I never know when to take the kids to the doctor. help, please?

[lollie2357]

Okay, DD is 2 - she had a fever of 102 for 2-3 days.  She didn't have any other symptoms, so I thought, it's probably just a virus, we'll wait it out.  As the fever went away, she got red eyes and a little cough.  The red eyes left, and then she got a runny nose and just a tiny bit of diarrhea.  Her cough sounds awful, but she isn't coughing constantly or anything. 

Do I need to take her to the Dr?  Since the fever is gone, I was thinking I probably don't.  But I  want to be sure its not the flu - could it be that?

[lollie2357]

I should add, we do vaccinate, but not for the flu.

[lollie2357]

I know this seems like a really silly question, but I would really appreciate any thoughts you have.  I'm leaning towards waiting it out now, but I'm just really uncertain. 

[applecider]

Personally, I would not. Even if it was the flu, but I don't really take my kids to the doc unless it's something that seems really serious (which has never really happened!). Any illnesses they have had generally went away after awhile. I suppose if it persisted for weeks and she was not feeling well, unable to eat, lethargic, then maybe I would take her. Hope she gets well soon!

[crunchy_mommy]

I would probably not go, but whenever I'm on the fence I call or email our doc just to check in. Usually he just tells us to take some kind of homeopathic remedy but just checking in with him usually eases my anxiety. It's hard with little kids because you just can't get a full picture of what's going on (at least with my DS, and he's very very verbal!) so I like bouncing it off the doc to make sure I'm not missing a red flag of something more serious...

[ameliabedelia]

No, I would not go to the doctor for something like that.  Even for the flu, I wouldn't go.   I would only take my child to the doctor if they seemed abnormally sick, not like something which is just a run of the mill childhood illness (which what you described sounds like to me). 

[Ravenlunatic]

I would not either.  You waited out the worst part, a high fever.  Why go now?  Even if it is the flu?  Sounds like your DC took care of it herself...

[Bokonon]

Originally Posted by crunchy_mommy 

I would probably not go, but whenever I'm on the fence I call or email our doc just to check in. Usually he just tells us to take some kind of homeopathic remedy but just checking in with him usually eases my anxiety. It's hard with little kids because you just can't get a full picture of what's going on (at least with my DS, and he's very very verbal!) so I like bouncing it off the doc to make sure I'm not missing a red flag of something more serious...

I do things similarly.  I am comfortable enough with our ped. that I can call and leave a message to see if he thinks I should bring LO in, and during off hours or weekends, I can talk to the nurse hotline and get a general idea of what they would recommend, though I don't need to follow their suggestion if I don't agree with it.

Personally, it doesn't sound like a trip to the doc is in order, especially since the OP's LO seems on the mend.  Even if it was the flu, what's the harm if she has it and is improving?

[LynnS6]

Our doctor's 'rule of thumb' is that if they've had a low fever for more than 4-5 days, or a very high fever for more than 2-3, they should be seen. Diarrhea/vomiting if the child can't keep anything down for more than 24 hours. None of that sounds like it applies to your dd.

I second the calling for advice when you're unsure. About 1/2 the time when I call, they say "wait x amount of time and bring them in if they're still sick" and the other half they say "bring 'em in". I've never felt bad about bringing them in for a 'virus' if they advice nurse has said we should see them. We don't go to the doctor often, but the last time we were there for a 'virus' that had lasted 4 days, it turned out to be strep throat.

[lollie2357]

Thanks everyone.  I did decide to wait, and she's just getting better and better. She still has a bit of a cough, but I guess whatever it was, she's doing much better.  My other daughter seems like she might be getting it now.  My kids don't get sick much, but when they do I always feel panicky because I have no idea what to do.  Sometimes its scary being a mom!  My doctor is great, but her office is busy and hard to just call and get advice.  I probably just need to chill out.  :)  thanks!