I went to the pediatrician yesterday with my sister-in-law because my niece was running 102 degree fever and had been for about 8 hours, children's Motrin had not brought it down. The doctor looked the baby over and said that since she was less than 2 months old he wanted us to take her to Children's Hospital ER for tests. He said that they would probably draw blood to test for infection, test her urine and do a SPINAL TAP!!!! Is this common? I could not believe that! They did not end up doing the spinal tap and determined that she has an infection although they could not tell if it is viral or bacterial, but they gave her a shot of antibiotic (it started with an R, I cannot remember the name). My sister-in-law called me this morning and the baby is still running 102 degree temp and she is taking her back to the pediatrician. I was just wondering if doing a spinal tap on a 2 month old is standard procedure, I understand the scare of meningitis, but thought it was a little scary. Am I overreacting or just new at this? Also, does this sound serious or is it probably a virus? By the way, the baby does have thrush and the pediatrician said that is was a very minor problem, he did prescribe her Diflucan.
Robin
Follow Ups:
Re: My 6 week old niece more info
Posted by Robin Pollan on October 29, 1998 at 20:39:55:
In Reply to: My 6 week old niece posted by Robin Pollan on October 29, 1998 at 15:21:54:
They have now determined that my niece has a urinary tract infection, which they say is very uncommon in infants of her age. They are putting her on oral antibiotics and want to do a sonogram of her kidneys and bladder. We will see...
Robin
Re: My 6 week old niece
Posted by Walt Stoll on October 30, 1998 at 12:51:19:
In Reply to: My 6 week old niece posted by Robin Pollan on October 29, 1998 at 15:21:54:
Hi, Robin.
The decisions about testing & hospitalization have to be made on the basis of the physical exam. There MUST have been some alarming findings to have this approach since: ALL research shows that a temperature up to 102 degrees is helpful to the person in fighting any infection. Only above 102 is reducing the fever worth while.
Using an antibiotic with a viral infectioin is worse than nothing bcause it interferes with the normal immunity and does NOTHING against the virus. Whatever happened to the first thing on the Hippocratic Oath: "First do no harm!"
At this age nearly every infection that causes a temp of 102 degrees IS viral. One would have to have compelling physical findings to put this kid through all of this.
Right now, aggresive intervention by the physician is the forth most common cause of death-------CAUSED BY THE PHYSICIAN. First do no harm , indeed!
If the child did not have thrush before the antibiotic, the most likely cause of the thrush IS the antibiotic----just another indication that the treatment is already damaging the kid.
If the thrush WAS there before, the chances are that the very best thing the parents could do is read up on candida-related syndrome. That way, they can at least protect her from future predations of intentionally ignorant conventional physicians.
C-RS was discovered (and published) in the late '70s. Only this year is the AMA finally, grudgingly, begin to admit that it might exist. If you talk to any especially ignorant docs, they might still deny its validity.
Walt
Follow Ups:
Re: My 6 week old niece
Posted by Robin Pollan on October 30, 1998 at 19:59:15:
In Reply to: Re: My 6 week old niece posted by Walt Stoll on October 30, 1998 at 12:51:19:
Thanks for your advice, they are very aware of Candida since I am currently fighting it. The baby did have Thrush before, but my sister-in-law was put on antibiotics for a bladder infection when the baby was 4 weeks old and she is breast feeding, I wonder if the thrush was caused by the Keflex that my sister-in-law took.
They did determine that the baby has a bladder infection which the doctor said is rare in a child of her age. He has put her on Bactrim (which I know is a broad spectrum antibiotic and will make her thrush worse) and wants to do a sonogram on her kidneys and bladder to see if there are any defects.
She was given 2 doses of Bactrim yesterday and this morning at 3:30 she had 103 degree fever. So I guess we just have to wait, but believe me I will do everything in my power to make sure that she does not develop Candida, but since she is being breast fed only I suppose that is less risky diet wise than formula.
Thanks again,
Robin
Follow Ups:
Re: My 6 week old niece
Posted by Walt Stoll on October 31, 1998 at 12:39:58:
In Reply to: Re: My 6 week old niece posted by Robin Pollan on October 30, 1998 at 19:59:15:
Dear Robin,
The general rule is that the first urinary tract infection in a female is NOT indication for all those tests (since the urethra is so short, these infections are NOT that uncommon). The second infection needs the tests. The first infection in a boy child IS reason for all those tests since the urethra is so long. The theory is that nearly all bladder infections go to the bladder from the outside.
Good luck. It sounds like she is in the "clutches".
Walt