Flu, H1N1....tylenol

[sh1180]

You are just going along then wammo! My kids have been sick for about 2 weeks; just when they start getting better they will pickup something else. Yesterday my 1yr old ds was playing outside and started chattering his teeth so we went inside, gave him some milk, and he went to sleep. We had to leave to go to town so I picked him up and noticed he was running fever...not too bad, 100. We got to town (40 miles) got something to eat (he slept the whole time) I took his temp 105! So I took his clothes off of him and gave him some milk and his temp came down to 102. About an hour later his fever broke and he was feeling better for about an hour. Then up it went again and has stayed around 99 to 100 all night and today. He is really lethargic and whines in his sleep so I know he doesn't feel well (maybe body aches). Last night he threw up 3 times. He is drinking pretty good (water with lemon). I am giving him milk, water with lemon, vit C (500mg every 2 hours) and echinasea. Twice last night I gave him Tylenol (which ticks me off big time to give it to him) but I don't want him to hurt. Please help me. I have searched MDC before starting a new thread and not found too much. Before I make a 40 mile trek to town to get something I want to make sure I get just the right thing. (and we don't have too much of a selection to choose from). Mammas, what do you think he might have? Flu? What do a watch for if it is becoming serious. I absolutely HATE going to the doctor..my kids are not vaccd and I HATE giving them drugs so if Dr Mom can help that is my first choice.
Thanks

[sbgrace]

Are all the symptoms GI right now? Any cough?

If it stays GI only and it might be a tummy bug (noravirus is going around here) I'd lay off the dairy/milk as that doesn't go well with tummy bugs.

Get some good probiotics; no matter what you're dealing with that will help. He's old enough for culturelle and that's available at most drug stores. You don't have to have the kid kind. An adult capsule (or half of one) is fine.

I do extra vitamin D3 when my kids are sick. He can take up to 2000 IU per day of D3. Extra D3 can help if it's the flu and it helps the immune system no matter what.
If you can find sodium ascorbate vitamin C do that too. I can't usually find buffered (that's the sodium) C around here. Vitamin C rich foods would be good if they don't upset his tummy.

Keeping him hydrated and getting as much rest as he can are important. It sounds like hydrated is going well.

For tummy bugs the big risk is dehydration. For flu it would be breathing difficulties. Here are a couple of when to see the doctor/when things get serious links:
http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/pedia..._call_pedi.htm
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...0908/20090908/

In my experience with my kids (we've had two serious/need emergency room situations with my kids) you know when it's turned bad.

I would do motrin rather than tylenol if he needs it. It's better on the body system and regulates fever and pain better too. I would do it with my kids if the fever or pain is interfering with sleep. Otherwise we figure the body knows what it's doing and a low to mid-grade is generally helping the body fight without being too uncomfortable for the child. A temp of 105 is going to make a child uncomfortable in my experience and doesn't need to be that high to help the body fight either.

If it appears the be the flu high dose vitamin D3 could help others in the family resist the flu or have an easier time with it. When my husband had the flu I took 30,000 IU per day and the kids took 5,000 IU per day for three days.

[sh1180]

Originally Posted by sbgrace

Are all the symptoms GI right now? Any cough?

Yes he has a cough too, but he kind of had a cough before the fever

Originally Posted by sbgrace

I'd lay off the dairy/milk as that doesn't go well with tummy bugs.

he still gets mamma milk but I have laid off the dairy

Thanks for all of the info....his fever broke for a couple hours and he had some crackers and played with toys for a while. But now we are back to fever and whining ( more like moaning) Leads me to believe it is probably viral. Oh I hate this!!

[sh1180]

Breastmilk or garlic oil

Ok, baby boy still is running fever on and off (mostly on). So I listened to his lungs today...they sound clear. After much trying and fighting (he is 1) I got a peek in his ears. Of course they are red and look infected. I cant get a good enough look to make sure they are perforated but I haven't seen any fluid, puss, or blood coming out so I assume they are still intact (also being that he is still fussy and fevered). So long question short I have both breastmilk and garlic oil...which would you use? And after it was dropped in the ear would you put some cotton in there or leave it open?
I'm gonna get the boy well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!