If your kid had influenza

[textbookcase]

How in the hell long did it last? K (11) started symptoms Sunday, had her in the doc Monday AM. She was diagnosed with influenza b and started Tamiflu. Her fever has not yet been gone totally without meds, but it wasn't as high on Weds/Thurs and she was acting more like herself. This morning she woke up and it was back up to 102. Tell me not to freak out, all of the news stories have my anxiety through the roof. 

[revolution]

DD took 6 days for her temp to break. Try not to freak out, but if you need to/want to, call your pedi nurse line and see what they say.

[lovebeingmama]

We are on day 5 of fever, though it’s much lower today (so far). Both Wednesday and Thursday, he seemed pretty good in the morning with no fever and then suddenly spiked 102 in the afternoon both days. I know someone else who said fever lasted at least a full week

[lulu806]

My kids and I all just had type A and it took close to 10 days to feel better. My daughter (6) was out of school for a week and a half. She would be up playing one day and her temp would be gone and the next day it would be back up. My son (21 months) didn’t have the up and downs. His fever was here to stay until about day 8. It is so scary - good luck!

[textbookcase]

Thanks for the reassurance, guys! I hate this! I have extreme health anxiety on a normal day, so things like this send it through the roof. I hope everyone else dealing with it is on the mend soon.

[livinitup]

Last winter, DD had a fever and did a lot of sleeping. She took Tylenol and Advil. On day-3 of a fever, we took her to the pedi who confirmed flu. She had 2-3 more days of a fever. She had the flu shot (a few months previous, so her symptoms were mild). Then was fine.

This year, DD had a fever and we took her to the pedi on day-1 and tested negative for strep and flu. If it was flu, pedi said she was “within the windo” for Tamiflu but he wouldn’t expect it to shorten the flu by much (since she already had the protection of the flu shot last Oct).

The flu virus just takes time. The fever is just a symptom of her fighting the virus.

[textbookcase]

Jan 26, 2018 12:32:34 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

I’ve read that if the fever returns, you should get them checked out. It might be a secondary infection.

Yeah, that's kind of what I was freaking out about. The fever hasn't ever been gone without fever meds, but it was lower weds/thurs. Like 99-100. Then back up to 102 this morning but went down as soon as I gave her meds. I will call her nurse.

[lilac05]

We haven't had it (yet), but I'd call the office and see what they say. I can guarantee they've answered a less important question in the last hour! It's likely just running its course, but I'd feel better having someone who knows what they're talking about decide that.

I hope she's feeling better soon & everyone else stays healthy.

[gastro]

My kids both had it over Christmas and it was a good ten days. They would have good hours in between where I’d be hopeful they were on the mend but then crash again. It was the most physically exhausting illness they’ve ever had (tired, sleeping all day and night) but not the worst in terms of fever/symptoms (vomit, chills etc
Both had the flu shot.

[steamboat185]

My 4.5 year old was fine Monday morning, sick Monday afternoon, was confirmed with the flu on Tuesday (everyplace was out of Tamiflu) and she was pretty better by Saturday night.

[cleo29]

C had a virus over Christmas that was four days of fevers. The biggest thing is even when her fever is down or goes away for a bit, keep her from playing and running about or being really active. I have found in my girls and myself, that this will drive the fever right back.

I think with the flu, you can expect it to see saw for a bit as the body slowly gets better.

[ThirdandLong]

Not to be alarmist, but you need to call your doctor right away.

When my E had Flu type A, the doctor specifically told me to watch for a notable improvement followed by a swift decline. He said this is a sign of a secondary infection, and those can become serious quickly. E saw this happen to her on day 5, and she was prescribed and began azithromycin.

[starlily]

J2 had a fever above 102 for 2 days that wouldn't come down with OTC meds and was lethargic. On the 2nd day she was diagnosed with flu and started Tamiflu. By the afternoon of day 3, her fever finally broke. She was back to her usual self, but more tired, by day 4.

[textbookcase]

Update: I called the doc and the nurse said to just keep an eye on it. If the fever spiked higher or if she had breathing difficulties go to er. Then I called a nurse friend and she said it sounded like the normal course of the flu and just to keep doing what I was doing. I last gave her fever meds at 10 pm last night. It’s been almost 12 hours and NO FEVER! Crossing fingers that it’s over.

[circa1978]

Jan 26, 2018 15:41:30 GMT -5 starlily said:

J2 had a fever above 102 for 2 days that wouldn't come down with OTC meds and was lethargic. On the 2nd day she was diagnosed with flu and started Tamiflu. By the afternoon of day 3, her fever finally broke. She was back to her usual self, but more tired, by day 4.

This was my son's course with influenza A. He started a fever at 2 a.m. Martin Luther King day, was diagnosed Tuesday afternoon and was fever free by Wednesday night. We kept him home Thursday and Friday because he was super tired but he was back to normal by last Saturday. 

[thelurkylulu]

It took DD a solid 3-4 weeks to return to normal.

[honeychai]

Fever for 6 days (very high at times), and now, three weeks later, she’s finally feeling like herself.