Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Sick 5 yr old, conflicting advise from doctors.

Hi all. I realy would love your opinion and/or advise please.

I know this is not AS related but thought you all might be able to help anyway and hope you don't mind.

My little one is 5 and has been on atibiotics since last Saturday, it is now 11am Friday. She was not noticebly unwell on Saturday and took her to the doctors for checks if she is athsmatic or not. Doctor said she had a small chest infection and would have to have antibiotics before the athsma investigations could be don.

Untill Wednesday night she was fine but then her temp jumped up to 40 degrees. I have been unable to bring it down with panadol and cool clothes (all the usual stuff) so last night I took her to the hospital.
On arrival she vomited from having such a high temp. And her pulse was up to 152.She was constipated and when she finaly did go, there was still no urine output. After being given nurofen her temp came down to 37. And pulse was 131
They released her from hospital with strict instructions if her temp gets back to 40 and wont come down with nurofen or if her urine is dark yellew then she needs to go back to the hospital or gp.
I rang the heath number here at 3am as her temp was 40 at midnight and had only come down to 39.6 3 hrs after taking the nurofen. I was told she needed to see a doctor within 1-4hrs but as the hospitals are so packed because of all the flooding She would prob be seen quicker if she waited untill mornig to see her gp but if her temp goes back up go straight in.

6am temp was 40.2 so I gave her more nurofen and then took her to the gp at 8:30. Now here comes the confusing part.
Gp (not our regular gp) said temps of 40 are fine and so are convulsions as long as they dont go for more than 10mins. He wasn't concerned with the fact she hadn't gone to the toilet for 11hrs either.
Both the hospital and the health nurse on the phone said these symptoms are serious and need to be attended.

The gp said that because she had been on antibiotics since Saturday that she obviously has a virus (likely the flu)and not infection but she has no viral rash no general aches and has been vaccinated. T
he Hospital doctor and health nurse said that she does have an infection and likely on the wrong type of antibiotic. So who do I believe?

Her temp is now over 40 again and she can't have anymore nurofen until 1pm. So who do I listen to? the hospital and the health nurse or the GP?

Should I be worried her temp wont come down?
Any advise greatly apriciated. At this time it is so hard with so little medical help due to flooding and I realy don't want to go to the hospital and waste their time.
Thanks so much
Trish
xxxx

Fevers of 104 F (40 C) or higher demand immediate home treatment and subsequent medical attention.
http://www.medicinenet.com/aches_pain_fever/article.htm

if it was my son - id be down the hospital ASAP.

If her neck gets stiff, and a rash developes - don't stop get her to the hospital ASAP. Tell them you want her checked out for Meninigitis. Actually should take her there now - a little above normal temperature - which is ongoing is not good. I am not saying she has Meninigitis, but you really don't want to take a chance. My son had meninigitis at 21 months, he was lucky he is now 32. Meninigitis can get quite dangerous fast. Many prayers, and hugs are going out to you and your family. Gerri

Sweetheart,

Ok I have 4 kids, 5 grands and had about 23 kiddos in my daycare, Im hoping I know a little bit about this.

Ok until Jet said 40 degrees was 104 I had no idea we do things different here 98.6 is normal

Ok, first I KNOW about all that is going on where you are BUT she is your baby, and I am thinking some things are not sounding right.

Ok, first she could truly have an infection and 104 as high as that sounds is not that bad UNLESS she is NOT urrinating which I read, IF she is taking in at least a tablespoon an hour of any kind of liquid that should prevent her from being dehydrated BUT if there is NO unrine output THAT IS A RED FLAG!
Her urine being dark can be a sign of dehydration also.

My fear is could it be Menengitis, MRSA, Flesh eating, NOT trying to scare you it is most likely just a virus could even be strep but I wouldnt want to take the chance.

Our Docs here tell us to rotate tylenol with motrin but Im not sure if you have that there.

If it was me I would take her back to the hospital and make someone listen if she has not urinated a drop she most certainly is dehydrated at the very least.

I would also ask for some blood work to see what her white count is AND it could confirm a virus.

Please get her in and keep us updated, I HATE it when little ones are sick.

Hugs,

Lisa

It's obvious that she has some kind of infection and that the antibiotic does not kill that particular germ. I would get her into the hospital. I disagree with the Dr. who said convulsions are ok. My daughter had the same symptoms when she had a kidney infection. Pleas get her to the hospital ASAP. and please post back so we wont worry. I am praying hard for her now.

My daughter has IADH, as did my dad, so her fevers get out of control when she's got a virus. When her temp goes over 103F/30.5C we put ice packs on her and call an ambulance. I recommend taking your girl back to the hospital and having them give her IV fluids until her fever is under control. Plus which, some people - like me, are allergic to NSAIDS which cause dehydration and diarrhea. Hospital is best with high fevers.

Hi all. Well it is 2:50pm still at home for now but I think I will have to take her back to the hospital soon. Her fever has remained at 40+ all day. Got her to sit in the pool for a while (gradualy eased in) and her temp actualy went up very slightly. She has had more nurofen at 2pm and so far her temp is still at 40. She has been to the toilet once but not a lot of urine at all.
Her lips are now dry so obviously she is dehydrated but she has been drinking heaps I don't understand. Using staminade in her water to help with electrolite levels. Still no viral rash something she has always gotten from the day she was born if she had a virus. So I realy don't think that is the cause. Headache has been a constant and sore throat also.

Getting worried now as this will be the 3rd night in a row with temp over 40. Will give it 2 hrs and if the temp hasn't come down by then I will take her back.

Thanks so much for the advise and support. It means a lot. I haven't had time to check on how any of you are going with your own struggles and for that I apologise. Hope you are all doing ok.
Love you guys.
Trish
xxx

I have no great advice but you have my prayers for your little one.

If 40 degrees really means 104 like here in the US take her to the hospital a fever that high needs to be treated immediately. You can place ice packs on her forehead, back of the neck, armpits, and thighs to try to cool her down now.
Seizures are never ok, it can be common for children to have them with fevers without future complications but still not ok.

No urine output in 11 hours is not safe, this means the kidneys are not receiving adequate blood supply. Children are easily dehydrated, Is your daughter drinking fluids? If so you can give her pedialyte (an electrolyte replacement, I dont know if they have that particular one in Australia)
She probably needs IV hydration therapy, IV antibiotics, and cooling measures.

-Recent RN school graduate

Thanks stevec.

Cblais. Yes congrats on your graduation.

Have been doing all the icepack things. Pedialyte is great, don't have any atm but the staminade is pretty much the same. She has been drinking heaps so thats what I dont understand.

Will give it untill 4pm and then go to the hospital.