Should I take to ER possible meningitis after IVIG?

[lmi1973]

Hi, my son Kyle (10) had ivig treatment this past thursday and friday 24th and 25th with Dr. K in Chicago. He woke up Saturday morning with a huge headache and a fever. Dr. K instructed to give one dose of steroids when tylenol didn't help the headache. He was fine coming home Saturday night, but was very sluggish/flu like on Sunday. His fever got up to 103 Sunday, but after administering second dose of steroids per phone call with Dr. K, it went down. It is now Wednesday and he still has fever off and on. I called Dr. K this morning because he woke up with bad headache and fever over 101.4 AND he said his neck hurt. I told Dr. K I was scared that he had aseptic meningitis. Dr. K said to keep giving him motrin and tylenol alternating to bring down fever and have him rest. He said he didn't think it was meningitis since it has been five days now and also since Kyle hasn't been throwing up (Kyle never throws up thankfully). He said if fever gets really high again to take him to doctor. I said to the E.R.? He said no, no, just to the doctor to have him checked out. We got fever down with tylenol and motrin, but he is still really really sluggish. I also think he has caught some sort of cold that I caught while we were in Chicago - coughing a lot. My husband researched online and said all the hospital would do is tell him to get lots of rest and liquids, nothing that we aren't doing. And with Dr. K acting like I am overreacting also I have listened to them and have stayed in bed with him all day, trying to get him to rest and keep checking his temp. It just went back up to 101.2 and just gave another dose of tylenol and hoping it's coming down. But, I'm wondering if I should take to the ER? Will they do anything different for me? Any and all advice welcome!!!

[thereishope]

I just flashed to when another child on here had IVIG over a year ago. Here is the thread when they were debating aseptic meningitis post IVIG

http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=5299&st=0

[SSS]

I just want to say I am sending you prayers--

my dd5 just got done with HD-IVIG on Mon./Tues., and we now have the severe headache. No throwing up, but she does not want to eat a thing. No fever, but I have her pretty dosed up on ibuprofen. We are laying on the floor with pillows, blankets, dark, very low TV.

We got steroid with the IV, so no steroid for now afterward---let us now how he is...

[lmi1973]

He's still about the same. Just checked his fever after double dose of tylenol and it's down to 100.3, so a little relieved. He's smiling and talking to me so that is a good sign. Thanks for the previous thread, I will keep you updated. I guess it's only been five days and his fever comes and goes. Just scary sometimes. I hope we never have to go through this again!!!

Love and prayers for all of our children,

Laura

[Phasmid]

My son too had a similar reaction after infusion but it lasted only 2 days. Feeling tired is also common as I hear from other parents experience.

[pixiesmommy]

That flashback was us Pixie had an extremely stiff neck and couldn't hold down even a sip of water. She was pretty well hydrated before/during IVIG, so I think we did everything by the book, but she did have a very strong reaction. She was unable to unbend to walk to the car when she went to the ER. The ER did want to do a spinal tap, but thankfully we and Dr K discouraged them. They gave her a couple of hours of IV fluids and motrin and observed her. Yours sounds like you picked up a bug. We're actually just outside of Chicago and we and everyone around us has been really sick for about a month, so I'm not shocked. Hope you all feel better soon.