Worst night ever last night. Seems sick today.

[tantrums]

My sons best friend, who he spends nearly every day with, was at our house last weekend, when he got sick. He complained of a headache and felt warm. He gets strep a lot Turns out thats what it was. That same night - DS showed an allergy to zithromax and therefore, was off of ABX for three days while we got a new one.

 

Last night - DS seemed "off" from the time he came home. Then he went into a tirade ending up in a hysterical crying fit lasting for nearly two hours. He was literally bawling and thrashing on the bed. Nothing I did helped. He just kept telling me to go out and leave him alone. He is SEVEN!! It was awful. I've seen rage attacks, but never anything like that.

 

Today, he has seemed off all day - a bit depressed. The past few hours, he has just been on the couch huddled under a blanket. Now he complains of a headache. He hasn't eaten for hours except for whipped cream. He has dark circles under his eyes. When he talks its very forced. He doesn't feel warm but I can tell he is getting sick.

 

he's been on omnicef now since tuesday - so what else would we do? I just did another major bloodwork with ASO on thursday - probably too early for ASO if he caught strep from his buddy - right?

 

Do I assume this omnicef is enough or would a doctor give him another ABX if he has strep?

[peglem]

Does ibuprofen help?

[tantrums]

Funny you should ask... I gave it to him about 30 minutes ago because of him saying his head hurt. He is perking up just a little. At least he is talking and I got him to drink some juice.

 

he's really freaking me out! He seems so clinically depressed it's frightening!

[Megs_Mom]

I'd keep up the motrin on a 6 hour schedule for the next 48 hours. See if you can keep the inflamation down. If he gets stuffy at all, then add benadryl. Your doc could always give you a second abx if needed.

 

What was the allergic reaction to azith? Did it occur after he'd been using the azith for some time?

[tantrums]

No - he'd been on azith about 6 months ago with no problem. This time, it was the first pill that did him in. 12 hours later, he was covered in severe hives that took nearly 3 days to go away. I actually had the epi pen in my hand at one point

[Megs_Mom]

No - he'd been on azith about 6 months ago with no problem. This time, it was the first pill that did him in. 12 hours later, he was covered in severe hives that took nearly 3 days to go away. I actually had the epi pen in my hand at one point

Did the hives co-incide with the exposure to strep? Or was that unrelated, and clearly a reaction to the azith? If it was coincidental to the strep exposure, you may want to google strep rashes as well. I just hate for you to lose azith, if that is not the issue. Of course, don't experiment on your own, if a doc wants to put him back on azith, you can do a trial in a doc office to ensure no issues.

[tantrums]

It was clearly a reaction to the zith. I'm also allergic to just about every abx that exists, so it's not exactly a shock. He's also allergic to augmentin, so things are getting complicated here

[Megs_Mom]

Poor kid - and poor you! Hope the motrin works great for you & this is just a blip.

[tantrums]

What really stinks is ABX and spanish (yes ONLY spanish) onions were the only allergies in this house, which seemed like no big deal until recently. Now suddenly it's becoming a big issue!

 

Will just keep up the motrin through tomorrow and hope for the best

[thereishope]

Oh, man! Exposure or strep?! I hate that! Is he on a Omnicef doasge for an active infection or a prophylactic prescription? If it's low dose, switch him to full dose for now in the event he did contract strep.

 

Also, not sure if it's an old wives tale or not, but limit dairy if he could have strep. I thought it was believed to breed strep faster.

 

As for his behavior, it actually sounds more like a meltdown than a rage to me. My son had a lot of both. Rages in my child involved phycial hitting, kicking, etc. The want to inflict pain on someone. Meltdowns was just that...a meltdown.

Edited November 14, 2010 by Vickie

[ajcire]

Aww Tantrums... I know what you are talking about My son doesn't have rages.... but has meltdowns that sound like what you describe... I usually find if I leave him alone (because he's not destructive and doesn't hurt himself or anyone else) that he gets himself back together quicker. If I go in and try to talk to him it only starts it more. He now usually goes up screaming some rant about some irrational injustice and then goes under his covers... and comes back out when he's ready.. sometimes quicker than others..

 

Hang in there.

[tantrums]

Irrational injustice is EXACTLY what it was. He wanted a third juice box and we said no. That's what started it all. It was ridiculous. Of course part of me wanted to just throw a juice box at him, but I stayed firm. When I'd go in there every time he started to seem slightly calmer, he'd tell me he wanted a juice box and when I said no - he'd start up all over again.

 

He's on full dose Omnicef. Dr. T wanted him to start right up on full dose again since he's been off for a while.

Luckily it has either covered us or this was a fluke. He woke up totally fine today. He's running around the house full of energy and happy as can be

[ajcire]

Tantrums... that's exactly something I would see with my son. And when it's over... it's as if nothing even happened... A lot of times my son will just keep screaming the same thing over and over.. he knows the answer.. but then it will be "Mommy, come here" or "Mommy I need you" and then if I do go, he will just start right over again with what it is that he can't do or have that set him off in the first place.....if I don't go he keeps calling for me, and if I do go it makes it worse.. kinda makes me damned if I do, damned if I don't. With my son if he had a meltdown over the juicebox his responses get ridiculous.. he would say things like "If you don't let me have another juicebox than I will never be able to drink again"...he did this once over wanting a chocolate pudding for breakfast.. something he never would even think of asking for but one weird day he did, I said no and he went into full meltdown that if he didn't have chocolate pudding for breakfast than he would never be able to eat again... but then it ends as quickly as it starts. He has no eating issues so he always just is saying those things, he doesn't not eat or drink after it.

 

I find lately this has been random...not something that I can pinpoint to an illness because it can happen one day one time or one day all day and then not for a week.

[thereishope]

Good! ....as long as it doesn't turn into hyperactivity:) Hopefully it was just exposure doing it's thing and he'll be better now.

 

Luckily it has either covered us or this was a fluke. He woke up totally fine today. He's running around the house full of energy and happy as can be

[tantrums]

Yep... and now he's perseverating on eating whipped cream and I see it brewing. Doesn't like ANYTHING else we have to eat in the house of course and can only eat the whipped cream.

 

Fun times...