20 month old with possible RSV and dehydration?

[mommy2maddie]

I took my 20 month old to the doctor on friday and he told me she had an ear infection and if she did have rsv she would be completely fine. Well yesterday we couldnt get her to eat or drink much. Well she got up this morning at 8 and her diaper was not wet at all!!! She went to bed at 9, so thats 11 hours with no pee!! So far this morning I probably got her to drink 3 1/2 ounces of choc milk. She doesnt appear lethargic, I mean she is sick and I can tell. She did just have a bowel movement and it was diahrea, which she had all day yesterday too, a color and consistency we have never seen. She did have a little pee in there. I am worried though because usually at night she pees through her diaper. What do you think I should do?

[brandi101]

i would call the doctor or take her to the nearest er she sounds like she is dehydrated and she might need iv fluids i would take her to be on the safe side keep us updated and ill be praying for u guys

[trish]

I would keep monitoring her & keep offering fluids. Poopy dipes "count" as wet dipes & when mine were sick my Ped said if they have less than 3 wet dipes in 24 hours then call. If she cries does she have tears? That she's not lethargic is good.

My "baby" had RSV at 20 months and while she didn't need to be hospitalized we had several scary nights at home with coughing (and then vomitting), trouble breathing & needing albuterol neb every couple hours. So I'd argue with saying 20 month olds would be "completely fine".

[sarab]

I'd also wonder about the Dr. saying she'd be "completely fine", just because she is 20 months. Our DD got RSV at age 3 and ended up in the hospital with pneumonia. Not trying to be all doom and gloom, but just want to echo Trish: just because she's no longer an infant doesn't mean RSV is no big deal.

I would definitely keep a close eye, and if she still is not wetting, I would probably take her in.

I'm so sorry - you guys have had such a rough couple of weeks. We'll be thinking about you.

[sarab]

Just had another thought: is she on antibiotics for the ear infection? Some antibiotics - amoxicillin comes to mind - can cause diarrhea, and it can be different from your child's "usual", as you described. Trish can attest to this, I think. ;)

[kdreher]

Honestly I would think you should go to the ER. My son was in the ER 2 weeks ago for one night due to RSV. He is 14 months old. Our pedi saw him on Day 1 and suggested to go w/in 24 hrs if he wasn't better. Best suggestion and while he didn't need oxygen, just about 3 back to back asthma treatments, we were home w/in 24 hrs. By Day 5 he was MUCH better.

So in a nut shell..I say go to the ER (if you have a children's hosp near you, even better)

[season]

So sorry about your little one being so sick - I hope both kiddos are abck to their normal selves soon.

First, call the ped. Second (if Ok'd by ped), get some pedialyte - as the diarrhea can cause dehydration and dairy can make diarrhea worse.