What Is Wrong with My Child??!! HELP!

Updated on July 29, 2008
T.J. asks from Saint Paul, MN
5 answers

My daughter is 17 months old and was hospitalized last Tuesday by her pediatrician due to having a fever or 103 and continuous diarrhea lasting 7 days before that. She became lathargic and lifeless and was considered moderately dehydrated. She stayed in the hospital for 3 days and was released after several blood, urine and stool cultures were done and the results came back normal. The day she left the hospital which was Thursday afternoon she had a low grade fever but she was as happy as a clam and was up playing around. Friday, Saturday and Sunday she didn't have a fever at all and even had hard stools (only one stool which was yesterday was soft and stinky).

My daughter woke up today in a whiny and irritable mood which I just took to her possibly not sleeping well the night before. I went to visit a friend for a few hours this afternoon, came home and put my daughter down for a nap. She slept 2 hours and when she woke up she was even more whiny and all she wanted to do was lay on the couch and drink her bottle (with milk in it) and watch Elmo. I picked her up and held her and noticed that she was warm so I took her temperature rectally( that is what the hospital did as well) and it was 101.2. A FEVER AGAIN??!!! What is going on? Why does my child have a fever again and why just a few days after leaving the hospital? A mother's instinct is to think that not all the right tests were performed at the hospital and that there has got to be something wrong with my child. I did not give her anything for her fever and am going to check to see what it is at in a few minutes.

Anyone have any similar issues with their child? Can anyone help me? Do I bring her back in to the pediatrician and demand more tests? Do I bring her to the hospital instead of the pediatrician? Do I just wait it out a few more days?

She is so young and I feel so bad for her when she just lays there and doesn't want to play and looks so lifeless.

What can I do next?

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S.E.

answers from Chicago on

I would get to the doctor or hospital.

Back when our son was less that a year old he when to be with no fever and less than 2 hours later he had a fever of over 105 and went in to a seizure like the more you are describing. The body becomes limp and almost life less. He just was limp and we rushed to the hospital. They got the fever down as fast as possible and found out it was an ear infection that caused the spike in his temperature.
My thought is with your daughter is that she has some kind of infection. Because you say the stool is stinky that sounds like it is in the intestines. ((When you get a urinary tract infection on of the signs is stinky urine and you can get a fever.)) But I am not a doctor so I would go see hers again or take her back to the hospital.

S.

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S.X.

answers from Chicago on

what did they tell you? my doc always says a temp isn't bad.. just means the body is fighting something off. if that's the only thing going on, only symptom i'd wait a few days. if you're gut says something more serious i'd call today. I'd also make sure you go to Alexian bro instead of like sherman or st joes just cuz they have more experience w/pediatrics. was it Rotovirus or whatever its called?

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J.C.

answers from Chicago on

One thing I have learned the past 6 months w/my kids is to ALWAYS trust your instincts when it comes to your children. You know them best!!!! My son (10 months) at the time was sent home by 2 ER's when he had croup. 7 hours after being home from the 2nd, I found him limp, blue and not breathing in his crib. He was in the PICU for 4 days and needed to be intubated. All due to croup. I nearly lost my son because I didn't push the doctors more. I've now turned into that psychotic mother who calls the peds when he gets so much as a cough. I refuse to take any chances w/my kids anymore.

Call your ped and just tell them you'd feel more comfortable if they could get you in to see her. Please don't take the chance of it getting more serious. You've already been in the hospital w/her once so it's not like you're being paranoid!!!

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A.P.

answers from Chicago on

If your instincts feel like there is something wrong the take her back to the doctor ...You know best for your child...Hope everything turns out ok for the both of you...

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.O.

answers from Chicago on

We have one of the top children's hospitals in the world in Chicago, Children's Memorial. Call them and ask for a consult. My son was premature (2lbs,9oz). He had chronic backpain and after I pushed for a consult, we found he was born with Spina Bifida Occulta which means only one verterbrae(sp?) was affected but was enough to put him in chronic back pain at 10 years of age. After diagnois, they said there was nothing they could do, he would have to live with the pain! We finally were referred to a neuro at Children's, who not only treated him, ordered weekly physical and occupational therapy for his back, but found out he had a sleep disorder which kept him from going into a deep sleep, therefore always being tired during the day. Medication was prescribed for this. The PT says because he was a preemy, he never learned how to breath properly and his lungs did not develop like they should have and it has affected his growth. When did we find this out at Children's? When he was 16! I am so kicking myself for not going there earlier. If you cannot get an immediate referral, take your child to the CMH ER, not your local one. Emergency rooms are rated as to the level of care and diagnois they can give. We have good hospitals in the suburbs, but not like Children's! Hope you get some answers soon. I know how hard it is to watch your child suffer.

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