We avoided my brother’s flu virus in Makati that’s why we sheltered temporarily here at my in laws for one week. We wouldn’t want to expose Asher to the virus especially with all the paranoia that the pandemic influenza scare is causing. However, as we avoided the flu virus, who would’ve thought that Asher will battle another kind of virus while we stay here in Frisco.
Last Tuesday, his Yayay noticed that Asher’s temperature was shooting up around lunch time. I shrugged it off and concluded that it was the just the afternoon heat that’s causing it since it’s only the head that’s a bit warmer. His body temperature felt just normal. He napped and that’s the time when I felt his body was getting warmer too. I right away took his temp and the thermometer yielded a 38++ (point something) degrees. Got him to take paracetamol right away. He began to lose his appetite that evening and became sluggish. He was so clingy to either his yayay or to me. His temperature shoots up and down every four hours. I was already worried…A(H1N1) is out because he doesn’t have colds or cough…is it dengue, a more deadly one…or just an ordinary “lagnat laki” as they call it.
The next day, he still refuses to eat, so pale and so clingy. Fever was still on and off. His temperature even went up to 39.8 degrees that we almost rushed to the ER at that instant. But I remained calmed and psyched myself that he’ll be okay. Minutes later, he cooled down a bit. Paul and I decided that we’ll take him to the hospital the next day (3rd day) if he wouldn’t get better, as advised by parenting books. Also, taking him to the ER right away would only expose him to even more viruses so we opted to wait the 3-day fever time frame.
On the third day, we went to his Pedia and while waiting for his turn (lots of sick babies on queue), he started to show improvement. He was all over the place even almost knocking down the standees and the waffle stand along the corridor. He showed his antics much to our entertainment..nawala boredom namin sa paghintay. The Pedia initially diagnosed that it’s viral infection as she saw that Asher’s tonsil and throat were all red. She gave him antibiotics to take.
We bathed him on the fourth day. His temperature has tremendously got better too as well as his moods and activity. I noticed in the afternoon that pink spots or rashes started to appear on his forehead. I phoned his Pedia and assured that it was not allergy caused by the meds. As I’ve heard about Roseola before, she also confirmed that it could be the culprit. She told me to continue the medication she gave.
The next day (5th day), I have to call off the Twitter meet up I was supposed to join at Greenbelt because we brought Asher back to his Pedia. His face and body was all so red with rashes that we want to be assured of the doctor’s diagnosis. And upon seeing Asher, they ruled that it was indeed Roseola or “tigdas hangin” in our vernacular. The doctor confirmed that there’s nothing to worry about this as it’s just benign and it’s very common to babies 6 months old to 2 yrs old. In fact, as I tweeted yesterday, most of my online friends’ babies went through the same sickness when they were Asher’s age. No medication was given because it will eventually go away. So far, Asher’s recovering well..save for the overly pinkish face and body, he’s all active and malikot na ulit. His appetite is back as well and no more fever in the past 72 hours.
So the Lolo, Lolas, Tito, Tita and Cousin Leela reading this blog from abroad, don’t worry of Asher na. 