Quick question re: Benedryl and sick child.

[Whisperlily]

My DS5 has a fever, vomiting and diarrhea. I gave him some tylenol and advil chewables which he's taken with no problems in the past. After chewing them, his tongue became itchy to the point it was bothersome (he's an allergic child). That was 10 minutes ago and the itching has subsided on his tongue but he's getting red patches (not full blown hives) on his chest and back. He says they itch too.

Is it even safe to give Benedryl with the possible dehydration factor because of vomiting and diarrhea?

He's not in immediate distress, no breathing trouble, but it's very bothersome and itchy.

[jacqui in mo]

What about a really warm bath or shower? Heat is supposed to bring out natural antihistamines. May get a little itchier right at first but then relief. Don't know how to advise you with the Benedryl in this circumstance. Do you have a pharmacist you could call for advice?

[Whisperlily]

I called the nurse advice line at the clinic, but it went to an answering machine.

Luckily it doesn't seem to be spreading or worsening at the moment, although he's still "spotty" and itchy.

I'll try a pharmacy and see what they say. Thanks.

[Pam "SFSOM" in TN]

My DS5 has a fever, vomiting and diarrhea. I gave him some tylenol and advil chewables which he's taken with no problems in the past. After chewing them, his tongue became itchy to the point it was bothersome (he's an allergic child). That was 10 minutes ago and the itching has subsided on his tongue but he's getting red patches (not full blown hives) on his chest and back. He says they itch too.

Is it even safe to give Benedryl with the possible dehydration factor because of vomiting and diarrhea?

He's not in immediate distress, no breathing trouble, but it's very bothersome and itchy.

My "mommy" advice would be give him the benedryl immediately. It may even help the vomiting and diarrhea. And no more Advil. Make certain that you report this as a side effect whenever you're asked about drug allergies.

[Tap, tap, tap]

When ds was a baby, the only allergy medicine had components that he was allergic to, in it! Now they are starting to get smarter and have clear Benadryl. If you have the clear Benadryl, I would definitely give him some. If it is the colored/flavored variety....I would wait and see if he has to have it. If you have the capsule formula, I would give him that. Since you don't know what part of the medicine he is reacting to, I would be very reluctant to give him more.

I am just curious about this part...Did you give him Tylenol and Advil together? Or separately but close enough that you don't know which caused the reaction?

Another thought would be that he has scarlet fever. I enclosed a link so you can review the symptoms.
http://mayoclinic.com/health/scarlet-fever/DS00917/DSECTION=2
Good luck,
I hope he feels better soon,
Tap

[Whisperlily]

I am just curious about this part...Did you give him Tylenol and Advil together? Or separately but close enough that you don't know which caused the reaction?




I did give the tylenol and advil together. I was told by my Ped that I could do that when the fever started getting high enough or we couldn't keep it under control. Normally I give tylenol alone. When I give both, I usually start with them at the same time, then follow dosing directions (Tylenol every 4-6, Advil every 6-8) Am I doing it wrong?

The dye issue is very possible. I've wondered about red dye off and on with this child. (This was grape, but that includes red dye too.) Sometimes I think we've absolutely ruled out the dye allergy, and other times I wonder.

He's also having some allergy problems in general right now, since we moved to a new climate/location. I think if there's any slight allergy to something it may be being magnified since he's really having a lot of reactions lately. We just got a referral to an allergy specialist (again), so we'll see if we can figure out what's going on.

[Whisperlily]

Oh, and I did give him the Benedryl. (Thanks Pam, you were right! I also wonder about the ibuprofen.) I called my old pharmacy and they said not to worry about dehydration. The nurse said the same thing after she took her sweet time calling me back and I'd already given it anyway. ;)

[Pam "SFSOM" in TN]

I did give the tylenol and advil together. I was told by my Ped that I could do that when the fever started getting high enough or we couldn't keep it under control. Normally I give tylenol alone. When I give both, I usually start with them at the same time, then follow dosing directions (Tylenol every 4-6, Advil every 6-8) Am I doing it wrong?

The dye issue is very possible. I've wondered about red dye off and on with this child. Sometimes I think we've absolutely ruled out the dye allergy, and other times I wonder.

He's also having some allergy problems in general right now, since we moved to a new climate/location. I think if there's any slight allergy to something it may be being magnified since he's really having a lot of reactions lately. We just got a referral to an allergy specialist (again), so we'll see if we can figure out what's going on.

I think the reason that tap asked was that if you give them together, it's hard to distinguish which one might have given that reaction. If he hasn't had that reaction to tylenol before, I would guess that his reaction would have been to the NSAID. (Actually, I would have guessed that anyway, even with both of them together without a history of no reaction to tylenol.)

You need to be really really careful with either of these drugs in the future, but I would, if it were me, be especially careful of any other NSAID. The next reaction could be much more extreme. Not to scare you, just to make you extra aware.

[Whisperlily]

Thanks. He's allergic to nuts, peanuts, eggs and dextromethorphan already and we have needed an epi-pen in the past, so it's not a terrible surprise that there may be other allergies. Just not a pleasant surprise. :rolleyes:

[Unicorn]

It could be the dye. Ds is allergic to blue dye #1 (he can have #2, go figure?), he breaks out in hives.

Also, as Pam stated, be careful about giving advil and tylenol together, I always follow the 2 hour rule when having to use both. I never give them at the same time, always start the 2nd 2 hours after giving the first, just to make sure. My sil's nephew went into convulsions after the hospital gave him both at the same time to bring down a fever.

Hope the little guy feels better soon!

[Karin]

It's all done now, but I woudl like to say that kids can also get hives from allergies to viruses. It happened to my now 12 yo once. She wasn't taking any other medication as there weren't many symptoms other than a rash and no new foods. She had to take antihistimines until the virus went away. I know for sure it was the virus because dh got the same symptoms, down to the rash, but no hives.

[Whisperlily]

Oh! He does that too sometimes. I'm assuming since it was an immediate reaction when he took the chewables that it's related to the tablets this time around.

He also gets "strawberry jelly hands" when he has a virus. It's strange, but the palms of his hands and the soles of his feet get really red and speckled, as though he's got jelly on them. The first time I saw this, I tried to wash his hands. :p Then I thought maybe it was hand-foot-mouth so I took him to the Ped. They told me it was just his body's reaction to viruses, and common among "allergic children." It's happened every time he gets sick ever since. It's only the "pad" portion of his hands and soles of his feet. You can see a visible line as though someone traced around his hands and feet.

[Karin]

Oh! He also gets "strawberry jelly hands" when he has a virus. It's strange, but the palms of his hands and the soles of his feet get really red and speckled, as though he's got jelly on them. The first time I saw this, I tried to wash his hands. :p Then I thought maybe it was hand-foot-mouth so I took him to the Ped. They told me it was just his body's reaction to viruses, and common among "allergic children." It's happened every time he gets sick ever since. It's only the "pad" portion of his hands and soles of his feet. You can see a visible line as though someone traced around his hands and feet.

Interesting. When I was a vegetarian (for 6 months, but I don't absorb non-heme iron and became anemic) my mother, eager to ensure I got my B vitamins, had me take Brewer's Yeast. By the second container, I started getting a bright red rash on my hands, feet, knees and elbows from it. I have allergies, but not as severe as your ds. Only one anaphylactic one when I was 10 to penicillin.

[Whisperlily]

Another thought would be that he has scarlet fever. I enclosed a link so you can review the symptoms.
http://mayoclinic.com/health/scarlet-fever/DS00917/DSECTION=2
Good luck,
I hope he feels better soon,
Tap

You didn't say this, did you? :eek: Really? You didn't mean it, right? DS's symptoms yesterday were different. But just NOW he came to me with a Scarletina rash. He's got the strawberry bumps and white coated tongue, fever and sore throat to go with it all. AAACK! And I can't seem to get an appt. with my Ped's office... ever. But I'll be on the phone first thing in the morning trying my best to get one of their same-day slots.

I wonder if it's what my other kids have. They don't have the same presentation, they've just got fever, diarrhea and vomiting.

You did it. It's YOUR fault. I'm holding you responsible. :p