beauty healthy happy
14 Mar
Why is my child getting sick so often?
My daughter is not quite 2 1/2 years old. In June, she started getting sick. She broke out in hives and had a fever and during this illness, had a seizure due to her fever spiking (I know that's not particularly dangerous. Just trying to describe the symptoms when this all started). The doctors couldn't figure out what caused it but her tonsils swelled quite a lot. She was tested for strep,and the flu and they did a V.C.U.G. test, (catheter used to fill her bladder with dye solution to be sure her urine wasn't backing up into her kidneys). CAT scans were done, chest ex-rays, and blood tests. Nothing conclusive was found, but after 2 antibiotics and antihistamine for the hives, it seemed to get better. It wasn't a week later when she got sick again. Upper respiratory infection. More antibiotics. I'm not so sure that ever really went away before she got another throat infection, high fevers etc… This continued and her tonsils never shrunk but from what I understand, when a child gets ill sometimes the tonsils can remain swollen for years or even for the rest of that person's life. They're still big and red but most of the time, it doesn't seem to bother her, and she's never had an ear infection in her life. She does however, snore and tends to salivate excessively, like it's almost too big a bother to swallow. She has no mental impairment and her speech is above average.
Anyway, she's been sick since June with only two days that I can remember when she felt really well. She has a perpetually runny nose and a cough that never goes away. A month ago it was really bad again. Her tonsils were so inflamed that they looked like someone poured boiling oil down her throat. They looked like they had blistered and the blisters broke, so there was dead skin hanging from them. She was very lethargic and wouldn't eat or drink, and her fevers were hitting 104-105. We had her in the E.R. twice and again, they did all of the tests (catheter included but no V.C.U.G.) and found nothing. I took her to her regular doctor and mentioned that if I didn't know better, I'd think she had Mono. Sure enough, she had an 'Epstein Barr-type virus'. Three antibiotics later, (for the secondary respiratory infection) she was better (not well, but better than that). Two weeks ago, she had a stomach virus that was going around the day care and was vomiting. That only lasted a day. Last week she caught another stomach virus that was going around her day care (this time it was diarrhea) and most kids were over it in two days. Hers lasted five. She finally went back to the day care today for the first time in a week, and tonight she has a fever of 104. The kid is just never well! I requested that we be referred to an E.N.T. and we're scheduled for that on the 6th, but if it's not her tonsils causing this, does anyone have a guess what might be? I am looking for something I may just be missing that I might bring up to the doctor. Yes I know…the doctor is the expert, but sometimes when you don't get real answers, you really have to look deeper yourself. Doctors are only human and see hundreds of patients a year, so just like with the Mono diagnosis, they can miss things too. Any ideas?
4 Responses for "Why is my child getting sick so often?"
I could only think of two things, and I might be wrong. Either a low immune system or allergies. Seems so minor that it could be allergies but children that are allergic to everything (like I was) stay sick for most of their childhood. You should go to a specialist and have her checked. If its not allergies then at least you will know what she IS allergic too. The other, her immune system, no real suggestions. I know that my child goes to daycare and every morning before we get out of the car (he is almost three) I have him apply a lipbalm with bees' wax (always have been a firm believer in bee's wax) and I apply a very small amount of bactorban on his nostrils. I don't get inside of the nose, just around the outside of it. He use to get sick everytime he went to daycare. I couldn't keep him well. And this was during the months that I thought he would be the most well (summer) and he still never was. He got the virous at school but always kept it for a really long time. After applying the bactorban cream it has totally cleared up and he stays well now. Sometimes even the virouses that go around at daycare has no affect on him. Ask your doctor if it would be safe to use that cream on your little one. It may help!
Aww, poor baby! That is so awful to have a child that is so severely sick because you feel so helpless that you can't make them feel better!First of all, I would suggest getting her tonsils removed. I know that you said it is not what is causing the issues, but it is definitely not helping her situation. It would free up her airway a little bit more and make it much less likely for her to have sore throats, strep, or tonsillitis. I would talk to the E.N.T. about this at your appointment.Second, do you think that it could possible be an immunodeficiency? It seems like there is really no rhyme or reason to her illnesses or where they occur. She may just be more susceptible to illness because of a weak immune system.Third, could it possibly be an allergic reaction? I know that seems too easy, but allergic reactions can be tricky and it can be to almost anything. Maybe do some blood work to check and see if they can find any kind of allergy in your home that your daughter could be struggling with?Try to keep her lifestyle as consistent as possible. Keep her diet relatively similar and stick to the food groups. Have her drink alot of water. Giver her vitamins. I know that this seems stupid, but consistency is an easy way to get her immune system on track.Good luck! I'm sorry your daughter is so sick
This baby's been through a lot. And I'm sure Mommy and Daddy have too. As a foster mom of many children, all I can say is don't give up. Something is going on with your little one. She may grow out of it, but at some point it may all make sense. I read the other comments and I agree that she may have weak immune system. Does anyone in your family have a genetic auto-immune disease? It may manifest in Systemic Lupus, Ulcerative Colitis, Chrones, Rheumatoid Arthritis, or a variety of other autoimmune conditions that seem to run in families. My MIL has lupus, my son has ulcerative colitis, and my husband has a chronic autoimmune condition in his eye. Just something to think about.The other thing that is not very popular, and may not even be feasible, is the idea that the child not go to the daycare. Maybe her immune system just needs to mature and because of all the germs, she just keeps getting bombarded. Maybe 6 months or a year at home will help her immensely. It may mean she will have to go on medicaid for her care and your family may have to have food stamps to get through, but its not a permanent thing.The other thing to consider is if the swollen tonsils will cause her to have apnea at night when she's sleeping. the ENT will be able to determine this if it is a concern. Just another thought.
I am so sorry she keeps getting sick. You are doing the right thing by asking around. I would suggest trying to see a different doctor or doctors. Dont they have special pediatric doctors, I heard about them one time ugh I am sorry I cant remember what the speciality is called, not the ENT docs. Has there been anyone else in your family history who has suffered anything similar or suffered from a disease that could be genetic?
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