Zoe in hospital, again.

Posting this from KKH, where we have been since yesterday evening. Zoe’s viral fever did not abate, and she developed rashes on her trunk, so K took her in to KKH’s Children’s Emergency on Friday morning. The doctors tested her for dengue, which came back clear, and said she did not have HFMD, so sent them home with a diagnosis of “viral fever”.

That night, she developed red and slightly swollen hands and feet. I felt very uneasy, and upon looking things up online, decided that I needed to take her back to our family doctor (who had made the first diagnosis of viral fever on Wednesday). He took a look and told me that if the fever did not abate by Sunday, we should take Z in to KKH again for suspected Kawasaki Disease, but that we could also take her in that afternoon if we felt that we should. I opted for the latter, so from 1.30 to 4pm, K, Zoe and I waited in the emergency room. We were blessed to see the doctor-in-charge, who looked her over thoroughly and then said that he was admitting her for suspected Kawasaki Disease.

We’ve been here since then, and Zoe has been placed on a drip to give her the fluids and electrolytes she needs for her fever. They’ve drawn blood for testing and done a nasal swab. At this point, Kawasaki Disease is not 100 per cent confirmed since she exhibits 3 of the 5 symptoms, and then only mildly. If it’s not Kawasaki, it could also be adenovirus. Initial blood results show an infection somewhere, so they’ve started her on intravenous antibiotics. They are waiting for results of the blood cultures to come back tomorrow morning before deciding on the next course of action. Today is Day 5, the watershed day for diagnosing Kawasaki. Her temperature has been holding steady at 38.9degC for the last couple of hours. I guess we will know more when the doctors come by later this evening.

Zoe is extremely grouchy, especially with her IV plug because they set it in her right hand. Don’t know why they didn’t set it in her left hand, or in one of her feet. We are all very tired and heartily fed up of being in the hospital. Please pray for Zoe, for healing and for wisdom on the part of doctors. Thank you.

January 11, 2009

Posted in Kids.