Please Help me with my infant!!!!

Posted by Tina on May 11, 1999 at 09:42:04
My child is 18 mths.  Been sick since Feb 26.  She's had rsv, roto, pneumonia,dehydration.  Been in the hospital 3 times in 3 weeks.  She has allergy cells showing in her colon.  I will be taking her for an upper endoscopy Fri. to see if allergy cells are there as well.  My child will not eat or drink much of anything.  She is not allergic to food.  She is stumbly-falls down and wont get up.  She lays there til someone comes to her rescue, w/o crying.  She stares into space and we can't get her to come back-clapping, snaps, waves don't help.  She has purple circles under her eyes and is very pale now.  What is up?  I am stressed, concerned, and depressed over my child's illnesses.  I seem to not be able to get her better.  I don't understand what could be causing all this.  Does anyone have clues for me?  I want the best for my child as any mother would want for theirs but, I don't know what else to do but keep going back to the Dr. Are all these tests tramatizing my child?  Please someone help me and my child!!!!  I am so worried!!!!
Posted by HFHS.RN-AM on May 20, 1999 at 12:49:21
Your child has certainly been exposed to some very virulent strains of viruses. Unfortunately, antibiotics dont help with viruses and they have to run their course. Often when children are exposed back to back to different illnesses, their little bodies don't have time to get back to full-strength and when another bug hits, they have less reserve to fight with. Your child's symptoms of lethargy are a concern for me, and you are doing the right thing going to see a GI specialist for "allergy" cells in the colon. You did not indicate why her stool was tested in the first place, but if there were blood cellsin her stool at all, she could be anemic. A cause of this could be an allergy causing severe inflammation to the lining of the GI tract.  
In the meantime, you should do all you can to reduce your daughters exposure to illnesses. If she is in daycare and taking her out is not an option, talk to the director about handwashing, keeping other sick children home, and cleaning toys and play areas.
Good luck to you