What the heck is wrong with my boy???

[lbrown1618]

My son has been throw-up sick 5 times in 6 months. He just turned 7 in April.

He was so sick at Christmas that I nearly took him to the ER while out of town. He was sick for 4 days, couldn't keep down water the last 2 days and on day 4 was unable to hold himself up under his own energy.

Since then he has been sick 4 more times (today making the 4th), so a total of 5 including Christmas. The subsequent times about 80% to the extreme of Christmas time. Taking each incident under its own merit, it doesn't seem like any big deal, there was flu and various bugs going around. But basically once/month seems excessive. Hes never been a sickly child, was never really sick for the 1st few years of his life.

Each time, he throws up every fews hours and cannot hold down the water or electrolyte solution. He does have lowgrade fevers with it, like 100, but nothing major.

I just wrote it off the 1st couple times and blamed it on stress. His dad and I got divorced last year and I moved out the 1st of December. So it seemed the timing fit with him manifesting physically about the divorce...alot of kids do.

I am taking him to the Dr Monday but was wondering if anyone had any ideas if something more serious could be happening. I think the thing that scares me is a family friend's child was always getting sick alot and finally found out she had leukemia, the frequent illnesses were a sign. I'm trying not to be a hypochondriac, but I just don't think being this sick once/month is normal.

[jenrose]

I'm hoping for you that it is just rhinovirus. That is the most common virus that causes vomiting I believe. And it is spread most often by someone not washing their hands after using the rest room and then them touching something that you in turn touch.

Sending good thoughts your way and keep us posted on what the Dr. Says.

[lbrown1618]

thanks. a friend also suggested asking the dr to do bloodwork to rule out the major stuff.

He is really upset too (as is his sister)...they just found out they can't go see their new cousin who is being born tomorrow. :-( Don't want to risk the baby or mom catching anything, but a kid doesn't understand that.

[motherofmolly]

allergies? have you seen any similarities in what he ate prior to these episodes?

[Jen1]

Both of my kids seemed to catch various nasty GI bugs this year, more then normal. IMO when the kids get sick the one month, their immune system hasn't become strong enough were a new strain/bug invades, and so they get sick again.
I agree with PP> It wouldn't hurt for the doc to run even a BMP-and see what the results are from there. Higher fevers typically went with this years bugs - my ds got up to a 104.5 - I was half in my car to take him to ER with the other half trying to consule him.
Hope he feels better, and soon! Maybe he can send a video message to new mom & baby??

[CW&M Mom]

they sounds like the common stomach flu.

How is he at washing his hands? Is he using drinking fountains?

Does he swim alot?

Other then the first episode...is he the vomiting resolving after 24 hours?

[lbrown1618]

Good idea to video message. Ours and their phones can both do video, so thats an idea.

No he isn't so great at washing his hands every time. He likes swimming, but this all started in December, so he hasn't started swimming until the last couple weeks. I don't think its related to the pool.

The vomiting resolves sometimes within 24hrs, sometimes a bit longer (maybe 36 or so). Christmas it lasted almost 3 days.

He hasn't eaten anything new and I can't seem to find any commonalities of what he ate prior to vomiting.

On a good note...against my better judgement I let him have some noodle soup and he has kept it down 2 hours so far. Ate it about 1 hour before bed and been asleep for over an hour. Poor baby had been begging to eat ALL DAY

[Spanelli8706]

You guys are definitely in my thoughts!! Poor little guy! It seems like my younger DD always has something coming up...which I think has a lot to do with why she is a total Mommy Monster. Good luck with the Dr appt & try not to stress too much. Hope he feels better soon!

[CW&M Mom]

I just ask..about the pool cause it's one of the common ways to transmit stomach flu viruses.

If you think about it...the best route is basically oral fecal. So getting someone's fecal matter...in particular...if sick...into your mouth...your bound to get sick.

That is why washing your hands is key and pools are a common way to transmit it. Drinking fountains are literally a cess pool of yuck. How many thousands of people's germs are on them....blech.

[Merczilla]

I'm not real up on the symptoms as we don't have ticks up here, but could it be a Lyme disease? He could have been bitten by something that he's not aware of. THere are other things such as gluten intolerance, but I'm not real up on those symptoms either. May possibley need a GI series done.