[gnat]

My son wasn't acting right this morning so I took his temp and discovered he has a fever. His only symptoms seem to be the fever, body aches, and eye pain.

As much as I love his cuddly state I grow increasingly anxious as his temperature elevates. I am far too familiar of stories where kids are fine one day and they're dead the next. I know I'm being paranoid, he's probably fine, but I find myself worrying.

Is it just me who freaks myself out over an unexplained fever? (if I knew the cause I'd be doing better) if not, his do you calm your nerves?

[healingme4me]

I used to panic. Every little fever was suspect. Until, the time, a couple months shy, of my oldest sons 2nd birthday, he had a fever, and was lethargic, wasn't quite lifeless, but just lacked any desire to move around. I took him, to the pediatrician. He was sent, to the ER. His O2 levels were below 80. He had, RSV. Because, he was under the age of 2, he was admitted into the hospital, week of XMAS. I spent the week with him, hooked up to IV's, pale as a ghost, and just quite not what you want to see from a toddler.

He was released on the Eve.

From that point on, I know how to detect troublesome fevers and not so troublesome fevers. To be honest, at this point, I rarely use a thermometer in my home. Their behaviors are more an indicator to me, than just using a thermometer. Sometimes, those devices, aren't always in proper working condition, nor calibrated properly.

Of course, monitor their temps. Of course, if it's not going down, and there's more symptoms to boot...get them to the doctors office. My Pedi's office, has 24 hour service. I can call, speak with someone, and then be advised, for morning walk in hours, or directives to the ER, where my pedi is the head pediatric doctor, there.

Hope your child, starts to feel better. All these, stories, you read, hear about watch on the news....ask your pediatrician, what's truth, what's elaborated for news media, and what is the best signs to look out for, as far as getting your children the help that they need, when they need it the most.

[gnat]

I think that's my problem. I work in the medical profession and was just at a conference and there were a couple "dead the next morning" stories. They did say what to look for and we nearly lost our oldest son to dehydration (after the idiot urgent care doctor turned us away) and then we had a severe case of croop in which when my son was brought to the ER they pulled someone else out of a room into the hall. So yes, i've seen bad twice, but having the refresher on how fragile they are didn't help.

I'm not a huge believer in the thermometer either, but use it as a gauge for when he can be around other people. He had an elevated temp all day, peaking at 103 so we cancelled our plans with a friend and no preschool tomorrow. I could tell anyway by looking at him and I think I'm as accurate as the thermometer (considering they aren't all that accurate) just by kissing his forehead.

You'd think by the third kid I'd calm down a bit. Stupid conference.