[CptStargel]

I just wanted to post our most recent experience for other FTM and moms of babies with possible allergies. It has been a long and scary week for our family.

Last Monday I took Maddie to the doctor with a fever of 103 and general crankiness. They diagnosed her with a double ear infection and strep throat. She was put on Augmentin because she had just gotten over pnuemonia 2 weeks before and was on Amoxicillan so they couldn't use the same antibiotics. On the 3rd day of using the Augmentin she started with projectile vomiting, severe diarrhea and refusing all food and liquids. I stopped the antibiotics and tried everything to get her to eat or drink anything at all.

Nothing worked so I made her an appointment on Friday with our pediatrician to have her rechecked. They said the Augmentin did not agree with her tummy and that was typical. They were concerned about her vomiting and refusing liquids and were tempted to send her to the hospital for IV fluids. They opted to give her an injection of Rocephin (another antibiotic) instead and keep trying the liquids to see if we could get her perked back up and they wanted to see her back Saturday morning to give the second injection and recheck her.

Immediately after the injection of Rocephin she was inconsolable and writhing in pain from her legs. I told them she had never ever ever acted like that after any of her vaccines and that I was very concerned. They said Rocephin did not have side effects and she would be fine. We went home and she was horribly uncomfortalbe all afternoon, but she finally fell asleep and did well through the night. When she woke up Saturday she had a few areas of hives on her belly. We took her back to the pediatrician that morning and she said it was probably a mild reaction, possibly from the Rocephin, but unlikely in their opinion, and they gave us a prescription of Azithromycin. We reluctantly took her back home again and she slept for another hour. When she woke up her entire body was covered in bright red horrible hives on her trunk and arms and armpits. We called the triage nurse for our pediatrician and she said go to the ER right away.

On the way to the ER the hives spread to her scalp and neck and behind her ears. The ER was packed full of people and sick kids and even 1 child with a broken arm sat right next to us for the first 3 hours. After 3 hours the hives were on her face and privates and legs and feet. At hour 4 my DH finally went to the front desk and told them that she had to be seen ASAP because her eyes were swollen with hives and her mouth was starting to turn colors. They took us back about 15 minutes after his complaint and said it was the worst reaction to Rocephin they have ever seen. If we had waited much long it would have possibly closed her airway. They gave her prednisone, benedryl, zantac, and told us to give tylenol at home. 6 hours of sitting in the ER and we were discharged and told to recheck with our regular pediatrician on Monday and that she was never to get Augmentin or Rocephin again. They don't know which caused the reaction because they were given so close together, but they are very sure it was the Rocephin.

We were told that reactions to Rocephin are very rare, usually occur at the second injection, but when they do happen they are severe and our baby could have died. Today is Monday and she is finally eating and drinking small amounts every few hours and sleeping alot due to the benedryl. No more vomiting, but we are still battling diarrhea and diaper rash. Her hives are now just an outlining reminder on her body and are sure to go away soon, but her eyes, neck and mouth are bruised from the rapid swelling due to the reaction. It was a scary event and I am so thankful that we went to the ER when we first noticed the rash spreading because if we had waiting 4 more hours at home we wouldn't have been at the ER when her eyes and mouth began swelling.

I didn't want to write this to scare anyone, but to keep you aware of what can happen with new medication or even new foods for some of our LO with unknown allergies. Please listen to your mommy instinct and know that if your LO is acting painful and unusual from vaccines, medication or food and starts with hives or other reactions that are not normal, please be seen immediately!! Here's hoping that all our LO get healthy soon and stay that way!

[JustLiz]

sorry you went through that. It's so sad and scary when the los are sick. I hope she is feeling better. Des had a rough week with pinkeye and an ear infection and didn't eat anything for a couple of days. He is also allergic to amoxicillin, but nothing as bad as Maddie. How scary!

[CptStargel]

Neither DH nor myself are allergic to anything and have never had experience with the situation before so it was super scary. She is completely back to normal now and the prednisone to get the reaction to stop actually cleared her ears up. She is now a picky eater, but she will eat some so that is better than none. I hope Desmond feels better soon. Pinkeye is rough for us, hate it for LO.