Fever and Dehydration

Updated on August 14, 2008
T.C. asks from Wonder Lake, IL
3 answers

Hi Mamas!

I am hoping I can count on your guys once again to give me your advice! I have an almost 2 year old daughter (3 more days) who has a fever that was triggered by allergies. It started on Monday early evening.

Her fever has been staying at 103-104 and I finally just now have got it to 100.5 with lots of Tylenol. I can not give Ibuprofen since she is allergic to NSAIDS. The last real drink she had was at about 6pm or so on Monday night. Since then she has only drank a total at most of 6 oz of fluids. She has not peed in about 12 hours but has had one nasty stinky poopy diaper- I have never smelled anything so gross except on the farm! She had to struggle to get this out even though it was on the mushy side (sorry to be graphic) She has been eating though.... she ate Macaroni and Cheese 2 times today! Go figure!

I have tried EVERYTHING (I think) to get her to drink!!!!! I have offered- juice, water, milk, ice, popsicles, Gatorade, Crystal Light and have even gotten so desperate I offered her soda! She has refused everything! I have tried warm and cold drinks- added ice or nuked it. I have tried different ways of giving it- bottle, sippy cup, straw, my glass etc...The only thing I have gotten her to drink since about noon is 2 sips of an Ensure drink (took them from my Grandma out of desperation to get her to drink)

She has no other symptoms. No cold, no flu, nothing to indicate that she is sick besides the fever and lack of drinking. She does have a rare disease called Mastocytosis which is what causes the allergic reactions. I am just at a loss here!

So with the lack of fluids and the fever what should I do in your opinion? If I put a call in to the Dr in the am they will prob tell me to bring her in and then send me to the ER anyhow for an IV and blood work. Do I just skip the middle man and go straight to the ER for rehydration? Or do any of you know any way I can do it at home?

Any help or advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated!
Many blessings to you all!
- T.

"Spots are beautiful"
Support Understanding and Research of Pediatric Mastocytosis
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So What Happened?

Well this morning when she woke up at 10 (earlier than her normal) she had still not urinated- it took about 16 hours until she did finally at the ER. She did begin to drink a few sips though and I still put a call in to her Dr. The Dr actually told me to go straight to the ER and get IV fluids! So I worried about an unnecessary office visit for nothing! lol

The hospital gave her a whole bag of fluids via IV for dehydration- volume depletion. She was such a champ! She did not cry or even flinch when they started it! She got her stickers and was thrilled! More to add to her collection of them in her purse. Since she was better than even some adults they brought her some each time they came in the room to watch her reaction! lol

They found everything all normal in her blood tests except for one of them and I forget which but it starts with an E(?).... it is the one that has to do with an allergic reaction. The fever/flushing from the allergic reaction was what brought on her refusal to drink. We are continuing a prescription drug similar to Benedryl at home and pushing fluids now that she is hydrated again. When we came home she was being a show off and showing me how fast she could chug a sippy cup of water with a splash of juice! lol

I did learn a few things today! Food is actually an ok source of water... the mac n cheese is noodles with water absorbed in it! WOW I did not look at it that way! So she atleast got something even though I considered it a solid! Most foods actually contain some water so that is good to know! Also, the swelling around her eyes that I thought was from crying was edema from the allergic reaction. The other thing I learned today is to step back from being Mommy for 15 minutes and look at the situation as a bystander. I was scared to death after reading some scary things on the net. I was seeing possible kidney failure and cancers and all kinds of scary crap! Now that things are calm I realize if I had stepped back I would have just brought her in knowing it was exactly as I though and not gotten any more grey hairs in the process!lol I would have read it all and known that nope- this is not it she only has 2 of those symptoms etc! lol But of course that is what I have you Mamas for :)

Thank you guys for your support! It really means a lot to me to count on yous once again!
Many blessings to you all!

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.E.

answers from Chicago on

I would go to the ER mainly because a high fever can cause a seizure. I happened to my son when he was little. His fever went from normal to over 105 is a couple hours. Luckily I went into check on him in bed. He was like a limp dish rag. We rushed him to the hospital and all was fine. He got the high fever because of an ear infection. But the DR. said high fevers can cause seizure and brain damage. So, yes she needs to have liquids but if she is eating she is get some liquids, but the fever is a problem too. I would go to the ER or many Urgent Care Facilities will be Opening at 7 AM.

S.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.W.

answers from Chicago on

a fever of 100.4 or above for greater then 3 days without showing signs of getting better needs to be seen by her ped. Her allergies could weaken her immune system that makes her suceptible to catching something else but you do not have a fever with allergies. many a times children get this fever it goes away and they may break out in a viral rash after the fever breaks. then they have either a cold or flu like symptoms. push fluids as often as you can- dont worry about food so much. liquid is more importnat. make sure she urinates once every 6 hours, she has tears and her mouth is wet. if she has 4 or more loose stool in a day- have her eat foods that are binding and stay away from juice. gatorade is great. If she hasnt peed in over 6 horus talk to your ped right away!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.S.

answers from Chicago on

Hello-

Have you tried jello? If she's well enough...maybe have her help you make it. Instead of adding cold water in the end....add lots of ice. My kids love eating and sucking on the ice that is covered with jello.

Good Luck and I hope she gets well soon! =)

A.

1 mom found this helpful
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