A quick PSA on fevers and young children

[davidah]

(I was trying to stay away from the new forums, but I've been lurking and the threads on fever caught my eye, so, here I am again for any of you who remember me)

I am usually very laid back about fever. This past month, our younger daughter (age 3 1/2) had a persistent high fever (5 days over 103) but no upper respiratory junk and her eyes started to turn red. I took her into the Dr. on a Monday, we did a rapid strep and urine culture (both negative) and he asked to see her on Wednesday if no break in the fever. On Wednesday, he did blood work, and based on those results, she was admitted to our local children's hospital with something called Kawasaki disease. The treatment is one-day of IV immunoglobulin (IVIG) and then 6 weeks of aspirin therapy. (We ended up in the hospital for 3 nights with observation, etc.)

The risk of not treating is serious permanent heart damage.

Sorry I don't know how to do hyperlinks here yet, but a good look-up is:

http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/heart/kawasaki.html


The symptoms are worth knowing, especially with children under age 8 (it's more common with young children but not exclusive to them).

End of PSA. I'll probably be around some, but I'm trying to regulate 'Net time better.

Davidah

[kokoro]

I am so sorry that happened! (((((Hugs)))))

Thank you for posting this. Did she have other symptoms?

[Peggyann]

OMG ((((((Davidah))))))

For a week both of mine were running fevers, and had green boogies and Karys was leaking green stuff from her eyes.
At first I thought it was seasonal allergies.

I took her to the Dr. thinking she had pinkeye,,BOTH kids have a bad strep infection throughout their lymphnodes. They are both on high dose ABX, and the Dr. explained about the risk of the heart valve damage if not treated.

((((your DD)))))

~PA~

[Debra]

{{{{{Davidah}}}}} Of course I remember you. I am so sorry to hear about your daughter's illness. Is she going to be ok?

It's nice to see you here. I hope you stick around.

[libbylibbylibby]

I'm sorry to hear about this -- it is frightening to be in one of those scenarios.
I hope your daughter makes a good recovery, and I am thankful that she is receiving good treatment now. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

[kathy caribe]

thanks so much for the info!

[davidah]

This all happened about 3 weeks ago so we're recovered.

We assume that there was no heart damage because it was caught early, but we get to follow up with the cardiologist at 6 weeks and then I think 6 months and 1 year. The fever went away immediately with the IV treatment -- it was like magic.

The challenging part is that she had never had a flu shot, so the aspirin therapy puts her at risk of Reye's syndrome if she were to get the flu. Evidently, the heart damage risk is greater than the Reye's syndrome risk. So we have been staying out of public places as much as we can.

Anyways, I think this is really worth being aware of because it is something that a Doctor could easily dismiss as "just a virus."

Davidah

[Sue]

How scarey for you guys! I am glad your doctor knew what it was!