My poor son is sick. Any nurses out there?

[missusduray]

I am at a loss as to if I should take my 3 year old son to the ER tonight or wait for urgent care tomorrow morning. At about 8 tonight he came inside from helping his father and he said that he was freezing. It was 80 degrees out! So i took his temp and it was 102.2, I gave him some tylenol and then I looked in his throat and it looked red and some little bumps on the back of his throat. So I resolve to take him in in the morning and put him to bed. He also didnt eat much for supper. Then at a little before 11 tonight he wakes up and is super hot, I took his temp and it was 102.8. So the tylenol did nothing for it. I asked him if anything was ouchy and he said that his head really hurt and that his back hurt. I gave him some water to sip on, stripped his shirt and socks off and snuggled him. I also gave him a dose of kids ibuprofen. Things seemed to be going fine and then about 15 min ago he threw up all over the couch. Now he is dry heaving. Poor baby. Any thoughts? He is still hot, i dont think that the ibuprofen is working either.
Thanks,
Kristyne

 

[Rafter 7 Paint Horses]

I'm not a nurse, but in my opinion, I'd take him to the ER. It doesn't seem like anything you have done is working. Don't take any chances, it could be serious.
If you can't, at least call them & talk to the DR. on call.

Jean

 

[wendy]

i am sorry i am not a nurse, poor kid. do you have any gatorade or sprite? maybe a cool bath would help bring down the fever too.
are you giving him liguid tylenol and ibuprofen for the right weight? i mean i know he threw it up probably but after his stomach settles and in hour i might give the tylenol. my child has thrown up after a spell with similar sypmtons. i think the medicine on there small tummys upsets it.
i don't know about your insurance but ours has a hotline where you can talk to a nurse after hours. do you have anything like that? if i can help i will call with his symptons you give me and get there suggestions?! and send it to you?

 

[jackiedon]

If the ER's there are like they are here you will be waiting for hours in a waiting room with other sick people.

My girls have had a virus like that and it just takes it's time. 102 for a child is not real high. I would put him in a tub of luke warm water and wash him down a bit then just let him run around in his undies. Give him some sips of Sprite.

I'm not a nurse but I have rushed my girls to the dr for them to say...it's a virus if she still has fever in 3 days bring her back. Alternate motrin and tyenol every 4 hrs.

I use to work at a Children's Hospital and would go hunt my peditrician down to ask him questions.

It's so hard to see them sick.

Keep us posted and I hope he gets to feeling better.

jackie

 

[wendy]

jackie is right, ER's are so horrible. my doctor tells me no more than 72 hours for a fever. and 102 is not to bad. just keep an eye on him and try the bath and little sips or sprite or gatorade. or he will just get sick if he drinks alot! i know from experience here mother of four! tylenol and motrin are what they always say to alternate with for a fever like that.

 

[missusduray]

Well, I took his temp again and it is down to 99 so I think I may wait. Maybe the motrin helped some before he threw up. If he wakes up again with the high fever again tonight, I will bring him in. With his back and head hurting like that I immediately thought meningitis. My mind always thinks of the worst possible explanation first. Our ER's are not usually that busy so it wouldnt be a bad trip, but I just hate to do that unless I have to. I just hate to see my babies sick. Thanks for all the advice, I really appreciate it. If you have any more feel free to post, I am sure that I will be up.
Kristyne

 

[wendy]

oh so glad his fever went down

let us know how he is doing. we never want to see our kids sick, i know i think of the ER too. but another person to help hear things going on helps you stop and think a minute. i know when i have fever i feel bad all over so that may be the pain he is feeling else where. especially if he is usually healthy. a fever just knocks me out, i have run a fever three times in 20 years. so they make me feel awful

 

[jackiedon]

I'm glad his fever has gone down. I would even wake him up in 4 to 6 hrs and give him some more motrin.

I know it is so scary. Keep us posted

jackie

 

[hisbride]

Oh poor boy! My son gets the same symptoms but add neck pain! Yup we thought meningitis too but we always rode it out. It is scary when the temps reach 104 and the fevers last a week! Some friends were really concerned and so I took him in and they said this is just his way of dealing with viruses.
Our usual routine is for him to get tepid baths. You don't want him to get chill bumps. If he isn't up to getting in the bath wipe him down with a wash cloth. I don't like giving medicine when he is fighting the virus because that hinders his body's ability to fight but even knowing that there is a point in which I will give children's Motrin, usually for the pain not the temp. I make sure he is in his bed because frankly he needs his rest and sleeping on the couch while convenient for me is not fair to him. He gets water at room temp and I wait at least 30 mins since last vomiting.
Saying a prayer for your little boy tonight.

Father God, I come to you on behalf of a sweet little boy that I do not know but I know that you do. You know what is at work in his little body. You know how he is feeling at this moment and the concern his mother has for him. Lord, please help his body to be strong and fight this virus that he may return to good health and get back to doing what little boys should be doing. Jesus, comfort his mother tonight and the hours to come till his body is restored and revitalized and give her wisdom to provide the comfort her son needs and to know if medical care is needed. Lord, I thank you now for what I believe you will do for this child. In Jesus' name. Amen.

 

[horsewishr]

ok, I am an RN. I wouldn't wait. Fever, alone is one thing. But add the vomiting and the headache/backache thing and I'd be at the ER. I don't mean to alarm you, and I DON'T know anything about pediatrics, but you can't be too safe. You don't want to be regrettting this decision later. I'd much rather over-react than wish I had done more.

Keep us posted, 'K??