
Be careful with urgent care and the ER before doing this step.
posted by k8t at 7:54 AM on September 18, 2010
Another vote for a nurse line if available. The few times I've had to call they've been very helpful, and I wouldn't say they always take the most conservative route.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 7:55 AM on September 18, 2010
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 7:55 AM on September 18, 2010
Under these circumstances, I'd want to be talking to a physician at least every 24 hours if symptoms continued. Call your pediatrician; they will have someone on-call you can talk to. I'm not a doctor but I am a mom, and of the symptoms you've described, the joint pain is the one that gives me the most pause.
posted by KathrynT at 7:56 AM on September 18, 2010
posted by KathrynT at 7:56 AM on September 18, 2010
Generally, when you call your pediatrician's office after-hours, there's a message with a number to call to get someone to call you back. For some offices, one of the pediatricians will call you back. For others (like my children's), a triage nurse will call back.
You describe your child's symptoms and the history of the illness, and they tell you what to do. They don't always tell me to take the child to the ER, but they have a couple of times. I have been told more times than not to just sit tight and wait for the office to open.
posted by palliser at 8:08 AM on September 18, 2010
You describe your child's symptoms and the history of the illness, and they tell you what to do. They don't always tell me to take the child to the ER, but they have a couple of times. I have been told more times than not to just sit tight and wait for the office to open.
posted by palliser at 8:08 AM on September 18, 2010
It's not all that uncommon for kids to get crazy swollen lymph nodes under the armpits, and in the neck. But honestly- my daughter has sensory dysfunction too, and I would go ahead and call the doc and/or go to back to the hospital at this point.
To continue to feel pain, in amounts enough to register-- it would make me nervous too. And yes, it may just be a wasted trip to the doc or the urgent care, but better to spend a couple of hundred dollars on nothing, than to miss something really, really important.
posted by headspace at 8:09 AM on September 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
To continue to feel pain, in amounts enough to register-- it would make me nervous too. And yes, it may just be a wasted trip to the doc or the urgent care, but better to spend a couple of hundred dollars on nothing, than to miss something really, really important.
posted by headspace at 8:09 AM on September 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
IANYD, but sore muscles (myalgias) are a common thing for kids and adults with viral syndromes. I don't see anything in your story that makes me think of anything other than a viral syndrome, and there's nothing the ER can do for you with that. He's better today and has no fever anymore. I would treat him with the Tylenol/ibuprofen for the sore muscles and just keep an eye on things. You can definitely just call your pediatrician/on call doctor at any time too, and they can reassure you, this costs you nothing and gives you peace of mind. Keep him well hydrated and make sure he washes his hands so he doesn't give it to his brothers. The usual wisdom is that once the fever is gone, though, he's no longer contagious.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 8:25 AM on September 18, 2010
posted by treehorn+bunny at 8:25 AM on September 18, 2010
I would call my pediatrician. Sounds to me like he has a Lyme's type issue. I am no doctor despite my mother's pleas, but aching joints and fever are symptoms my child had when he tested positive fpor Lyme's. Some powerful antibiotic later, and he was good to go. My point is call and tell them the situation.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 8:27 AM on September 18, 2010
posted by JohnnyGunn at 8:27 AM on September 18, 2010
Also, motrin and tylenol are both painkillers but rather different drugs, so you're not really increasing toxicity by taking them close together (at the same time would be a bit unnecessary though). I remember learning that in children with really bad fevers, you can actually alternate tylenol and motrin every two hours, instead of doing just one of the drugs ever four (but please don't do this without talking to a doctor or nurse first, because I am not nearly a full doctor yet).
posted by quirks at 8:28 AM on September 18, 2010
posted by quirks at 8:28 AM on September 18, 2010
I tend to veer towards medicating the kid, not the fever. If a kid has a fever of 103 but is acting normal, let the fever run its course. If a kid has a fever of 99 but is acting miserable, spring to action. If your son is telling you that he's miserable, trust him on it and take him to the doctor.
If he has a gastro bug, keep him off milk and cheese for a few days to avoid further stomach aches. Feed him yogurt with active cultures instead. Does he have diarrhea and/or vomiting? If so, feed him toast, apples, bananas and rice.
Also, don't be terribly afraid of fevers. 103 is a little high, but a fever is also a sign that your kid's immune system is working properly to fight off infection. Alternating Tylenol and Motrin might delay his natural response to healing his body.
A warm bath and lotion massage will help his soreness, if he'll sit still for the process.
posted by zoomorphic at 8:32 AM on September 18, 2010
If he has a gastro bug, keep him off milk and cheese for a few days to avoid further stomach aches. Feed him yogurt with active cultures instead. Does he have diarrhea and/or vomiting? If so, feed him toast, apples, bananas and rice.
Also, don't be terribly afraid of fevers. 103 is a little high, but a fever is also a sign that your kid's immune system is working properly to fight off infection. Alternating Tylenol and Motrin might delay his natural response to healing his body.
A warm bath and lotion massage will help his soreness, if he'll sit still for the process.
posted by zoomorphic at 8:32 AM on September 18, 2010
The joint pain does not really sound like a typical bug.
And it seems like he is getting worse instead of better as time goes on.
I'd take him in to urgent care now.
posted by SLC Mom at 8:54 AM on September 18, 2010
And it seems like he is getting worse instead of better as time goes on.
I'd take him in to urgent care now.
posted by SLC Mom at 8:54 AM on September 18, 2010
Oh, jesus - please do NOT alarm this poor woman about Lyme disease and such! IANAD, but there's a saying in medicine - "when you hear hoofbeats on the prairie, think horses, not zebras". Given the sheer number of viral illnesses that kids acquire - PLUS the sheer number of viral illnesses that include "aches and pains" as a symptom (read: TONS OF THEM), it would be EXTREMELY PREMATURE for anyone (especially any non-medical-practitioner) to think it was Lyme at this juncture.
Call your doc's nurses line every 24 hours. Hell, call them every 12. I assure you it will NOT be the most frivolous call they've ever gotten... it probably won't be the most frivolous call they've gotten that week.
I hope your lil' guy feels better soon, too.
posted by julthumbscrew at 9:01 AM on September 18, 2010 [2 favorites]
Call your doc's nurses line every 24 hours. Hell, call them every 12. I assure you it will NOT be the most frivolous call they've ever gotten... it probably won't be the most frivolous call they've gotten that week.
I hope your lil' guy feels better soon, too.
posted by julthumbscrew at 9:01 AM on September 18, 2010 [2 favorites]
Joint pain in all my joints (including my spine) is how I know I have a fever. Always has been. That may just be his normal response to a fever and he's young enough that he's not been able to communicate that to you in the past. Hope he feels better soon!
posted by cecic at 9:13 AM on September 18, 2010
posted by cecic at 9:13 AM on September 18, 2010
IANAD but...
i was under the impression that spontaneous a fever of 103 for a small child is pretty serious.
i was also under the impression that spontaneous joint pain was pretty serious.
Further IANAMom, and good for that, because I'd be FREAKING OUT at the ER right now if i were you. Hope you and the tyke are doing ok. Please let us know how things turn out and if a diagnosis is reached.
(just had similar experience with this -myself- experiencing fever, aches, sore throat, runny nose, and feeling like crap. I drank a full liter of OJ in 4 hrs, had four little cups of yogurt, took 2 nuprin and bundled myself up to sweat it out overnight. I'm not at 100% but it seemed to work.)
posted by ChefJoAnna at 4:12 PM on September 18, 2010
i was under the impression that spontaneous a fever of 103 for a small child is pretty serious.
i was also under the impression that spontaneous joint pain was pretty serious.
Further IANAMom, and good for that, because I'd be FREAKING OUT at the ER right now if i were you. Hope you and the tyke are doing ok. Please let us know how things turn out and if a diagnosis is reached.
(just had similar experience with this -myself- experiencing fever, aches, sore throat, runny nose, and feeling like crap. I drank a full liter of OJ in 4 hrs, had four little cups of yogurt, took 2 nuprin and bundled myself up to sweat it out overnight. I'm not at 100% but it seemed to work.)
posted by ChefJoAnna at 4:12 PM on September 18, 2010
ChefJoAnna, it really depends on the situation. A fever of 103 in a normal 5 year old without other concerning findings is not a problem. A fever is the body's normal response to an infection.
In any newborn baby though that same temperature will most likely result in a battery of tests and hospital admission.
In terms of joint pain, you can't really tell in a less than 2 year old whether they have joint pain. They tend to put things in terms of 'owies' and just cry if you move them. I suspect this child just has muscle aches and not specifically joint pains, but it would be very difficult to tell because you cannot ask him to explain it to you.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 2:04 AM on September 19, 2010
In any newborn baby though that same temperature will most likely result in a battery of tests and hospital admission.
In terms of joint pain, you can't really tell in a less than 2 year old whether they have joint pain. They tend to put things in terms of 'owies' and just cry if you move them. I suspect this child just has muscle aches and not specifically joint pains, but it would be very difficult to tell because you cannot ask him to explain it to you.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 2:04 AM on September 19, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Biru at 7:29 AM on September 18, 2010