Roseola

Last Tuesday Dawson woke up with a really high fever. I noticed he felt a little bit warm in the middle of the night because he woke up a couple of times crying. I thought it was because he was getting a tooth so I gave him a few teething tablets and he went back to sleep. (He didn't get another tooth by the way...I swear I saw one coming in 2 weeks or so ago, now when I look in his mouth it is no where to be found!)

Anyway, when he woke up on Tuesday his temperature was right around 102. I gave him some Motrin and Tylenol and I called his doctor and made him an appointment for later in the day because I was certain that he had another ear infection and I wanted to start treating it ASAP instead of ending up in the ER in the middle of the night like we did had his ear infection back in October.

We made it to the doctors and he checked him out. He said his ears look fine and his throat was a little red and even though it's rare for children under 18 months to get strep he was going to test for it anyway. That came back negative. So he told me just to keep giving him medicine and if he still has a fever on Friday to bring him back in and he'd send us to the hospital for further testing.

Then on Wednesday night Dawson was acting very lethargic and his fever was up to 103.8, it was probably even higher than that but he was moving around way too much for me to get an accurate reading. I was trying to take it rectally and I was supposed to leave it in there for 7 seconds! They need to make those things quicker! After my mom seeing me struggle to take his temperature she bought me one that I stick in his ear for 1 second and it gives me a reading. 1 second! I know it's not quite as accurate as taking it rectally but so much easier. Why can they make the ones that you take rectally give you a reading after 1 second?!

Back to my story. It scared me that his temperature was so high and the way that he was acting was scary too. So my mom and I decided to take him to Instacare. (I am so glad that I live close to my parents while Dave is gone. My mom came over 3 times last week when I called her and asked her to. She was a TON of help...I would have been freaking out a lot more if she wasn't here with me.

Once we got to Instacare Dawson was already acting better. They took his temp and it had gone down to 101 by that time. The doctor checked his ears, they were fine. Looked at his throat, a little red but nothing to worry about. Pressed on his stomach and said it felt fine and Dawson didn't act like it was hurting him (although he was not happy that his doctor was poking around everywhere) so that was good. He told me the same thing that the pediatrician told me. If it's not gone on Friday they'll have to do more testing. I asked him if I should bring him back if his fever got too high and I also asked him what "too high" was because I was freaking out that it was almost 104, but he acted like it wasn't a big deal. He told me too high would be 105! He also said in all his years of being a doctor he has only seen 2 people with a fever that high.

Dawson's fever was sticking around and he wasn't eating much at all. Luckily he was still drinking a lot. And he was sleeping a TON. He still had no energy at all. When he was awake he was laying on me. He slept in my bed a couple of times through the night. He started off in his bed but then would wake up crying and I would try to get him back to sleep but he wouldn't. Right when I laid him in my bed he fell asleep. I thought it was sweet that he just wanted to be close to his mommy.

On Friday he woke up without a fever. I didn't want to get too excited because it had come and gone a little bit the day before. By lunchtime it was back up to 101. I tried calling his doctor so I could bring him in but I couldn't get a hold of anyone! I even left a message and they didn't call me back. I think we are going to be changing pediatricians soon AGAIN. Two weeks ago when I was calling to schedule his 15 month appointment I called so many times, left 3 messages and finally after a week of trying to get a hold of somebody I was able to make his appointment. So frustrating.

I never was able to get a hold of anyone on Friday. (Why do they ask you to leave a message when they obviously don't call back?! I've left 4 messages with them so far and they have never called me back) Dawson had went down for a nap and when he woke up his fever was gone again so I decided to wait another day and if it was back on Saturday I'd take him to Instacare again.

On Saturday he didn't wake up with a fever but he did wake up with little red spots on his back, belly and some on his face and head. I of course started freaking out! After talking to a few people I learned that it's normal. And somebody that Dave works with said it was probably roseola. I looked it up and Dawson had all of the symptoms so I am confident that that's what it is, too. And it should go away on it's own.


I am so glad to know that I was worried sick (literally) over nothing. I feel so relieved and happy!

Here are the symptoms of roseola in case anybody ever needs to know:

• Fever. Roseola typically starts with a sudden, high fever — often greater than 103 F (39.4 C). Some children may also have a slightly sore throat, runny nose or cough along with or preceding the fever. Your child may also develop swollen glands in his or her neck along with the fever. The fever lasts for three to seven days.

• Rash. Once the fever subsides, a rash typically appears — but not always. The rash consists of many small pink spots or patches. These spots are generally flat, but some may be raised. There may be a white ring around some of the spots. The rash usually starts on the chest, back and abdomen and then spreads to the neck and arms. It may or may not reach the legs and face. The rash, which isn't itchy or uncomfortable, can last from several hours to several days before fading.

Other signs and symptoms of roseola may include:

• Fatigue
• Irritability in infants and children
• Mild diarrhea
• Decreased appetite
• Swollen eyelids

The only symptom he didn't have was irritability. When I read swollen eyelids was a symptom I knew it had to be it! Here is picture that I took the other day to send to Dave. I was sending him the picture because I thought his eyes were swollen and I wanted his opinion...they were definitely swollen.


He is eating a little better and is definitely acting more like himself. He has been playing all day today and is only acting tired when it gets close to his regular nap time.

Last night Becca came over and I was showing her that Dawson will stick out his tongue when I ask him where his tongue is. (He will point to his belly, well actually he points to his chest when I ask him where his belly is. Close enough, he's too smart!) It's really cute and I took a few pictures to share. :-)


I am so happy to have my silly, happy baby back!