DD (18 months) high fever spikes (104), generally sleepy, not eating. 3 days now. Has cold but...

[designerbaby]

Is that all it is? She's also possibly teething but it's hard to tell.

Spoke to NHS direct, they said to basically medicate frequently to keep temperature down, and that's about it.

She's really not herself. Has had colds before, and obviously many episodes of teething before, but has never been like this - especially the sleepiness (see my many posts in sleep topic about my amazingly sleep-resistant child).

I KNOW I'm a neurotic first time mum, she is my PFB etc. but I'm conernced, it's the bank holiday weekends, and while I don't want to appear ridiculous by heading to A&E for a 'cold' I also don't want to ignore something which could be more than that.

Hate medicating at the max dosage like this, (currently using Nurofen on NHS direct advice, but will have to go back to Calpol tomorrow as it will have been 3 days...) but otherwise she's horribly hot, glassy eyed and clammy etc.

Any experience of this? Advice? Tell me I'm being ridiculous PFB-y...

TIA

db
xx

Had a bit of a day of it tbh.

She's not eating ANYTHING and not drinking her bottles either. I've spent pretty much the whole day offering her morsels of this and that trying to find something to tempt her - I even spent an hour making bloody banana bread (her favourite thing in the world normally) which she refused.

Most mealtimes ahve consisted of her throwing whatever it is I've prepared across the kitchen whenever I turn my back.

I've looked in her mouth and her tongue is also covered in little ulcers - which ust be making it horrible to either eat or drink so I can understand it.

It's just that it's been 4-5 days of very little going in and she's already clearly lost a lot of weight and looks as white as a sheet.

I'm worried sick tbh. and don't know what to do for the best...

All she wants to do is sleep (3 times her normal amount today) and be carried around.

Not good.

Her temperature's down though...

db
xx

Oh poor little thing.

Did you look at google images of the tongue you get with Scarlet Fever? (White with red bits showing through, or bright red with darker red bits showing)?

It is called strawberry tongue. Could it be this? It seems likely to be SF if she has had very high temps, sore throat, rash and tongue symptoms. I really would take her to your GP since she is still so unwell.

Hi Tiggi - have looked closer at the pics. It could well be. I'm going to take her back to the GP ASAP tomorrow.

I just don't like the look of it at all.

I just wish she's at least drink something...

db
xx

Yes, do take her tomorrow. If the doctor does not mention Scarlet Fever, bring it up yourself.

As I said yesterday, many GPs still do not seem to recognise it and are too keen to write it off as a virus.

It requires a 10 day course of antibiotics to be sure of preventing possible complications, such as rheumatic fever and kidney problems. Once they start the ABs they start to feel better very quickly.

Good luck-let us know how you get on.

Any ulcer type things anywhere else DB? Hands or feet?

Hope she (and you) have a good night and start back on the banana bread tomorrow

Not that I can see Lisa, but am keeping an eye out and will mention scarlet fever - My FIL is a GP in South Africa and he mentioned Scarlet fever as well...

Let hope for an overnight miracle eh?

db
xx

wash her with white or cider vinegar to take the fever away, sounds crazy but works. mix 1 part hot water to 6 or more parts vinegar. wash head, neck, abdomen, wrists. as it dries it somehow takes the temp.

Just fyi, my DD just had scarlet fever - all the same symptoms as your DD.

We're in West London, in case that's a helpful indicator.

She's on day 8 of ab's now and back at pre-school, but it really knocked it out of her and she lost a bit of weight.

I hope she gets better soon.

Can I help re symptoms? She was just diagnosed last Monday.

Scarlet fever is caused by strep A, the same thing that causes tonsilitus. It just depends on the child how they react to the virus, whether it becomes scarlet fever or not.

If it is, she will need very specific ab's which only target this virus. Penicillin V I think.

Here's my thread, in case it helps. here

How is she now?

Yes, I was also wondering how things are?

Hope everything is OK

HI all - sorry haven't logged on for a few days as have been back at work...

She's much improved, thanks for all your concern. Took her back to the doctors on Tuesday, although the fsh ahd subsided by then, and also the temperature she still wasn't eating or drinking hardly at all.

He said it wasn' scarlet fever - but a nasty virus nonetheless but that there was really nothign the could do other than ride it out.

We hada quiet few days - kept offering little bits of food and drink every now and then - she'd have the od mouthful.

Last couple of days while my mum has been looking after her, her eating and drinking has really picked up, and she's seeming much better.

So I guess her system managed to get rid of the virus... probably all a lot of panic about nothing on my part, but she really was a very poorly little girl for a few days there, and it scared me a bit ? I haven't seen her like that before.

So, we'll probably never know exactly what it was except that it was very nasty indeed.

You've all been wonderful though - thanks so much for all your support, advice and TLC.

Phew. etc.

db
xx

That's good to hear designerbaby.

Hi designerbaby. Glad your dd is feeling better.

It sounds just like a virus my dd2 had last week. Once vomiting had stopped and then high temp come down she just would not drink. I wasn't worried about the fact she wasn't eating, but not drinking really worried me. She still isn't eating very well. She looks so skinny now (she's almost 3).