Little Boy Has Been Sick for a Month!

It is time for a new doctor or a second opinion ASAP! I have never heard of such a irresponsible doctor.

J.,

I'm glad you're getting a new doctor. If a child acts sick it's far worse than if they have a fever but don't seem to know it.

As for getting sick so much, this is just like when my son started daycare except my husband and I were sicker than the kids. We'd still be battling cold #1 when my son would bring home #2 and we'd get that too and still be sick when
cold #3 came in. I missed so much work I nearly lost my job.

RED FLAG! on the DOC....cough syrup used to have alcohol in it even for kids now it doesn't..I wouldn't do it either and docs are human make errors...I'd seek someone else as a new doc ....my thoughts are with you.

There are antihistamines out there that you could try and there are many studies saying not to use them in kids(though I would argue that the allergies in our area are so much worse than average -- I'd do it.) Croup is a treat-symptoms-and-wait-it-out thing. I would imagine the doc treated the URI with antibiotics. And the home remedy he suggested: I'm going to assume it was just a teeny tiny bit of vodka because, obviously, we try to keep our kids out of the liquor cabinet until at least three. (joke!) I'm not saying that a little bit wouldn't do the trick but what about Mucinex DM? I'd be interested in hearing from him why the first option was the preferable one.

It's true you're exposing your child to kids with bugs sending him to daycare. That's a calculated risk you chose. Really, your options are few. If you're unhappy with the amount of things your son's being exposed to, you could try sending him to a different daycare center. If you're unhappy with the pediatrician's advice, you could change doctors.

I would first talk to the pediatrician. Explain that you're unhappy with the answer you got and give the doctor a chance to explain why he gave it. There are a lot of things they know that we don't.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080415194239...

Most definitely time for a NEW DOCTOR! Vodka? Seriously? I expect that from my grandmother, most def not doctor!! Fever is a sign of infection, sometimes you can ride it out but it's not recommended. He needs something to help him fight off the infection.

It could be the daycare making him sick - but this cloud has a silver lining. Since he's getting sick now his body is developing immunity to the different viruses he's caught. When it's time for him to start school he'll be immune to a lot of things so he won't miss as much school as his friends that stayed home with mom til kindergarten. I doubt the quality of your daycare is a question here. His body just has to adapt to what's out there.

FIND A NEW DOCTOR!!! IMMEDIATELY!!!

Any doctor that will recommend giving a 2 1/2 year old that kind of mixture, and dismisses all your concerns is not the kind of doctor who will take care of your child.

After being home, and then beginning daycare, your child is going to get sick until his immune system becomes resistent to the various things. I know that it isn't something you want for your child, but that is one of the problems with being in daycare.

My advice is to find another Dr; It is true that your son has to build up his immunity; and that he may have allergies; but I work for a pediatrician and I would find someone who will get to the root of the problem; make sure that it is just a cold as you are still being told

I'd find a new doctor. It is true that your son will probably catch a few more sicknesses than when he was at home, but what he catches should be mild. (My daughter never had an ear infection until kindergarten and then she had three that year). It is also important for you to remember and keep track of the meds that do and do not work for your son. Doctors only spend a few minutes with your child and see so many kids they can't keep it straight.

Take him to another doctor if you feel that there is somthing wrong with your son and your doctor is not helping or hearing your concerns. The fact that he wanted to prescribe the same medication he was allergic to a week before is a bit scary....thank God you were paying attention. See another doctor...

How about changing Peditricians? I know it's hard, but sometimes that does help. Also, write down everything that has happened to your child, dates, what, etc. Hand it to the doctor. HELPS. Yes, they do get sick in daycare, but if he's had a fever for 3 days, the best thing to do is find out why. My daughter had fever at night only. She had bronchitis. Same doctor had checked her before and he was astonished that it'd changed so much. Children can do that. We got her fever down, but it took work. If not satisfied with doctor, change.

Hi J.!

I'm so sorry you have been going through such a difficult time this past month. It's true that kids get sick a lot when they start daycare or school. Although allergic reactions to drugs aren't caught, they're something that should be highlighted on a patient's chart so as to avoid ever prescribing it again. I am wondering why codeine would be prescribed for a young child. I know some adult prescription cough medicines have codeine in them but not kid's. When I read that I thought I wouldn't want my child taking codeine. I have never heard the vodka concoction either but I would guess that's why he's sleeping alot (plus it sounds like his body is still doing battle with the infection and that can make us extra tired). The last fever is most likely a symptom from the most recent URI you mentioned. Did his doctor prescribe an antibiotic this last time? If not, it could be why the fever is here. If he did, maybe your son needs a stronger/different antibiotic to get the upper hand on whatever it is he is having a hard time getting rid of. If he's not considerably better after an antibiotic is finished I would hope a chest xray is ordered to be sure all is well. I'm not someone who thinks an antibiotic should be given at the drop of a hat but when they're needed-- they're needed.

As far as the doctor is concerned, you have to trust your gut instinct. If you don't feel like they're doing the best for your child you might want to consider changing doctors. We put the health and lives of our children into their hands so we're forced to trust them. It sounds like you're having doubts. Good luck with everything.

I say find a new doctor first.

Then I'm sure I won't be the first to tell you - I've always heard this happens when a child isn't use to being around other children. He catches a lot because his immune system hasn't been built up and all of a sudden he is out there with everything he hasn't been around before now. So it is inevitable that he will get sick...

However, the doctor should show more concern than what he is and I don't know of a doctor that would recommend giving alcohol to a child - maybe a grandparent - but, not a doctor.

Good luck! I commend you for staying home as long as you did, you are more than I am... never been a stay at home mother type other than when I had twins and was too young and stayed home with them their first 6 months...

M. (mother of 4 - twins 27 boy/girl, son 18, daughter 16)

RUN! Get another Dr ASAP! What Dr prescribes alcohol this day and age?!?! Have you tried going to QuickCare to see what they say? HTH!

J.,
Get a second opinion asap. Find another doctor and take your son immediately! Any doc who prescribes VODKA is not a doc I would trust with my child. You need to report this doctor. What is his name and where is he located so that I never cross his path. Unbelievable!!

I would run, run, run away from that doctor! Oh my goodness...vodka? Booze to a child? I would have looked at that doctor like he had two heads with no brain! Sorry...I'm seriously stunned.

You are the mother, trust your instincts. You were given this for a purpose. You are right to question. Remember, doctor's don't know everything. They are not with your child...they are hit and miss a lot of times.

If your child has been on antibiotics lately, they lower his immune system. It will let other sicknesses enter his body without him being able to fight it off well. I use herbs...I'll go ahead and tell you, but my kids aren't sickly. Granted I stay home with my kids, but they still get exposed to kids at church, scouts, etc.

My 3yo girl just had her first ear infection and croup (last week). (She kept sneaking her brother's cow milk the week previously because he keeps leaving it on the table....she does not get cow's milk.) I used a formula called Ear and Nerve that you can find at www.herbsfirst.com. Wonderful stuff. Yes, my doc knows that I'm more alternative...she does this as well as antibiotics. My husband took my child and got the antiobiotic and steriods, which I DID NOT use either. That was last week...she is fine. I did the ear drops twice a day in the ear for about 6 days...just to be sure. She never even complained about her ear in the first place. I gave her probiotics, Kid-E-Well (an herbal formula for kids), Lung and Bronchial formula, and Colloidal Silver.

Anyway, we use colloidal silver for many things (I believe someone already mentioned this). Silver is good for ear infections (externally and internally). Taste like water, looks like water. Great stuff. I also use it in a nebulizer to help with coughing, pneumonia, etc. You get the point. Good natural antiobiotic.

With runny nose, inflammation, boost the immune system...vitamin C! When my 3yo gets a runny nose. I immediately (because this is the only way she'll take it) give her some Emergen-C (a drink powder that you mix with water or anything..many different flavors, can be found at Wal Mart or a health food store). Her runny nose is gone the next day if she had 2000mg. She can't take any more than that. Sometimes it takes 2 days depending on how fast I can get it in her. I usually give her that drink once a day for about a week..then I taper off and wait a day to see if it comes back. Sometimes it does and other times it doesn't. If it does, I resume and it goes away again...I wait a few days to try again.

With coughing, I use another formula from the same website up above called Lung and Bronchial. (This also in extract.) Another wonderful formula! Awesome stuff!

I would definitely get some probiotics in his body. I usually open up two capsules and put in my daughter's almond milk.

I would definitely get off of dairy! Dairy NOT GOOD for the body. See if he stays better longer when off of dairy....after you've boosted his immune system.

With the fever...there is a reason for the fever. If you lower it, then the body can't fight the problem. I would always monitor the temperature...you don't want it to get too high. You could make an herbal bath of cut Yarrow. Remember this phrase (heat kills, wet heals). The yarrow will help the body sweat it out and break the fever.

Good luck! I hope your little guy gets well really soon!

I feel your pain. I went thru the same thing with all three of my children and so did my sisters Dana and Patti. They eventually caught so many of the illnesses that they had never been exposed to that they finally built up their immunities to them. Although we never had a problem with allergic reactions to medicines, drinking hot tea with lemon or hot Lemonade(Chick-fil-A lemonade with out ice heated in a mug in the microwave)helps with sore throats and the heat helps loosen congestion. As for the cough, ask the Dr. if you could give him "Southern Comfort" instead of the vodka mixture. My father-in-law and I developed really severe coughs at Christmas. Everything I tried "over the counter" wasn't working or it made me sleep, so he suggested I try his remedy of S.C. It worked!!!
I read some of the other responses about the alcohol, I worked for 2 drug store chains, and know that the majority of the Rx cough syrups either contain alcohol or codeine, so what is the difference!
Good Luck!
Milly

YOU NEED TO CHANGE DOCTORS! I am less concerned about your son being sick for a month (my daughter has been sick for 3 months, but similar to your son, nothing too major and all different things) than I am that a pediatrician would recommend you give your child VODKA. that is doing nothing, NOTHING for his immune system, and is not helping him in any way - and it is possibly harming him! i am in utter disbelief.

change pediatricians IMMEDIATELY.

Isn't giving alcohol to a child illegal ???

Report him to the American Academy of Pediatrics! Protect other children from that type of cure.

When kids go to school or daycare for the first time yes they get sick. What has happened to you is your son has had a domino effect. His immune system got knocked down with the initial illness. Before his body could completely heal it was hit again and again. Get him on a good multivitamin and maybe look at some zinc. I gave it to my son before school started just to help with an immunity boost.

Thank to the people who mentioned silver. I'm going to do some research and ask my DR. about it. What I like about zinc and vitamin C is your body take what it needs and you urinate the rest out. I hope the silver is the same way.

Good luck and please get a new DR.

I would like for you to go FIND another doctor ASAP! Making sure that they do labs and x-rays on your son. As a matter of fact take him to the ER. He is to sick not to!! This as been going on to long.

1st of all you need to find a different doctor; If he is not responding to your concerns and wants and needs; Sounds like he really doesn't care about you, as a parent. I have been there done that, and i know it is very upsetting; But, i tell you the truth;
I have a 5 yr old and a 14 mth old; i have very different opinions about doctors; I have not found the best doctor for my kids like the one back home in Indiana; But, they do lesson to my concerns and questions; A good relationship with your kids doctors should be pretty good;
I hope i was some help; Just do not feel bad if you don't like the doctor just setup a free conseltation with them first and take your kids and see how he is and how he treats you and them.
That's all i can tell you; Besides i don't know how religes you are but you diffently need to pray about this and ask him to direct you to the right one for you and your kids;
I will pray for your situation and your little boy;
Ms. Todd

You need a new doctor, like yesterday!

They will get sick at daycare for the first little bit, mine did too after I went back to work. It seems as time goes on that the severity of their illness will be less each time they pick up something there too. It will get better! Don't do the vodka thing. That is insane. Try Vicks on the chest, bottom of feet, and the residue from your hands under the nose. Try lots of water or watered down juices(%100). Good warm bath at night before the Vicks rubdown. Request an xray at the doctor to see if it is in his chest, since it has been going on for a month.

What part of town are you in? Sounds like your Doctor is being a jerk. There are a lot of caring and in tune pediatricians out there and you need one, especially if your baby boy is staying this sick. Children do pick up a lot when they start daycare, mine did, but you need support not a vodka concoction and comments about potty training!

Sounds like a friend of mine whose kids had the same type of issues. She started them on a product called Vemma and had amazing results. You can email her about it. ____@____.com

She lives in Colorado but she sends it to us and we now take it. We love it and I swear it has kept us all from catching new things. It's worth a try and I think they even do a money back guarantee. It is all natural too. My kids love it.

Go to a different doctor!!!!!

My first recommendation is to find another doctor.

To alleviate a fever, you can have your son soak in a bathtub of hot water (as hot as he can safely tolerate) and add some apple cider vinegar to it. Ginger and chamomile also are very effective at lowering fever. You may want to try some garlic since he has URI on top of fever. Garlic will help fight infection and reduce fever. Your son definitely needs some immune system support. The vodka, lemon juice and sugar mixture...I would stay away from. The vodka may make him sleep but isn't good for him. The lemon juice can have some anti infective properties (lemon is great for lowering fever and fighting infection) and the sugar would just feed the bacteria and/or yeast in his system. Since he has been on antibiotics so much, I am betting that he has active yeast growth so remove as many simple sugars and refined carbs from his diet as possible. Garlic is useful for killing yeast also. Silver is an excellent choice here as well because of its wide range of killing properties.

Coughing is the body's way of ridding itself of pathogens. However, it may be helpful to depress the cough at times (such as when trying to sleep). Marshmallow is fantastic for coughs. Also you can try rubbing some teifu lotion on his chest to help break up any congestion and ease the cough. If you have a humidifier you can add some teifu oil to the water to help. Eucalyptus oil and peppermint oil mixed with olive oil is one of my favorite cough remedies. I rub this on my chest, sinuses, etc, add a few drops to the bath, and put it in a humidifier or nebulizer.

You have a lot of great advice. I like what Donna H recommends. I give my 3 1/2 year old the colloidal silver and elderberry extract in juice. I would do diluted grapefruit seed extract but it is too bitter.

As far as the vodka goes, this is old fashion cough medicine. You can use almost any kind of alcohol and the recipe I have used for myself is one part vodka to two parts honey and if you are talking taking a teaspoon, that isn't much and the lemon is good also but honey is better than sugar. I have an excellent pediatrician that recommended rubbing some kind of alcohol on the gums for teething. (I used amaretto) That is basically ambasol(sp).

Then again I am a natural mom and don't give my child any medication and she has never had an ear infection and I can count the number of times she has had Tylenol/motrin on one hand.

definitely get a new Dr. and find a way to break the cycle and he will get well and not be sick all the time. Sounds like he never got over whatever he had/has and probably has a low immune system from this and is picking up every virus in the school. I don't know enough about the day care to know if it is a "sick" place or not but after 3 months there if he is still sick all the time it may be worth looking into changing. If he seems happy there and they are diligent about cleaning and disinfecting toys and the class sizes are small and the center isn't huge, you should be fine. My daughter does part time preschool and is sick maybe 3 times in a year.

I hope you get some relief.

Hum....I think it might be time to find a new day care and a new Ped for your son!

First off, you can expect your child to get sick from attending a daycare. Daycares and runny noses normally go hand in hand. Take a close look at the other kids in your son's room. Are they all running around with runny noses, coughing or showing signs of illness?? If not, then it might be something in the room he is having a reaction too. The cleaner they use for the toys or floor, etc. You might also want to consider a children's vitamn for him as well to help keep his immune system up. I think at this age, my daughter was getting 1/2 of one a day and she also attended a daycare. Or you may just wish to try a different day care if parents are just allowed to bring sick kids in or if they don't clean the rooms properly either.

As far as the DR goes, it sounds like he is old school and needs to loosen up a bit. IMO, I don't like the fact he put a young child on codine (probably cough meds riht?) and that he suggest vodka either. Even though that is probably what his mother's mother used back in the day to treat him and his siblings! There is a underlying reason he keeps getting URIs and it needs to be figured out. Has he tested your son at all for RSV any of the times he has been into to see him?? Not that time of year, but worth a shot any ways and especially since he does go to daycare. If you can't get his Ped to listen to you, then it's time for a new Ped. You need to be listened to and taken seriously no matter what! This is your son, and you are his voice right now to get across what his aches and pains are. OH, and tell the DR that he can't potty train if he is sick all the time either and that 2 1/2yrs is kinda early as well!!

Good luck
S.

Trust your instincts, Mom. You know your little boy better than anyone does. You may not have a medical degree, but God gave you a special bond with him so that you would just know when something is wrong so you can take care of him. It doesn't sound like this doctor is listening to you or is in tune with your child. And the very fact that you felt you needed to post this question shows that there is a lack of trust. Find another doctor. There are good doctors out there; keep looking until you find one you trust who is a better fit for your family.
Hang in there! You're doing a great job!

I read a lot of your other responses, and I think you got a lot of good advice. I'M going to try the silver idea with my boys. When they first got into daycare at 15 months and 3, they also caught every bug that came along. Not so much anymore. It was a temporary thing. My youngest we found also has some allergies/asthma that would keep him sick if we hadn't modified his diet. We've put him on Soy or Almond Milk, and we also give him a teaspoon of local honey every day. Find a beekeeper who's within 15 or so miles of your home, the nearer the better. This helps tremendously with the allergies.

I, too, would fire the pediatrician. Anyone who doesn't listen to you doesn't deserve to be listened to. All the best.

First, I am assuming your little boy was very healthy before you returned to work. If so, I would visit the daycare (during the day when they are busy and full staffed). Make sure they were using good hand washing techniques, teaching the toddlers to wash their hands and keeping the shared toys and equipment cleaned.

Secondly, if you are not satisfied with your son's physician, by all means, Change!! Find a doctor who listens and responds. Do not settle for a doctor is not listening or even reviewing your son's history prior to entering the exam room. If your medical plan requires you to use that doctor. Tell the doctor your concerns and make sure he/she listens.

My children are adults but this is the same advice I give to my young co-workers and my neices with babies and small children,

C.

First you should find a new pediatrician. He should lose his license to practice medicine, in my opinion, if he is advising parents to give their children alcohol in ANY amount for ANYTHING!! Second, since his immune system is being put to the ultimate test you should look for a wellness based, family chiropractor. Regular spinal adjustments can help boost a little one's immune system as well as keep their body functioning at the high and healthy levels they are supposed to. It is also common knowledge that boys take longer to potty train. My best friend's three year old daughter is still struggling with potty training and she'll be four in July.

J.,

3 clues you need to find a new doctor:

1) He is concerned that a 2.5 year old boy isn't potty trained. I don't know any boys that age who are potty trained. Mine is 5 and still has to wear a pull up at night.
2) He recommended your child drink Vodka. How old is the doctor? Did he go to medical school in the Ice Ages. Oh, wait, maybe it was the Stone Ages.
3) He prescribed your child something that gives him a severe allergic reaction. At the very least, they should have asked you, "Does your son have any allergies to medicine?" That's a very common question before making a prescription.

It's very possible your son is just getting everything that goes around the daycare. It's also possible that he has other allergies that have gone undetected. Take him to an Allergist while you are looking for another General Practitioner.

RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN

Really not much you can do for a viral URI. Antibiotics used when they won't help should not be done. If you are unhappy you should find another Doctor. I would not begiving a 2 1/2 year old vodka. V.

You need a different pediatrician. Now. If you don't feel like the doctor is listening to you, you're never going to fully trust him.

And can I just say .....vodka?!

I have 6 children and only my oldest child has ever been on antibiotics or suffered from sinus or ear infections. All other children have avoided serious colds, fevers or infections. We don't go to the doctor unless an emergency.

My secret? Go buy a bottle of Sovreign Silver from a health food store. You can put 2 drops in each ear to avoid or treat an ear infection. I buy the spray top bottle to spray in my baby's face when he has a cold or sinus junk. You can also put drops in the mouth as treatment and even dilute with distilled water to put in eye for pink eye! This is one rememdy I WOULD NEVER be without at my house. COMPLETELY SAFE -- get the label with Sovreign Silver -- you will be glad you did!

My other secret? We eat very little sugar and don't do dairy very often.

I would seriously suggest finding a new Dr. I understand they are busy too but your paying for his time and you deserve all of his attention.For the potty training, I have a boy and girl my girl was trained before she was 2 but my son was about 3. It will happen when he is ready. All you can do is encourage and be patient.I do suggest trying differant things to see what gets him excited about it. If your son is not eating and playing normally I would say it is more than just a cold but im not a Dr.just speeking from my parenting experience. Ps Sticker rewards worked for my son. We put them on a poster board on the fridge so he could see what a good job he was doing.Dont meen to drag on but you should also consider if your putting your child health in this Dr. hands you should be confident and comfortable with him.

A. find another doctor
B. accept that it takes longer than a day or two to get well
c. You will have much more illness because he is exposed to sickness constantly and must build up immunity
d. therefore, build up his immunity as much as possible with Barleymax from hacres.com, Emergen-C, no dairy, etc.
e. educate yourself. Read Is This Your Child? by Dr. Doris Rupp (in library), get a copy of children's health book from the health food store - what common children's illnesses are and how to help them with or without drugs, doctors, herbs, vitamins, etc.

Sounds like you need a new doctor. As for the illnesses. My children were sick the 1st year of daycare. Mostly sinus infections and upper respiratory issues. They were in and out of the ER frequently (b/c they always seemed to get really really sick on Saturday nights or Sunday mornings). Things eventually got better as their immune systems developed AND I quit smoking. (I'm not trying to assume that smoking is a factor in your son's frequent illnessess. I'm merely stating the contribution and connection to my kid's illnesses). I understand what you are going through.