We can't reach the doctor until Monday, and it's not serious enough to go to an urgent care facility, but I'm really wondering whether my son has the flu. I know it's early in the season, but live-virus vaccines are being given in the grocery-store vaccine clinics in our area, so he has been exposed to people who are contagious with flu.
He's 19. His symptoms have been: fever 101.5 to 102 degrees, much nose-blowing, some dry coughing, some sneezing, sinus and lung congestion (but that's common with his asthma), lots of achiness, general tiredness, headache, and the whole post-nasal drip with the sore throat. He's keeping food down, but doesn't want to eat. No sense of smell or taste. Seems like half the symptoms from each possible illness. He's been sick three days, and he's so healthy that if this is a virus, it's his first ever, so we're new at this.
If it was your kid what would you guess it is? How would you treat it? And how do you occupy him so he'll rest??
2006-10-07 13:51:28 · 11 answers · asked by Gen 3 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
Hello - .... The symptoms you describe are that of a body that is engaged in 'detoxing'. ... sneezing, coughing, nose blowing, congestion etc,.. all are signs of a body in the process of throwing off toxins. ... In my opinion your sons body is doing some major 'house cleaning' work on it'self. .... and the best thing he can do for this is to support the body in doing the work that nature intended it to do when it has need to engage in house cleaning.
.... If he has little appetite this too is a very normal symptom of a body that is throwing off accumulated toxins. ... Remember that if you have ever had any experience with pets such as a cat or dog etc. .. when an animal becomes ill,.. it will very often stop eating until it becomes well again. ... This process is natures way of allowing the body to rest and focus it's energies on cleaning out the toxins that need to be cleaned out of the body. If the body is still engaged in taking in food,.. too much energy is brought to digesting and elimating foods and this does not allow the body to rest and do the healing work and cleaning out that it needs to do.
In my opinion,.. your sons body needs to rest and take in plenty of the sort of fluids that will support it in the work it is presently engaged in. Such fluids might include the likes of fresh squeezed lemon juice in warm water. DO NOT ADD ANY SUGAR OR SWEETENER TO THIS!.... Do not feed your son any sugar or cold foods or drinks. .... He should also stay away from dairy foods of any sort,.. as these foods promote mucous in the body.
Pure Cranberry juice can be good, (this is not the likes of Ocean Spray Cranberry juice, which is loaded with sugar and other types of juice),.. I am referring to a pure straight cranberry juice that you will only find in a good health food store. It will taste very bitter but it is very good for the kidneys and the body in general.
You may find that this juice is more easily tolerated if you dilute it 50/50 with water.
... Otherwise you could give him herbal teas such as chamomile or some of the Yogi Tea herbal tea products that are designed to sooth the respiratory system. These products also can be found in a good health food store. .... If you can get him to take it,.. you could have him consume a crushed clove of garlic twice a day. This is a natural immune enhancer.
... Allow your son to rest as much as possible,..and when he starts feeling better,.. he can begin to eat whole fruit,.. such as apples or prunes.
... He will get better as his body completes the work it is now egaged in.
2006-10-07 14:27:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's hard to guess if he has a cold the flu or some kind of virus, there are so many things it could be. I would give him Tylenol, or equivalent to keep the fever down. Make sure he drinks plenty of
liquids. If he is tired enough to rest then just leave him to do what ever he does to fall asleep. If not then tv etc. If he gets worse then
you can always take him to the emergency room at your local
hospital.
2006-10-07 14:00:12 · answer #2 · answered by Bethany 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
okay first of all getting the flu vaccine doesnt mean you are contagious with the flu-even if they are live-virus vaccines. if this made you contagious why would they give the vaccine??? just so they can infect 30 people that person comes in contact with???? second of all....you can't say that if this is a virus it's his fist ever. A "cold" is a virus. check it out. its the rhinovirus. anyways......if he's been sick for three days and you can't get him to the doctor til monday, I would definitely take him to the emergency room because it doesn't sound like a cold. sounds like he's feeling pretty gosh darn miserable. he clearly has an infection of some sort because of his fever. don't let the infection worsen.
2006-10-07 14:14:52 · answer #3 · answered by RN806 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
more cold than flu symptoms. His fever is low so no worries there. Just have him rest, eat when he can and push fluids. He has to stayu hydrated, thats the most important thing. Rest, fluid, and some ibuprofin should help him stay comfortable., He's 19, I'm sure he can find ways to occupy himself. Rent him some movies, or video games if he plays them. Nothing to panic abut here ;)
2006-10-07 13:55:23 · answer #4 · answered by Fade__Out 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
One can hardly tell the difference between infection with the cold virus vs infection with the flu virus by examining a patient, much less by reading about his/her symptoms. The cold virus tends to affect the upper respiratory system, the Flu virus tends to affect the whole body.
I am however curious as to why u find this distinction useful.
2006-10-07 20:23:31 · answer #5 · answered by Dr. Moe 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Your son definitely has a virus, and he belongs in bed. Give him healthy soups and lots to drink, and encourage him to rest. The symptoms should start to get better in another few days.
The main differences are:
Cold: Stuffed sinuses, runny nose, general run-down feeling, coughing, lung congestion.
Virus: Sore throat, high fever, muscle aches, runny nose, no desire to eat.
2006-10-07 13:57:20 · answer #6 · answered by Blue Jean 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sounds more like a flu than a cold. The give-away signs are the fever and aches. If it is the flu, he will feel crappy for at least a week.
2006-10-07 13:56:39 · answer #7 · answered by P-nuts and Hair-dos 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sound like the flu. Plenty of fluids and rest. Tomorrow is Sunday and Sunday is football. Let him enjoy the day from the sofa.
2006-10-07 13:56:56 · answer #8 · answered by Aberdeen 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If this were my child and I had to guess--I would think maybe a cold and since you can't take him to his doctor until Monday, I would have him rest and drink plenty of fluids. Though you should be able to call the doctor's office and tell all this to the answering service and they will tell the doctor who should call you back.
2006-10-07 13:54:44 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
my guess is sinusitis/bronchitis, an infection, instead of a virus. 3 days of 101 degree temp is time to see a real doctor. He probably needs an antibiotic.
2006-10-07 13:56:02 · answer #10 · answered by Lucky 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋