C is being "watched" for Kawasaki disease

[Deleted]

I took him to the Dr this morning...his fever finally broke but his eyes were mildly red.

Dr.Google had turned up Kawasaki as a possible match to his symptoms but said it was super rare and my mom kept telling me that it was just from the fever.  

But then the pedi started asking me about peeling toes and fingers....ugh.  She did say it was a good sign the fever broke, but it's possible it could come back tonight and if its still present by Monday, it's cause for concern.

This month may kill me just yet...ei yi yi.

most disturbing to me is that my intuition is all over the place on this one and normally is dead on when it comes to my kids and their illnesses.

[Deleted]

I'm sorry fields, hopefully it is nothing serious. ((hugs))

[poppyseed]

I'm sorry, fields

[snickers]

I'm sorry.
I hope it isn't anything serious and the fever doesn't return.

[Deleted]

It bothers me that his eyes are red...he gets several virus related fevers a year and never has he had bloodshot eyes. But otherwise he is totally fine within himself, eating and playing normally.

I jealousy want my intuition to match up with this.

[sarahswim]

My sister had Kawasaki when she was 2 or 3. I just asked her (not that she actually remembers anything!) but she mentioned that one of the red flags was the flu-like symptoms kept coming back over the course of a few months. I hope that everything turns out fine & isn't anything serious.

[alare]

Hope he feels better and that it stays away.

[Deleted]

Jul 6, 2013 21:02:16 GMT -5 sarahswim said:

My sister had Kawasaki when she was 2 or 3. I just asked her (not that she actually remembers anything!) but she mentioned that one of the red flags was the flu-like symptoms kept coming back over the course of a few months. I hope that everything turns out fine & isn't anything serious.

This is good to hear!  Does she have any ongoing heart issues as a result? 

[saraandmichael]

fuck, fields. i hope that isn't the case.

(((hugs)))

[sarahswim]

Jul 6, 2013 21:12:56 GMT -5 fields said:

Jul 6, 2013 21:02:16 GMT -5 sarahswim said:

My sister had Kawasaki when she was 2 or 3. I just asked her (not that she actually remembers anything!) but she mentioned that one of the red flags was the flu-like symptoms kept coming back over the course of a few months. I hope that everything turns out fine & isn't anything serious.

This is good to hear!  Does she have any ongoing heart issues as a result? 

Nope, nothing, thankfully. 
The only residual effect she has is some yellowing of her teeth, which she claims is from the disease-but regardless, nothing serious.  Let us know how everything is going-hope he feels better soon.  

[medicmommy]

I'm not trying to scare you, but don't let them "watch" for too long. Force them to be proactive. If it is KD, they need to treat with IVIG within 10 days to have the least chance of cardiac involvement.

DD11 had it when she was 3. It started with 3-4 days of high fever, then she started complaining of right lower quadrant pain and was vomiting. I thought it was her appendix, took her to the ER. Urine culture showed a UTI. They sent her home with a sulfa antibiotic. DH was already pissed and scared because his sister almost died from a sulfa allergy.

She was still complaining of severe pain later that day. We took her to the office, they ordered a CT of the abdomen and said she was too constipated to visualize the appendix, but they did not think that was the problem.

The next day she wasn't keeping anything down, still had fever and vomiting, and had a rash across her back. They continued to tell me it was the UTI or a sulfa allergy, but agreed to admit her for IV fluids and a consult with surgeon.

Both ears were bright red, throat was red, and she refused to eat or drink anything because of her "strawberry tongue". They then diagnosed her with bilateral pneumonia. Her fever continued to be above 103° despite IV antibiotics and alternating Tylenol and Motrin. Her heart rate was over 180, which was caused by the fever for the most part.

After the third day of no results, I told them to transfer her to a pediatric hospital or I was pulling her out AMA and taking her myself. She was transferred that day and the infectious control doctor was one of the big researchers for KD. He diagnosed her immediately.

Within the first 24 hours in the PICU, she was given the IVIG. Symptoms started to fade within the next 12 hours. She had no cardiac involvement and was put on high dose aspirin therapy. She was taking over 1600 mg a day when released to prevent an aneurysm.

She has had a couple periods of chest pain since then that I don't believe are related. She has been having them again lately, but all of her test results are normal.

That's my book. Sorry so long. Because it's so rare, doctors are reluctant to diagnose it. Just don't let them drag it out.

Odd question, but have you done any carpet cleaning recently?

[medicmommy]

Possibly. There is no official "cause", but there has been speculation that it puts them at a higher risk. The chemicals in the cleaners have a reaction with the negative ions in the carpet fibers. In our case, it made sense. We were in the process of moving and had been cleaning carpets like crazy.

[papie]

Omg this is scary, I am keeping you and C in my thoughts. I hope it is nothing!

[snipsnsnails]

(((fields)))

[medicmommy]

Jul 6, 2013 23:08:19 GMT -5 @theycalledherkate said:

Jul 6, 2013 22:25:13 GMT -5 medicmommy said:

Possibly. There is no official "cause", but there has been speculation that it puts them at a higher risk. The chemicals in the cleaners have a reaction with the negative ions in the carpet fibers. In our case, it made sense. We were in the process of moving and had been cleaning carpets like crazy.

Welp, there goes my plan to have our carpets cleaned. We spot treated with a cleaner because of the blood all over it but I guess you mean a professional cleaning, right?!

Ours were done with an $80 cleaner we bought from Wal-Mart. If you are spot cleaning, I would just keep them away from it until dry and wear shoes for a day or two.

[Deleted]

Thank you for sharing your story medicmommy...my first reaction was no, we have no cleaned the carpets and then my next thought was FUCK, I just used a strong carpet cleaner spray in his bedroom last week, which I have not used before.

I do have full confidence in our pedi's office as our Pedi is one of my closet friends and she is awesome (we've been through health scares with her before when my youngest was born with hydronephrosis - she got us in with the best pedi urologist at stanford, etc.). I actually texted her yesterday for advice and she insisted I see a pedi today vs. just going to urgent care.

The pedi on call advised us to go back on Monday if fever came back or immediately if he presented with any other symptoms you mentioned.

His fever is still gone as of bedtime tonight and his eyes are still slightly red, but better than a few days ago.

It's interesting that you mentioned the carpet cleaner as there is virtually nothing online about cause.

[gretchenindisguise]

Well crap.

I've got my fingers crossed it's just something random. And is over.

Sent from my DROIDX using proboards

[Deleted]

medicmommy - random question....do you watch grays anatomy? They had an episode that featured almost your exact situation ( and also why I actually knew what KD was!)

[Deleted]

Jul 6, 2013 23:34:54 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

Well crap.

I've got my fingers crossed it's just something random. And is over.

Sent from my DROIDX using proboards

Thank you, sending good thoughts your way as well tonight!

[medicmommy]

Jul 6, 2013 23:43:58 GMT -5 fields said:

medicmommy - random question....do you watch grays anatomy? They had an episode that featured almost your exact situation ( and also why I actually knew what KD was!)

I do! I was actually in tears most of that episode. It brought back so many emotions that had just been pushed aside. I was that crazy mom. I KNEW something was wrong with my baby and no one would listen. It was so frustrating.
That has made a huge difference in the way I treat pedi patients though. I don't care if the kid seems perfect, if the mom feels like something isn't right, I'm taking her word for it. Mother's intuition is a powerful thing.

I'm glad your pedi is on top of things. That makes it so much easier to trust them. We live in a very rural area. The closest pediatrician is 20 mi away and the closest pedi hospital is 50 mi. Most of the doctors are family practice and don't have much experience with rare issues.

Good luck! Hopefully the fever stays away!

[Deleted]

Yes, I feel lucky to have such a great pedi office! I just my intuition would level out...I don't think I'll feel better until a couple more days go by with him symptom free.

Thank you again for sharing your experience, especially the tid bit about possible link with carpet cleaners. I'm glad your DD recovered and is ok.

[cleo29]

My friend's son had this around Christmas last year.  I hope C feels better soon!

[jaylea]

Fields, Mason's fingers and toes peeled after he had Hand, foot and mouth and his doctor said that fingers/toes can often peel after a fever and it's okay.

I know nothing about KD, but just wanted to share that maybe it's just related to fever. I hope he is okay!

[wildfloweragain]

What I have read about KD and carpet cleaning is that it may not be the carpet cleaning chemicals, but the upset of the microorganisms that are living in the carpet. Not necessarily the shampoo or spray.

Also, I hope your son feels better soon.

[queso]

I had KD when I was in 1st grade. At the time I was seeing a family med doc who couldn't figure out what was wrong. My mom took me back to my pedi and he immediately recognized it as KD. I went directly the hospital, set up on some IVs and was seriously sooo much better within 24 hours.

After that I had to see a cardiologist a couple of times to make sure there was no damage to my heart and there wasn't so I've been good to go ever since.

Hoping your son gets well soon!