Help, Unvaccinated baby sick

[stacey05]

Our family has been very sick for a few days. My 16 yo is on day 5..fever, cough, sore throat, aches & pains. Myself and my 7yo are on day 4..7 yo woke night before last in the middle of the night with 104 fever and couldn't breathe. Had to take him in for oral steroids and breathing treatment...this has never happened to him and it scared us to death. My 11 yo is going on day 3...same symptoms. My 14 yo has not caught this. All my older ones are fully/partially vaxed. Now my 18 mo. has started running 103 fever. He is still partially breastfed (not exclusively) and this is his first illness, except runny noses here or there. (first fever!) We had 2 of the kids tested for strep or the flu. Negative. I am thinking it may be rsv. I was going to take my 16yo, 11yo, myself and the 18 mo. in to the dr today. 16 yo may have secondary infection...bronchitis, etc? My 11 yo and myself have ear pain that I want to be checked out. I was just thinking of taking my 18 month old in because of his high fevers (just started last night). Will they want to do invasive testing on him because he is unvaxed and has a high fever? We are military and I haven't taken him to the dr. ever, really. I sort of want him tested for RSV. I am so scared after reading about flu deaths here in Co. and mrsa being rampant in hospitals...I hate to take them in!! I am scared they could catch something while thier immune system is compromised. I am scared of not taking them in and them getting pneumonia, ear infections, secondary infections, etc. I am nervous they will get mad that he is not vaccinated and feel they need to do invasive testing...or should I want that? Please help this mama (who is VERY sleep deprived and sick herself) know what I should do!! Also, for my little one, at what point (number) should you treat a fever. I gave him tylenol because he was at 103!! Thanks for your help.

Stacey

[carriebft]

If you are going, I would take the babe was well if I were you. Since you have suspected secondary infections, 103+ fevers, suspected ear infection, etc you might feel better taking them in and having things checked out.

Would this be with your family doctor? Since the baby is not vaccinated, does the doctor already know? could going to a doc that already knows your beliefs instead of somewhere like the ER alleviate your worries? even if you have to wait until tomorrow for the appointment since I know its sunday and not many are open.

But you could, if you go in and have an issue, just sternly say you are here to treat the current problems and you will discuss vaccination at a later date when your children are not sick...or just brush it off 100% and just demand to be treated without having other unnecessary things thrown at you.

[Crazybean]

**not a doctor** but
have you been taking Vit c aka sodium ascorbate? How about some ACV in applesauce? Mild baths and plenty of cool fluids can help a temp if you don't want to do tylenol. It's hard to say "wait it out" when you have a sick child so trust your gut. If it tells you to bring them in, do so. If they do have a virus, what kind of treatment do you expect from them? They might hospitalize the 18 mo old because of age to keep him hydrated and watch his fever. Perhaps post on the health and healing board too to see other options?
If you go to the ER, I can almost bet their vax status will come up because of their symptoms and then the preaching will start so be prepared to tell them you oppose them (religious views or whatever other reason) and they should stop.

[ilovebabies]

18 months old and 103 temp.? That really wouldn't worry me. My 18 month unvaxed ds has been sick with fever probably 3 times. I do treat fevers, however, unlike many of this forum, but that's just my preference. He always recovers just fine. So, I'd wait it out. Unless of course he seems lethargic or in pain. I would totally avoid the hospital or doctor's office right now unless I really felt he needed to go in. There's sooo much gunk going around.

I will typically wait 3 days (again, unless I see obvious signs of pain or my instincts say otherwise) before taking my kids in for a fever.

[KirstenMary]

For me, I don't worry so much about the number as I do how my childern are acting. A 104.8 fever with a "normal as can be" acting kid worries me much less than a lethargic child with a 102 fever.

So if your 18 m/o is acting not as usual, I would go in.

[shuttlt]

If you're posting, you're concerned. If you're concerned, take them in. You have already braved peoples disaproval for not vaxing. You shouldn't let that same disaproval put you off getting you child medical help if you think there is the smallest chance it could be necessary.

All the above is just the standard advice I've been given every time I've been worried about my son (with a bit of extra padding for your vax concerns). If MRSA is really a worry then someone else here is going to have to help you out.

[MountainMamaGC]

High fevers usually indicate a virus and since everyone in your home has it i would definately suspect a virus. He he breathing OK? Does he make eye contact and respond when you call his name? If he is I would not worry, just watch him closely. A fever of 103 or 104 is not as bad as people make it out to be. I use tylenol for pain and not fever. Fever does have a purpose IMO and when you bring it down you are just prolonging illness. Nurse your baby often as the antibodies from your virus will help him with his virus.

If you are worried, by all means bring him in. Whatever you do, dont let them bully you into vaxing your sick child.

[Marnica]

I agree with PP's. If you are very concerned then take him in. You said the fever only started yesterday. Personally I would wait a few more days (unless as others have said he seems in pain or very lathargic). I do not treat fevers for the sake of treating fevers. I believe and have read enough to know the body has a fever for a reason and should be allowed to do what it needs to do uninterrupted. I would use tylenol for pain however. My son had a fever of almost 104 a few months ago. I called our old doc on the third day and they told me Oh see how he is in 24 hours and then call back...they didn't seem all that concerned as he had no other sypmtoms except he was a bit cranky and tired. After I hung up I guess they looked at my chart and saw he was un vaxed and called me back and demanded I bring him in that day. I asked why they would be so concerned merely because he is unvaxed...the symptoms profile hadn't changed..they said it was "office policy". I listened to my gut and said I couldn't bring him in as I was stuck at work and I would call back in 24 hours if the fever was the same with no improvement just as they had originally suggested. I'd glad I did...the fever was gone by the next morning!
All of your concerns are valid and you must ultimately do what you feel is right. Hope you all feel better soon! Keep us posted.

[lucifugous]

I hope you are feeling better soon! You've got some great advice already from more seasoned mamas than myself, but I just wanted to add that it's out of the question that the 18 mo should receive any vaccines while ill. So you can strike that off your list of things to worry about immediately. I am not familiar with what tests might be recommended for baby's symptoms, but you should enter with the mindset that you will take time to decide before any procedures or diagnostics are performed- that is your right. And hopefully you have a doctor you can level with & who will give you all the info you need about the test for RSV or anything else you might want.