Time to take her to a doctor?

[Storm Bride]

Our whole family has had an awful bug over this last week. DH missed a day of work. I've felt like death warmed over for about 10 days (I'm always hit the worst, as I don't get enough sleep and my immune system is kind of...trashed.)

General symptoms we've all had are fever, headaches, muscle pain. I think we've all had sinus pain and sore throats, as well, but it's hard to say for sure. (And, I can only vouch for fever for non-verbal dd2, but she was miserable, so I'm guessing at least the headache, too.)

Anyway, ds2 seems to be mostly okay now - just some residual crankiness. DH and ds1 are both pretty much back to normal (ds1 even did a gymnastics practice last night). DD2 was still cranky yesterday, but I think she's okay now. (Symptoms have been coming and going for me, ds1, dd1, ds2 and dd2, so I'm hesitant to say that anybody is okay for sure.)

DD1 (7) first spiked a fever of 101.2 (I think - dh took it - was just over 101, anyway) on Sunday night. She got up Monday and was fine all day. We went to a homelearner's "not back to school" park day on Tuesday and both kids were fine (dd2 stayed home with dh, who was home sick from work). DS2's fever came back up on Tuesday evening, but dd1 seemed okay. She started complarining of a headache again yesterday afternoon. She didn't eat any dinner. She had a fever of just over 100 last night (again, not sure of the exact reading). She slept okay last night - dh gave her some Tylenol. She woke up this morning and didn't eat breakfast. She's still got a headache, and has been on the couch all morning. And, about 20 minutes ago, she got up and threw up. She still has a fever, but I can't find the thermometer (dh isn't sure where he put it last night), so I don't know how high it is. She still has a headache.

I know they recommend taking a child to a doctor if they have a fever and vomiting, but I'm not sure if that really applies if they've only thrown up once.I really don't want to drag the whole family out of the house, and maybe trigger a relapse for the little ones (esp. dd2), but I also don't want dd1 to miss out on necessary medical attention. If I take her in, are they just going to prescribe antibiotics and send her home, or what?

Any thoughts?

[laohaire]

I don't feel very qualified to answer, but I'll just jump in anyway.

The first rule is, if you think you should go, you should go.

But that said, I think I'd stick with wait-and-see based on what you said.

Does she still have some spark in her? I mean, I know she feels awful and all, but is she still "there"? I don't know how to describe, but if she's withdrawn, retreated or faded away, I'd get medical attention.

[Storm Bride]

She responds pretty quickly if I talk to her, but she's pretty wiped out.

I've decided to take her in. My mom is out of town for the weekend, but isn't leaving for a few hours. If I take dd1 in now, mom can watch the two little ones for me, and I don't have to take them out. Plus, dd1 is saying she has a sore, stiff neck. While it's not as stiff as it could be (she can still bend it), I want to rule out any possibility of meningitis.

DD1 never gets sick (she's like dh). It's really strange to see her like this.

[Storm Bride]

I'm glad we went in. The doctor did a solid exam (none of the 30 seconds stuff) and concluded it's a nasty viral infection, but not meningitis. Rest, clear fluids, BRAT diet...basic stuff. So, my mom can still make her ferry, and I'm not worrying, anymore.

[laohaire]

That's very good news.

Wow, that was fast, too.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by laohaire

That's very good news.

Wow, that was fast, too.

I went to a walk-in clinic in our area. I've been there before, and had to wait an hour or more to see a doctor, but today there was only one person ahead of us.