Ok this is a new one to me

[Jmom1010]

DS is sick again. It started yesterday with loose stools followed by the outright runs. He ate great in spite of that. Today he still has the runs plus a fever, cough and runny nose. And his bum is as red as a stop sign. He was up most of the night and when I say up I mean crying out in his sleep and not sleeping restfully at all. He's in a great mood and is eating and drinking some. I'm most concerned about his bum, he winces when I have to clean him up which is at least once an hour. I've never seen such an "all in one" illness. Anyone see anything like this? There is a tummy bug going around daycare. Can he have two different things going on?

[RedheadbyChoice]

Of course he can have 2 different things going on at once.

If he's got a bug at all in the tummy, the hiney will hurt. I've found that cool baths (no soap) help that, a bit of baking soda in the water. Using just a warm cloth on his buns (no wipes) and plain cornstarch on the rear.

Hope he feels better soon!

[Jmom1010]

Thanks I was wondering about the baking soda. I'll have DH try that tonight.

[Stephanie]

I agree. I do hope he feels better soon. Nakey time on an old blanket or towel helps too.

[SingingMom]

He could have two different things going on. Or he could have just one. Illnesses don't always present in infants the same way they do in older children, and there are some odd little bugs out there.

We've seen a diarrhea-type virus rip through here like that- and come with an accompanying sniffle, too.

We've used wet paper towels on rashy bottoms- to minimize the spread of the virus or whatever, since I can throw them away right off.

[Jmom1010]

Nakie time is hard because my boy is 2 and 1/2 and no longer stays still on blankets. I did try baking soda last night. He just pooped again so I gotta go change him. Poor boy screams like crazy.

[Joyto5]

Aww poor baby. Have you tried a barrier cream on his bum for BM's? When mine went through that "ouchie poop" sickness some desitin so it didn't stick to him bum and hurt as much.

Example. After a diaper change we would have 30 min naked time. Then Desitin (Or other barrier cream) and diaper. They would have another BM, then change, naked time, desitin and diaper. Accidents will happen but it's best not to have the poop in contact with the skin for any length of time.

Good luck mama. hope he starts feeling better soon.

[SingingMom]

I should add that with some viruses, you can see a high rate of reinfection. Some GI bugs just don't provoke residual immunity, I don't know why. So you can get a kid coming down with the same stupid bug three or four times in a row.

Since you mentioned that there's something going around in daycare, and your poor little dude is sick again- this is a good time to watch out and clean things aggressively. Some of these GI bugs can attack adults with almost no symptoms, so you and other adults taking care of the kids can be passing back the bug. :(

We had a problem with this and a rotavirus, and I didn't kick it out of here until I started disinfecting everything for a couple of weeks, which is not my normal practice. (You know, doorknobs, faucet handles, the floor, the phone, keys, all sorts of things.) Looking back, I can see that DH and I were not feeling great and we were probably reinfecting the babies.

[RedheadbyChoice]

Any better today, sugar?

[Jmom1010]

He was a little better. His bum is less red and he only went loosely 3 times today. No fever but the cough it getting bad. Thanks for asking.