Am I Overreacting (sick 2yo)

[joannqn]

My 2yoDS has been mildly sick (runny nose) for over two months. My 7yoDS has been stuffed up for over two months.

 

Last Tuesday, we went to the DS2's well-child check up. They were kind enough to fit my older son in at the same time. Turned out that my DS7 had a bad ear infection in both ears and a sinus infection. He was put on antibiotics and appears to be getting better. Turned out my DS2 had an ear infection in both ears and was put on antibiotics but does not appear to be getting better.

 

It is the 2yo that I'm worried about. He's allergic to cephalosporins like I am; he gets hives over his entire body. I'm also allergic to cephalosporins; it closes my throat when I take it and gives me hives all over my body when my nursing child takes it. Five percent of people who are allergic to cephalosporins are also allergic to penicillin. We recently found out that I'm within that five percent; it made my mild cough severe and began closing my throat (just not as bad as with the cephalosporins). Well, my 2yo is on amoxocillian. His runny nose does not seem to be improving. His mild cough is now croupy. It's not bad croupy...just his upon-waking cough that he's had is now barky when it wasn't so barky before. I'm concerned that he's croupy because the medicine is closing his throat a little bit. (Croup can be caused by a virus, bacteria, or allergic reaction.)

 

Our pediatrician's group has a few open hours on Sunday. I want to skip his next dose of medicine and take him to the doctor for their opinion.

 

He's lively and happy overall. No fever. I'm just worried about that cough since he can't tell me if the medicine is causing his throat to feel funny.

 

What would you do? Am I overreacting?

Edited March 29, 2009 by joannqn

[unsinkable]

My 2yoDS has been mildly sick (runny nose) for over two months. My 7yoDS has been stuffed up for over two months.

 

Last Tuesday, we went to the DS2's well-child check up. They were kind enough to fit my older son in at the same time. Turned out that my DS7 had a bad ear infection in both ears and a sinus infection. He was put on antibiotics and appears to be getting better. Turned out my DS2 had an ear infection in both ears and was put on antibiotics but does not appear to be getting better.

 

It is the 2yo that I'm worried about. He's allergic to cephalosporins like I am; he gets hives over his entire body. I'm also allergic to cephalosporins; it closes my throat when I take it and gives me hives all over my body when my nursing child takes it. Five percent of people who are allergic to cephalosporins are also allergic to pennisillians. We recently found out that I'm within that five percent; it made my mild cough severe and began closing my throat (just not as bad as with the cephalosporins). Well, my 2yo is on amoxocillian. His runny nose does not seem to be improving. His mild cough is now croupy. It's not bad croupy...just his upon-waking cough that he's had is now barky when it wasn't so barky before. I'm concerned that he's croupy because the medicine is closing his throat a little bit. (Croup can be caused by a virus, bacteria, or allergic reaction.)

 

Our pediatrician's group has a few open hours on Sunday. I want to skip his next dose of medicine and take him to the doctor for their opinion.

 

He's lively and happy overall. No fever. I'm just worried about that cough since he can't tell me if the medicine is causing his throat to feel funny.

 

What would you do? Am I overreacting?

 

I'd take him. I'd not hesitate with airway issues.

[Aunty Social]

I'd take him. It sounds like he has a pretty high tolerance for pain - after all, how long did he have an ear infection without the typical symptoms? If his cough has suddenly worsened after being on this medication, and there is family history of allergies, I'd stop the meds now and get him in. The longer he takes them, the more likely it is he'll develop a more severe reaction (i think).

 

Hope he's better soon!

[joannqn]

I'd take him. It sounds like he has a pretty high tolerance for pain - after all, how long did he have an ear infection without the typical symptoms? If his cough has suddenly worsened after being on this medication, and there is family history of allergies, I'd stop the meds now and get him in. The longer he takes them, the more likely it is he'll develop a more severe reaction (i think).

 

Hope he's better soon!

 

None of us feel pain with ear infections until hours before the ear drum ruptures. Neither DS7 or DS2 had pain symptoms. My DD9 had an ear infection that she didn't complain about until a few hours before her ear drum ruptured. I've had ear infections as an adult (6 in one year) that I didn't know about until the doctor told me I had them. Only one of them ever hurt...an hour before my ear drum ruptured. Our only symptom for ear infections is colds that don't go away.

[3browneyedboys4me]

coughs are usually worse in the morning when you first wake up. :) If the cough continues to get worse during the day then, it's probably something to be worried about. But, the mucus settles in the chest over night and they don't typically cough to get it up and out. So, that's most of the coughing in the morning.

 

But, I always, always go anyway. I'm sure he will be fine, but it's better to be safe than sorry!:)

 

Hope you all feel better soon!

Bethany Blizard

[swellmomma]

I'd take him in, not for the cough as that actually sounds like a good thing. It sounds like his sinus' are clearing making lots of mucus build up over night which he needs to clear out in the am. I would take him in because it doesn't sound like he is on a strong enough dose, if he has been on it since TUesday his symptoms should be nearly gone. Honestly it does not sound like an allergic reaction, but like an infection clearing up.

 

DD is also allergic to cephlasporins so I know the worry about antibiotics, but it doesn't sound like allergies imo Take him in none-the-less to be sure, but I think what he really needs is a different kind or higher dose to clear out those infections.

[Tree House Academy]

I would take him in a heartbeat. The times when I have made the worst mistakes with my kids is when I did NOT listen to that inner mom voice telling me what I should be doing. Trust your instincts and take your 2 y/o to the dr! :)

[The Governess]

I would also take him in just in case. Potential serious allergies IMO, especially if your ds can't communicate what he's feeling, aren't a wait-and-see. But like Swellmomma said, I do remember that the last time I had an ear/sinus infection, a couple days after I started the antibiotics everything started to drain out. It was a lot of ickyness. Hopefully that's what's going on with your ds, rather than an allergic reaction.

 

:grouphug: I hope he starts improving soon!

[Kim in SouthGa]

Take him! It's not worth the risk...do you have an EpiPen Jr.? There are plenty of antibiotics they can give him that aren't in that group. My ds is allergic to Augmentin and Keflex...he usually takes Biaxin or a Z pack.

[In the Rain]

You've probably already made your decision, but I would take him in.

[joannqn]

Take him! It's not worth the risk...do you have an EpiPen Jr.? There are plenty of antibiotics they can give him that aren't in that group. My ds is allergic to Augmentin and Keflex...he usually takes Biaxin or a Z pack.

 

Augmentin is a penicillin so you'll want to beware all penicillins. Keflex is a cephalosporins so you'll need to watch for the others in the same family. Five percent of people allergic to cephalosporins are also allergic to augmentin.

 

He basically has the same allergies I have.

 

No, I don't have an EpiPen or EpiPen Jr. I hadn't thought of carrying them since our allergies are easily avoidable...not something you can accidently get exposed to except in a hospital/ER situation when they don't know your allergies.

[joannqn]

I called and they agreed to see him at 2:30pm. I feel guilty about taking an appointment that's "for sick children only" but they said it was ok. He's not acting sick and isn't coughing now. My biggest concern is giving him more medicine and having a worse reaction. My own penicillin reaction was mild (significantly worse cough and small lump in throat), but I've been told never to take it again since the next time could be life-threatening.

[joannqn]

Well, THAT was almost a waste of time.

 

The good news: DS's ears look good and it is probably ok to not finish the course of antibiotics.

 

The waste of time: Dr. (not our usually doctor) thinks DS's cough is viral and not related to his ear infection, runny nose, or medicine. He also had no answer as to why it is suddenly worse and croupy...other than to say, "it's viral."