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What Causes Cold, Cough And Anorexia In A 4 Year Old Toddler?
Question: 4 yr old with a cold, cough, lethargic and no appetite. Had a low grade fever but that seems to have passed. When should I take her in? I don't want to go in unnecessarily because I know that there is really nothing that can be done for a virus, but not sure how long is ok with not really eating anything. Fluid intake is decreased, but urine still looks very light yellow. I'm mostly concerned that she just wants to lay and won't eat.
Brief Answer:
Some thoughts:
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
I have a few thoughts:
I don't know when she last had Advil, but this can be irritating on the stomach and perhaps she is lacking an appetite because of that.
If the decreased appetite has been going on for more than 3 days, I would advise calling your doctor's office, and most likely taking her in to be seen. There can be viruses such as Epstein Barr, which can cause fatigue and present with cold symptoms. It could also be a virus that has a gastrointestinal component to it.
The main thing is that she stays hydrated, which it sounds like she is. But not eating for more than a few days needs to be checked out.
I hope this information helps.
Make sure, if you take her in to an urgent care of other clinic, that you keep her hands clean, such as with alcohol gel afterwards, because people can pick up more things when going in to such places.
Some thoughts:
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
I have a few thoughts:
I don't know when she last had Advil, but this can be irritating on the stomach and perhaps she is lacking an appetite because of that.
If the decreased appetite has been going on for more than 3 days, I would advise calling your doctor's office, and most likely taking her in to be seen. There can be viruses such as Epstein Barr, which can cause fatigue and present with cold symptoms. It could also be a virus that has a gastrointestinal component to it.
The main thing is that she stays hydrated, which it sounds like she is. But not eating for more than a few days needs to be checked out.
I hope this information helps.
Make sure, if you take her in to an urgent care of other clinic, that you keep her hands clean, such as with alcohol gel afterwards, because people can pick up more things when going in to such places.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
No rash, glands don't appear to be swollen, tonsils look ok. Only 3 doses of Advil in the last 36 hours. She was in good spirits this afternoon (even helped make cookies) then down to just sleeping again. We are in an area where I am being told that her school, the elementary school and the middle school have been inundated with this cold w/ cough. I just hate seeing her like this when she is typically so active and talkative.
Brief Answer:
Does her tummy hurt?
Detailed Answer:
The fatigue could just be from having a bad cold virus, but I want to make sure that there is nothing going on with her digestive tract that could be causing her to not want to eat. Please ask her if her tummy hurts.
Does her tummy hurt?
Detailed Answer:
The fatigue could just be from having a bad cold virus, but I want to make sure that there is nothing going on with her digestive tract that could be causing her to not want to eat. Please ask her if her tummy hurts.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
She says it hurts a little when she coughs, but it seems like muscle pain/soreness from all coughing the last couple of days. She says it doesn't hurt any other time.
If she could just stay sleeping and not be woken up by a cough, I think things would be better and she probably wouldn't stay so tired.
If she could just stay sleeping and not be woken up by a cough, I think things would be better and she probably wouldn't stay so tired.
Brief Answer:
About the cough:
Detailed Answer:
If the fever isn't getting worse, and you think she is fatigued from the virus plus poor sleep from the cough, you might want to consider a good cough suppressant, specifically guaifenesin with codeine (Robitussin AC or Cheratussin AC). Codeine is very good at suppressing coughs. It isn't addicting if only used for a few nights. It requires a prescription though so you might want to call the doctor on call for her doctor's group to get a prescription tonight. Or call her doctor's office tomorrow for a prescription.
If she isn't having fevers anymore, I'd hold off on any further Advil, just because of the effect it might have on the stomach.
About the cough:
Detailed Answer:
If the fever isn't getting worse, and you think she is fatigued from the virus plus poor sleep from the cough, you might want to consider a good cough suppressant, specifically guaifenesin with codeine (Robitussin AC or Cheratussin AC). Codeine is very good at suppressing coughs. It isn't addicting if only used for a few nights. It requires a prescription though so you might want to call the doctor on call for her doctor's group to get a prescription tonight. Or call her doctor's office tomorrow for a prescription.
If she isn't having fevers anymore, I'd hold off on any further Advil, just because of the effect it might have on the stomach.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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