My daughter was sick with the flu recently. She was sick for about 3-4 weeks. We went to our playground in our neighborhood on a sat and that evening she had a temp of 102. She continued this trend for about 3 days. She seemed to have gotten better, but then a few days later she was really sick with a bad cough and fever again. We took her into the doctor, where she got chest X-rays, but all he said was that it was a cold. She finally did get better, but now she has moments when she is feeling really depressed, has anxiety and she's scared. We will just be talking and when I look up she has tears coming down. When I ask her what is wrong she just starts crying even more and says that she doesn't feel normal. I've asked her if anything has happened at school, if anybody is being mean, are any adults doing anything, and she says no to all of these questions. She just says, that ever since she got better from being sick she doesn't feel normal. I'm not sure if the sickness caused her to be depressed or what's going on. Has anybody gone through the same thing or do you know how to handle this?
Thank you so much for all your responses!!! I really appreciate all of them. She was not diagnosed with the flu, I just assumed it was because that's what was going around at the time. I'm definitely going to make an appt. with her pediatrician, maybe they can do some blood work and see if there is anything wrong. I've never heard of PANDAS, but thank you for bringing that to my attention. I will look into that and talk to the doctor about it. She came home from school upset again. She was sitting there eating a snack when she burst into tears again, my husband sat and talked to her this time. I hope this goes away soon because I cannot stand seeing her so upset. Again, thank you for your quick responses and I will keep you updated.
Is she on medication? Did they put her on medication while she was sick? My daughter took medication in her nebulizer when she was about 2.5 and it made her cry at anything and everything. I took her off the medication and she stopped by the next day.
Otherwise, take her back to the PED. Could it be hormones? Although, she does sound pretty sensitive.
Did they culture her for strep? If not, please look into PANDAS. If you google it you will find out more info. Basically it is something that occurs in children where they can develop anxiety and ocd after having certain illnesses. Also, it could just be that her gut flora is off. The gut makes even more serotonin than the brain and if she has been vomiting etc then her system is probably out of whack. Start her on a good probiotic if you haven't already.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/pandas/index....
Was she actually diagnosed with the flu (as in influenza)? It sounds like from your post that your doc didn't diagnose the flu. Normally I wouldn't trifle over something like this in a response but if it wasn't actually the flu, then it could be something else and as the others mentioned, sometimes children do get other symptoms after other viruses and infections.
I think at this point, it's time to go back to the doc for some answers. Hopefully you can figure out what's going on and that she'll be back to her old self soon!
I really think you need a strep test done. This does NOT sound like a cold. Get a strep test.
Did they check her for mono?
Mono can linger for a very long time.
My sister had it for most of 1st grade.
Every time they thought she was better and increased her activity level she had a relapse - it went on for about 10 months.
I had to bring most of her school work home for her and take it back to school while she was on bed rest.
Mono can be exhausting.
I agree with Angie. PANDAS is one possibility that fits.
Hi L.,
Was she taking any medication? Benadryl can cause severe depression and anger...many other over the counter meds can as well. If she was on something, you need to get it out of her system. These synthetic chemicals don't just leave the body. They leave an aftermath that contraindicate with the next chemical that it comes in contact with.
PM me if this is the case. I can give you more info.
Regards,
M.
One of two things:
1) She's still sick with something. Take her to a different pediatrician. Most pediatricians assume the routine. Finding one who is a good diagnostician is key. Kids don't have the flu for a month. She needs a complete blood workup, etc.
or
2) Her system is out of whack from being sick for so long - her enzymes, electrolytes, white blood count, something is out of kilter. Again - a complete blood test is needed - including cardiac. Anxiety can be a result of an irregular heart beat - if he blood count is off her heart rate can become irregular and it can be temporary and goes away once she's back to full health.
You're her mom - you have a built-in sense to know something's not right. You may have to insist to the doctor to have a full work up - as many pediatricians will pooh-pooh the idea of something still being wrong - but you're the mom. You know your child better than anyone.
Even kids who grow up to have herediary emotional problems don't feel this kind of anxiety at age 8. Their emotional health has to do with her physical health and she needs a full work up to diagnose what's going on with her. An 8 year old shoudln't be feeling depresion and anxiety - her system is telling her she's not well.
Be the momma bear if you have to be. You go mama - you go.
I agree with many of the posts and one that stands out is Angie's.. PANDAS.. when my son had Meningitis and thankfully recovered, he had anxiety thereafter for about 6 months.. E.g., we'd be at a gas station and he'd insist that his dad roll up all the windows and lock the doors. Additionally, he kinda had ticks (which is apparently common after an illness) his were such that he would get this kinda twitchy feeling along his scalp and on his side. I was worried sick.. but the doctor said it should go away , which it did..
I think one good thing to do whether kid or adult is to do a water cleanse after illness, have her drinks lots and lots of water to get rid of the meds in her body. Also, certain meds as noted below can cause depression, for me, Benadryl so upsets my system... After taking it, I just feel angst and then depressed. of course, I no longer take it..
Also, watch her diet, could be at 10, when allergies can begin to manifest themselves are starting to reveal themselves symptoms, which depression can be of many.. If she doesn't continue to get better, I'd get a second opinion.. When my son developed that anxiety over the gas station, I took him to my former therapist and before I could even say he had been sick, SHE said... was he previously sick and did he have to stay in the hospital... so apparently it's common to have mental and emotional side-effects after being physically ill...
keep us posted and good luck
blessings
Based on the time of year I have to wonder if she doesn't just have spring fever.
We have been through this exact situation. The kids and I all got the real deal influenza this year. It took forever to get over. We were all very, very sick for over a week. When we finally started feeling better and slowly got back to schedules and life we were all a little "depressed".
My girls are older and since we all went through it we compared notes. I think at first you feel so much better than you did you forget that you're still sick. Lack of energy, heavy chests and just a feeling of slowness persisted for weeks. I think with an eight year old it may be hard for her to realize it's more physical that emotional. Feeling bad for that long does make you sad!
I'd take her to another Dr. just to be sure she's on the right track and then talk to her about how she feels. Plan some quiet things to do during downtime like movies, books or a game at home for fun. Most of all make sure she's getting enough rest. As I said it took many weeks for us to feel 100% again. Good Luck!
I know I am late for a reply, but I thought that maybe she was starting the two-year period before feminine cycles start. My daughter had two years of craziness - like PMS - before she started her cycles. Just a thought. I'm glad you're going to the doctor. There are so many things it could be. Scarlet fever, Valley fever, Rheumatic fever - all of which can have lasting effects. Good luck!
She's healing, her bodies resources are going towards fighting the germs in her body. This makes our bodies feel slow, depressed, and more. This is usually normal.
