How Long Do Viruses Last?!

It depends on the virus most last one to two weeks. Make sure she is drinking lots of fluids, it will keep her hydrated and it will help flush out the virus. There is not much the doc can do, antibiotics do nothing for a virus and can cause complications. She is tired because her body is fighting this so let her get lots of rest. If you can give her some Emergen-C or Airborne, this will give her a little energy and help her body fight it off.

Without treatment/medications/vitamins, etc - 2 weeks.
With treatment/medications/vitamins, etc - a fortnight.

It's sometimes hard to tell because a primary infection can develop into a secondary bacterial infection - so it seems like the initial cause might go on for a long time when it rarely does.

I was home till kindergarten and when I started I caught every thing going around till 2nd grade, then only got sick once or twice a year.
My son was in daycare and from 3 months to about 2 years old he caught everything going around then only got sick once or twice a year.

In my experience it seems like it takes 2 years of exposure to germs (daycare, school) before the immune system ramps up.
Nothing really helps to program the immune system any faster except to get sick and recover over and over and over for awhile.

The average run of the mill virus lasts 10 days.

Some are short lived and last 24-36 hours. Some are absolute nightmares and last 6+ months. But most last 10 days on average.

The BEST support for her immune system is REST. (I know, hard to acchieve with a wee one. Liberal use of the TV helps).

SECOND best is nutrition & hydration. Hydration is easy, you have to PUSH fluids (apple juice is best, it has the sugar your brain needs to function, unless you're vomiting or fluxing, then pedialyte or gatorade for the salts). NUTRITION (however) IS BACKWARDS. Your digestive system shuts down when you're sick (to funnel the energy to your immune system). So what's "healthy" when you're well IS NOT healthy when you're sick. Your immune system is MOSTLY fats with a little protein thrown in for structure. Your digestive system can't digest solids very well (nor anything that has to be broken down a lot). So you need a HIGH FAT / BROKEN DOWN as much as possible diet when you're ill. Chicken Soup or McDonalds. Seriously. The SAME things that make mcdonalds UNhealthy the rest of the time, makes them the BEST food to eat when you're sick. It's so processed and so full of fat that your body needs to spend almost ZERO energy digesting it. The fats get sent straight to your immune system to make antibodies. You need, need, need those fats when you're sick.

Any fever that comes with a rash needs to be checked out. Anything lasting the 7/10 day mark needs to be reevaluated. Especially in little ones. It could be an ear infection. Especially at night when she is lying down. Is she eating/drinking fluids? Have you given her any Tylenol or Motrin with the fever/pains?

My baby (1 today!!) has had this going on for 3 full weeks now!! I just want this out of my house. As a family of 5 it seems it just keeps bouncing back and forth between everyone.

I would just let her rest as much as possible. Maybe put a call into the Dr., but not sure that they will see ya.

Good luck and hope she feels better.

We have had to deal with up to three weeks. Little ones handle viruses very well. I always just like to make sure they enjoy the morning while they can since they are typically in bed an hour or so early because of being so tired. Just wait till she starts school! First year is a lot of sickies for everyone.

it's very hard to wait when your little one is suffering, but there's just not much a doctor can do for a virus. a virus can last anywhere from a few days to 2-3 weeks. treat the symptoms (rest, comfort food like chicken soup, warm blankies, freezie pops) and hang in there!
khairete
S.

Rule of thumb is if they are not better in 10 days take them back as it may have turned from viral to bacterial.

Is she having any trouble moving her neck? Keep an eye on that. Mine was just hospitalized in October (same exact symptoms to begin with - red rash on her face and neck on a Thursday, 102 fever on Saturday, then ok for a couple of days but then up all night screaming on Tuesday night, lethargic and low-grade fever on Wednesday. By Wed late afternoon not moving her neck well...into pediatrician and sent to ER...hospitalized 3 days for infected lymph nodes. Turns out her throat/neck was really painful and she couldn't tell me. Of course I'm not saying this is going on with your baby, just more to be alert and look for anything unusual. Me noticing her limited neck movement was the difference between just IV antibiotics in the hospital and surgery to remove the infection from her neck. :/