7yo ds has stiff neck but no fever

[sheandaru]

I'll call the doctor during office hours (an hour from now), but I wanted to check in here and see if anyone can help.

Last night our 7yo told us his neck hurt and was able to point out the exact place where the pain was coming from. He slept fine but it still hurts this morning. DH gave him some tylenol at about 6:30. There hasn't been any sign of fever.

I've got him on the couch with a flax neck warmer to see if maybe it's just a muscle thing. I don't want to over-worry about meningitis, but I'm a mom, kwim? Without a fever, I'm hesitant to even suspect it.

Thoughts?

[Llyra]

With meningitis, typically the neck isn't just sore. It's intensely painful; it hurts badly enough that the child will refuse to look down at the chest, or to the side, EVEN if you provide a major distraction to look at. Like oooh, DS, look at this chocolate fudge sundae-- if you look at it, you can have it-- and they still refuse to look, because the pain is that serious.

I was in the ER once at children's hospital of philadelphia, about a suspected meningitis case, and that's what the doctors there told me.

There are other reasons for a stiff neck-- swollen glands, having slept in an odd position, having strained a muscle or something.

I think if you're worried it can't hurt to call a health care provider and ask for advice. But I think you're right-- without a fever, and with the pain not seeming to be too intense and serious, I don't think I'd worry too much about it.

[ttcintexas]

What PP said. I took my DD to the ER once when she was three. She complained of her neck hurting, had a fever, was throwing up and falling asleep in my lap. Last straw was when she asked me why she couldn't see! The ER doc, after berating me about not vaccinating and telling me that she is at risk for meningitis from every infection, finally examined her and said she did not present with the meningitis painful neck. With that one would not be able to look down or look at light due to the pain. Hope your DS is feeling better.