How do I know if ds5 has the flu or just a VERY bad cold/cough?

[HappyGrace]

He's been sick since last Thurs. night, fevers off and on (103 rectally was highest), wet cough, completely plugged nose, off and on lethargic-feels miserable. Pediatrician said it sounds like a bad virus that's going around, but I forgot to ask if it could be flu. He has slept 2-3 hours during the day each day and 12 1/2 hours at night. He hasn't taken a nap in 2 yrs, and now he asks to go lie down. He laid down this a.m. for an hour (didn't sleep) and is up there sleeping again. This is a kid who barely sits down all day usually. I'm just pushing fluids, meds for symptoms, letting him rest, etc. My big question is how I know if it's flu?

[HappyGrace]

even though I realize the treatment would be exactly the same as what I'm doing, I'm just wondering how you know the difference between flu and just a really bad virus.

[Remudamom]

Just remember that this year a supposedly stronger cold type thing is going around. Lots of coughs and colds are rapidly turning into pneumonia. We usually don't go to the doc for this, but our son had bronchitis and is now on antibiotics. The only symptom he had was a cough, and a bit of phlegm. (sp) I'm really glad we went in and it didn't progress any further.

One of the Cindys had a sick boy. Wonder how he's doing?

[LizzyBee]

There's a test for the flu now, but I don't know how accurate it is. Also, the flu will make most people ache all over while a cold typically doesn't do that. The flu will totally wipe you out. When I had the flu, I could not stand to even watch TV because it hurt my head and made me feel dizzy. All I could do was lay in bed. Even after I was up and around, I got cannot-hold-my-eyes-open-tired after any exertion.

Someone else posted that there is a bad strain of cold going around, and bad colds can lead to bronchitis and pneumonia. It wouldn't hurt to see the doctor even if you think the illness is viral.

[shell in SC]

I don't know if I'd rely on the results of a flu test. Went to dr. Wed. morning had flu test done, it was neg. Had flu test done by different dr. Thursday night. . .positive. And the dr's comment was "This isn't the first time I've seen that happen this week".

I would also recommend seeing the dr. The flu literature I received from the hospital at discharge said that the flu can also turn into pnuemonia.

[Cadam]

The biggest key difference is the onset of symptoms. A cold comes on slowly and builds up before it gets better. The flu hits you like a truck and you get full onset in a matter of hours as opposed to days.

[Mary H]

My dh's has turned into phnemonia (sp)and he is still working :( and ds 11 turned into bronccotist (sp). DS 9 has the real bad cold; cough that hasn't affected his asthma (PTL); fever, hedache,sore throat, stuffy nose, lost voice, and other ds 18 is having cough, stuffy nose, lost voice, and low fever. I am only having fever (low) small headache and a little phlem. Thank God I don't get very sick when they do. We don't have any throwing up or anything like that PTL. Hope everybody else feel better in a little while!!

Mary H

[Laura Corin]

Would he go over and get it?

My memory of flu is sitting on the stairs, ten paces from the kettle, and being unable to walk that far to make myself a cup of tea.

Hope he feels better,

Laura

[kdeno]

I can watch dd8 while you bring him to the doc if you to. Have you called the ped? She will reassure you either way.

K

[Ria]

A child with the flu is not likely to be on-and-off lethargic; rather, he's likely to look like he's been run over with a truck. My son got the flu a few years ago, and within 24 hours he went from fine to unable to move with a fever of 104 orally. He got pneumonia.

I'd see your doc just to be sure. I hope your he feels better very soon.

Ria

[HappyGrace]

Maybe it's not flu, since that has that whammo onset, like was mentioned here, and his was more gradual. He took an hour rest in his bed this a.m., and a three-hour nap this afternoon! His temp has been high 102's most of the day. I'm going to see how he is in the a.m.-if he's the same, I'm taking him in to get checked out! I hope all the other sickies in this thread feel better too!

Kari, my homey, thank you for your kind offer, but I will take her with me if need be. You guys need to rest up over there and get better!

[HappyGrace]

nt

[kdeno]

you don't want DD to pick up a stray renegade stomach bug germ? That would REALLY make things fun at your house! :eek:

[HappyGrace]

nt

[HappyGrace]

He seems to be on the mend some as of tonight, after another three hour nap today. The fever finally broke and he's a little more like himself. I'm so grateful for the advice I received here about this! Especially now that this afternoon, dd8 out of the blue spiked a 103.5 temp with a headache so bad she couldn't lift her head off the pillow, plus a sore throat; no stuffy nose. The wisdom I picked up here about speed of onset, etc., really helped me to see that this is something different than ds had since his started more gradually and with a cough and stuffy nose. I appreciate having a place to ask questions and receive answers that help me become more knowledgeable in all facets of my mothering!