The final diagnosis was osteomyelitis (a bone infection) likely caused by Staphylococcus (Staph). From one doctor's description any cut, bug bite, scrape, splinter, ANYTHING that breaks the skin leaves us open to this sort of thing. And people thought I use to be paranoid about the kids, this is like pouring gas on that fire:) It gets in the bloodstream and then can end up in the bone. He said that at any given time they have 15 - 20 kids with bone infections. We were truly blessed that it was a minor one. Most are not minor. Definitions:
Minor Bone infection: temp of 100 degrees, some discomfort, 4 days in the hospital, IV antibiotics while in hospital, 6 weeks of oral antibiotics 3 times a day, weekly blood tests run until his Sedimentation Rate is back to normal.
Major Bone infection: temp of 105 + degrees, lots of pain, 10 days + in the hospital, IV antibiotics in the hospital, you go home with a port or a pic line so the patient can receive IV antibiotics 3 times a day for up to 6 months at home.
I will post more about our 4 days in a room with our 22 month old this week.
To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge.
Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)
Al
1 comment:
I'm not sure how i found your blog. I'm soo sorry that ya'll had to go through something soo scary! One of my twins just got staph a few weeks ago and ended up in the ER @ Texas Chilrens. Lucikly we caught it very quickly. She oviously got bit at a splash pad while playing in the water..i noticed it but thought it was a mosquito. No biggie. She had never been allergic to mosquitos..so i didn't worry. The next morning when i took her footies off her ankle was soo big it didn't even look like her ankle. I gave her benadryl..but it kept going up and up. Called the dr. and she said to take her in asap. She ended up on some heavy duty 3x's a day antibiotic. It was some NASTY stuff. I'm glad, in your case, they caught the bone infection early on. Did they mention bleach baths to you? I have a blog about bleach baths...the ER dr. and my dr. both told me that for sure if it happened again i'd have to start giving them to her..and could throw all 3 of my girls in together in the 1/8 cup of bleach in a tub. She said it's no harm. Scares me, so i haven't done it yet. Hope your little one gets better soon...Goodness i couldn't imgaine how scared ya'll were! It's so hard when they are so little and can't tell you whats wrong.
Blessings!
Brenda
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