). He is sneezing with a runny/stuffy nose. On Sat. he complained of a sore throat but says it doesn't hurt at all now. He also says that his ears don't hurt, unless he concentrates very hard and then they hurt very badly. Little appetite, but he is asking for orange juice popsicles and his favorite all-time food, pancakes. I don't want to put him on antibiotics unnecessarily nor take him to the dr if he doesn't need to, but if I call and ask the nurses, they always say to bring him in. What do you think?
Cherry Garcia
I don't know if I should take my 8yo DS to the dr and would appreciate your professional/mom opinions. He has had a fluctuating fever between 102.6 and 100.7 since Sat. morning (not yet 3 days). It is currently 101.6. He says he feels fine, but he looks miserable. His dad had him outside much of yesterday because he was acting his normal self (and I wasn't home ). He is sneezing with a runny/stuffy nose. On Sat. he complained of a sore throat but says it doesn't hurt at all now. He also says that his ears don't hurt, unless he concentrates very hard and then they hurt very badly. Little appetite, but he is asking for orange juice popsicles and his favorite all-time food, pancakes. I don't want to put him on antibiotics unnecessarily nor take him to the dr if he doesn't need to, but if I call and ask the nurses, they always say to bring him in. What do you think?
). He is sneezing with a runny/stuffy nose. On Sat. he complained of a sore throat but says it doesn't hurt at all now. He also says that his ears don't hurt, unless he concentrates very hard and then they hurt very badly. Little appetite, but he is asking for orange juice popsicles and his favorite all-time food, pancakes. I don't want to put him on antibiotics unnecessarily nor take him to the dr if he doesn't need to, but if I call and ask the nurses, they always say to bring him in. What do you think?Heidi
Sweet Cherry Pie
I think that if you are having the feeling that he should go you should take him in. You know your son best and his needs. Mom's have a 6th sense instinct of what their kids need and you should follow it.
Cherry Garcia
The problem is that my 6th sense seems to have gone on spring break early. It's giving me nothin'.
Heidi
Cherry Addict
The doctor's office is always going to tell you to bring him in...it's a professional liability thing. We aren't allowed to give out medical advice over the phone in our ER either. But some thoughts....wahoo_mom wrote:I don't know if I should take my 8yo DS to the dr and would appreciate your professional/mom opinions. He has had a fluctuating fever between 102.6 and 100.7 since Sat. morning (not yet 3 days). It is currently 101.6. He says he feels fine, but he looks miserable. His dad had him outside much of yesterday because he was acting his normal self (and I wasn't home
* Is he normally a complainer when he doesn't feel good? or is his track record that he downplays when he is legitimately sick? If he has to think really hard before deciding if his ears hurt, my guess is that they really don't.
* Most of can live "off the fat of the land" for a few days, even kids. We have reserves built in. If he is taking fluids well, that would be a major factor to me in pushing me towards the "wait and watch" camp. Now if he quits taking fluids, I'd be more likely to take him in because he needs a good fluid balance in his body to fight a fever.
* What are you giving him for the fever? You can safely (and we recommend this in our ER frequently to moms) give alternating doses of ibuprofen and tylenol so that he is getting some anti-fever med every 3-4 hours. Very safe, and it gives better control of temps.
* Trust your gut. I have no problem that he played outside yesterday...kids will naturally curtail their activities when they are feeling miserable. If he wanted to play, then he was feeling good enough to play! If something changes that tells you that you aren't on the right track, you can always call. But from what you've said, I would be comfortable with keeping him home and just keeping an eye on him.
You don't quit playing because you grow old....you grow old because you quit playing.
Cherry Garcia
DH convinced me to take him in. She did a test and it turns out he had influenza type a. Pushed fluids, juice pops, and rest. We missed the entire week of work/school so be on the watch for it. I'm so relieved that it cannot be passed through cyberspace. That was one very long week.
Heidi
Cherry Addict
I was gonna say it sounds a little like what I had, that put me out for 2 weeks! I had no appetite, big fever and typical cold symptoms but I just couldn't kick it with the over the counter meds. Glad you took him in and got him taken care of. 
Cherry Garcia
MamaK321 wrote:I was gonna say it sounds a little like what I had, that put me out for 2 weeks! I had no appetite, big fever and typical cold symptoms but I just couldn't kick it with the over the counter meds. Glad you took him in and got him taken care of.
I'm so sorry you had it too. 1 wk was bad. 2 must have been horrible!
Heidi
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