My 5 year old has been ill for 2 weeks! Any advice???

@vikkiz (518)
January 30, 2011 5:33am CST
Hi there im really concerned about my 5 year old, i will be taking him to the doctors tomorrow but i thought someone may have an idea what's up with him?? It started 2 weeks ago with him complaining of ear ache i put him to bed and the next morning he went off to school fine. Later that morning i get a call from school to say he was ill so i go and pick him up. He stayed off school and after school activity's for 1 week with high temperature, ear ache, cold, sickness etc. saw the doctor who told me to keep him off school and gave me antibiotics for his ear. Second week i sent him back to school and his activity's but still wasn't himself i was pulled by his teacher and his swimming instructor to say he wasnt himself. Today once again he has been sick everywhere, he has high temperature and is very drowsy, his eyes can hardly open! Now bearing in mind my son has not been ill for 2 years+ He is generally a very fit and healthy little boy that takes part in a lot of activity's. He is very hyper and nothing gets him down so obviously im a bit concerned. Like i say i will be taking him to the doctors tomorrow when the surgery opens but if anyone has had the same problem or if your a doctor on here id much appreciate the advice thanks.
3 people like this
6 responses
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
30 Jan 11
Generally, if someone is on antibiotics and doesn't improve within 48 hours you should go back to the doctor. This is serious. Your son could lose some hearing if an ear infection goes on too long. I don't understand why you didn't call the doctor sooner if you saw no improvement. You are in the UK and doctors are free, right? Take him to the emergency room today. It could be something more serious than an ear infection or something that is resistant to the antibiotics you were given. A healthy child like yours that doesn't respond to antibiotics indicates something more serious. I hope he is okay!
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
31 Jan 11
Oh, I'm sorry! Yes, I did misunderstand. Sometimes when my boys were growing up they were tired and worn out after a bout with sickness--they got a lot of earaches for some reason. It really took them about 10 days to get back to their normal selves and they were tired, too. Illness takes a lot out of a person. I would check with the doctor, though. He could have a secondary infection, you never know. I hope he's better soon! It hurts us mothers so much to see our children sick.
@vikkiz (518)
30 Jan 11
I think i didn't make myself clear, My son hasn't got earache any more That was how it started last week. At the moment hes more tired (drowsy) so im wanting to find out wether hes caught something else or wether hes still recovering from the virus he had?? On a normal day my son rises at 7.30am school, home from school, football till 7.30pm then bed 8.30pm and he always trys it on to stay up a bit later. At the moment he seems to be getting very tired by 4pm?? this started around 3 days ago.
1 person likes this
@keval32 (1096)
• India
30 Jan 11
Well, I am not a doctor, but for ear ache I can advise you for that. If your son's ear is still not well, then you can try this Indian home remedy, my mom always perform this when I had any ear ache. Just get one spoon of cotton seed oil, put 2-3 garlic in that, boil it for 2 minutes and let it get slight cool, not complete cool. Now take out garlic from the oil, and put 1-2 drop of oil at your son's ear. I am sure, ear problem will be gone out.
@vikkiz (518)
30 Jan 11
Thanks for that advice my son no longer has earache but i will write this down for future reference.
@keval32 (1096)
• India
31 Jan 11
Thanks.........
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
31 Jan 11
Hi Vikkiz, My daughter will turn 17 on Tues. For the past 2 years, she gets sick an awful lot. I will say at least every week, it is something. The symptoms are always changing from sore throat, ears, stomach virus, headaches etc. I take her in to the doctors so so much that it isn't even funny. Sometimes it will last a day or two and others it is a week. She has had every test imaginable done and still no answers. She isn't faking because quite often she has a fever and/or vomitting along with it. She is seeing a specialist for her migraines and next week I am taking her to see a doctor who specializes with the immune system. They are thinking that she has a weak immune system and is just picking up every single virus that passes by her. Good luck and please let us know if you come up with any answers. Like your son, my daughter is normally a very active and healthy girl. The drowsiness is really common with her lately also.
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
30 Jan 11
I think it is a serious matter if this has gone on for this long. I don't know that I would wait until tomorrow. Is there an emergency room at a hospital you could take him to? Try to get the fever down and keep him cool until you can get him checked. I am not a doctor nor am I a parent, but I do know that this is not good. I hope he is ok. Good luck with this.
@vikkiz (518)
30 Jan 11
No i dont think its as serious as you think i certainly dont think its a hospital job, If the doctor recommends i take him to hospital i will but unless hes in pain or really ill i wont be taking him to the hospital. Im just worried about him being so tired.
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
30 Jan 11
I hope that he is doing better soon. I know that if he is tired when he normally isn't there is some kind of problem that needs to be checked out. Did you get to the doctor today? It is a good idea to stay on top of this as it could lead to early detection of some other problem. Or he could be just getting over the virus and just needs more rest. Either way, I would get it checked out. I'm sure it will all be ok. Good luck!
• Philippines
30 Jan 11
It might be a severe infection. Why don't you bring him to an Eye, Ear, nose and throat specialist. If your child has a fever for sure he has an infection in the ear. So the best thing for you to do is bring him to the doctor so that they can conduct an examination and they can observe his situation.
@vikkiz (518)
30 Jan 11
Nope its nothing to do with his ear his ear is better (i didnt make my self clear) His earache went last week its the tiredness im worried about.
• Philippines
31 Jan 11
You should have not waited this long. The fact that the fever is high, on-and-off, and has persisted for some time, it could be a serious problem. I think he has some ear infection which has gotten worse over time. It's good that you have finally decided to take him to the doctor. I hope he'll get well soon.