2 yr old was sick---is she still sick??? or another child?

[kfillmore]

I am a worried and confused-

on Sunday 2 year old DD had a bit of a fever, then Mon and Tuesday a "real" fever (I checked 2 or 3 time and it was 103) She was more or less herself except for looking sick and sleeping more. She had no cough or nose issues except a bit of blood which I think was from picking a dry nose. Wednesday the  fever was gone BUT in its place is a child who is very clingy and cries alot. DD usually doesn't cry much but she is attached to me and complains when I don't pick her up, nurse her etc. But this a whole new level. I swear she spent half of the last three days crying (mama, mama, mama, mama over and over-not just thru out the day but each incident. I have been asking her to tell me what and she wants to be picked up or nurse). The type of crying varies. She has been rubbing her head but when I ask she says it doesn't hurt. It might itch (maybe cause I haven;t washed in several days). Actually over this whole time she has said her head hurt a couple times. She seems fine between the her crying.

DO you think this is just the tail end of a flu or is something wrong???

would menengitus be around after fever is gone?

I am alternating between worry and extreme frustration! 

[D_McG]

if she is still seeming to be in pain just call the doctor and see if they want to see her.

[4evermom]

It can take kids days, even a week or more, to bounce back after being sick.  

I'm no expert but the tell tale warning for possible meningitus is not being able to touch your chin to your chest.  But I wouldn't think that likely since the fever is already down.  

[Peony]

DD2 is older (4) but almost on the same sick time line. She had the 103 fever Monday and Tuesday, she is still whiny. It often takes her a week to be back to her self after an illness. So for now, I am being patient and still keeping things quiet for her to rest. 

[3xMama]

She just sounds like she's getting over being sick to me. It can take several days for kiddos to bounce back from an illness.

From my understanding, meningitis gets very serious very fast and really knocks on kid on his butt. More like the kid just sleeps, has a fever and generally doesn't feel well. A stiff painful neck is also common, so as long as she can move her head like normal and esp can look down, chin to chest, I'd highly doubt meningitis is a problem. The neck test is what our old ped did when our old daycare provider thought DD might have meningitis. (She didn't, the daycare had had a child w/ meningitis and when DD took an extra long nap and didn't want to get up afterwards, they were just being cautious.)

[K1329]

If you're worried and she's not acting like herself, I would take her to the ped just to be sure. It could be a secondary infection - a possible ear or sinus infection. Hope she feels better soon!

[pianojazzgirl]

I think that probably she's just in the tail end of the sickness.  Often they can be pretty much out of it for 2-3 days, and then, when they're actually feeling better, they go through a clingy and cranky phase.  A secondary infection is a possibility too, though I would expect to see fever with that.  The most important thing though is what your gut is saying.  If you just can't shake that worried feeling then you need to take her in.  Maybe just a call to your dr or a nurses help-line would help you figure out if she should be seen.

[MamaChicken]

All four of mine had what you describe. My 12yo was able to verbalize that once the fever passed, every joint in his body ached a lot! The only thing that helped was Tylenol or warm bath/shower. The ache was gone in 3-4 days. I believe it was just the symptom of the virus.