I think my five year old has the flu! What to do?

Question

She's had a bit of a cold for a couple weeks. Yesterday, she spiked a fever of 102.3 and now it's still 102.2. She has the cough, the body aches, the sniffles, the runs, the nausea. She woke up about 5 this morning throwing up bile and mucus into my trash can(had her in my room last night).
I have her drinking some weak chamomile tea with sugar, just so she'll have some liquids in her. Dry heaves are no fun.
Saltines and gingerale, and ice water, too.
What am I forgetting?

Keep in mind please, I am not an ignorant woman. I know that she needs a doc, but transportation is an issue-it is 22 degrees outside, windy and snowy. I cannot afford a taxi, and I don't want to make my SICK CHILD wait for the bus to get downtown and then another one to get to the doctors' office. I will have transport. tomorrow, more than likely. In the meantime, is there any children's OTC flu medicine that helps?

Oh, yes. And it wouldn't just be HER that I am toting, but my 22 month old son as well. My fiance(they're daddy) will be able to take her tomorrow.

"their"...not "they are"
I need more coffee.

I live in the ghetto. Most of my neighbors and I don't know each other or they don't have cars either. *rolls eyes*

Answer 1

You are a good Mommy!!!!
I am boiling for you!!!
*SREAM*
Just keep taking good care of that baby....You are smart enough to do what needs to be done!
Peace.

Answer 2

Tylenol and Sprite. Keep her hydrated so when she throws up there is something there. I'm probably repeating what others have said because I did not read any responses but this is what I used to do. I rarely took my daughters to the Dr. for this unless it lasted longer than a few days. Kids are sick all the time. Make sure she's comfortable, let her lay on the sofa with her little blankey and watch cartoons or whatever little kids watch nowadays I don't even remember. Good luck with her and I'm sure everything will be okay.

Answer 3

Poor little soul...

You're doing the right thing. Keep her drinking, and if you suspect she's getting dehydrated (i.e. she isn't peeing) you do need to call the doctor.

If it's been coming on for a couple of weeks it most probably isn't "real" flu, because that comes on extremely fast. It's EXCEPTIONALLY unlikely to be bird flu unless you are in a particular risk group, and I think that's an appalling thing to say to someone on the internet.

See if you can get some paracetamol-based medicine (appropriate for her age of course) down her to bring her temperature down a bit. Might be difficult if she keeps on throwing up.

Apart from that, keep her cosy and as comfortable as you can, and trust your instincts. If you feel she needs to see the doctor but getting her there is a real problem (and it might be if she's throwing up constantly and you don't have access to a car) then call the doctor and explain the situation. Most of the time with these nasty viruses there's nothing they can do anyway. But if you are concerned, or if she continues to get worse, especially with the dehydration thing, you need to get her to a doctor. If that involves grovelling to a neighbour who you barely know for a lift...then do it.

Answer 4

Sounds like you are doing the right things. If you can find children's gravol suppositories that would help with the nausea. Other than that, it should pass in a couple of days. If not, then that is when you should call the doctor. Right now I wouldn't be rushing off to the doctor since it is just a flu and will run it's course in a couple of days.

Answer 5

She needs some paracetamol and Ibuprofen to bring down her temperature.

If it raises too high she is at risk of having a fit (febrile convulsion).

You really need some medicine. Ask a neighbour to keep an eye on her whilst you pop out to the store or chemist.

You really need to keep some of these things in the house during the Winter so that you're prepared for illness. I always have a good stock of medicines in.

Answer 6

Oh honey. I'm sorry to hear your sweetie is sick. Sounds like you've got her set up comfortably. Don't stress too much about being far from the doc... even if you saw doc, she'd still have to work out her fever. My doc says OTC stuff is okay in these situations, he doesn't approve of meds for a slight sneeze, I know everyone is different though. Serious best wishes.

Answer 7

Have you taken her to the doctors yet?
You really need to be careful cause sometimes it can be more than a cold.
Don't want to scare you,but there are awful illness like meningococal.

You poor thing...I know how you feel.
I hate it when my kids are unwell.

EDIT:

Just keep her temp doen and keep her cool.

They also say to rub Vic's on the bottom of the childs feet.

Answer 8

ahhhh im sorry to hear that you...if i lived in your state i would give you a ride.

For some reason they say Campbell's soup really does help make you feel better see if she will eat that.

And when you give her meds switch the Tylenol and the ibuprofen every four hours (if you have it) my friend says this way the body does not become immune to the meds if you go back and forth.

Hope she feels better!!!

Answer 9

See a doctor

Answer 10

get children's flue medicine otc, use cold wet cloth to bring fever down, if the fever dosent go down give her a cool bath

Answer 11

it's okay that u have done first aid, but what about medicine? see a doctor at once for the child needs medication.