Do I Need a Second Opinion?

Updated on October 08, 2007
K.C. asks from Valrico, FL
7 answers

I am concerned about my five year old daughter and I am not sure if I am just being a neurotic mom. She is Very small for her age ( 31 lbs and 40in) and she also constantly runs a temperature around 100 degrees. I have asked the pediatrician about both of these issues. She wants to check her again in a couple of months for height and weight and she says the temperature is completely normal. Does anyone out there have any medical knowledge and thinks I should get a second opinion or am I just being a neurotic mom?

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A.F.

answers from Tampa on

i am not in the medical field.

but if it's any help, i have a high "normal" temperature (i naturally run around 99.5 to 100) so does my husband. my brother - in - law is low compared (96.5 to 97) to the "norm".

the "normal body temperature" is an accepted average - a healthy human's average body temperature will be around 98.6. but then there are people like me and my family who are above or below the "average".

as for the height and weight: my sister was very petite until she was 16. my daughter was also. i know a little girl in tampa who is 5 and in kindergarten. she is tiny in comparison - in sizing her clothes, she wears what you would expect a 3 to a 4 year old to wear. the little girl in tampa has undergone all kinds of tests to see if there is a medical problem and everything has come back completely normal.

it could just be your daughter is going to grow slower than "normal" and that's okay too. if the little girl in tampa does what my sister did, at about 16 she will shoot up almost overnight. today my sister is taller than me - but that didn't happen till she was 16.

I am not saying don't get a second opinion - but I am saying, everything may be perfectly okay.

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L.V.

answers from Tampa on

My son is 4 yrs old and weighs 30 lbs and is 39 inches tall. But he is still on the curve. I think some kids are just small. I do not think that is abnormally small at all. The fever is different - are you taking it rectally or under the arm. If it is rectally I think they usually subtract 2 degrees to get a regular temp. I would go on your instincts though - always. You are the mom and if getting a second opinion is going to ease your mind then get it :)

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K.V.

answers from Tampa on

Dear K.,

I think it is easy for a doctor to say, "Don't worry about it." You are the mommy and know your child best! If you still feel uneasy, get a second opinion and a third if necessary. The doctor should be able to tell you in a manner you understand about why those things are "normal". If the temp is oral, it is a little high. If the temp is rectal, it is normal. If the temp is under the arm, it is a fever. Good luck!! K.

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J.C.

answers from Tampa on

Hi- Actually I was on here looking for some tips. My 2 year old and I were at dr's today and the NP (nurse practioner) not the Dr saw her, and said she was concerned that my baby had not really gained any wieght in 7 mos, which we had been voicing the last visits. Alex is also right at 99.8 temp on average.

She sent us to the labs for with stool tests (to see if she is processing fats), cbc blood work (for anemia and such), and tyhroid test.
she is 26 lb- 38 inches. We will have to see what it brings.

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E.R.

answers from Tampa on

I don't know anything about your situation, but if you don't feel things are right, I would definitely go for a second opinion ... the worse that happens is you find out a difinitive answer.

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J.S.

answers from Tampa on

K.,

A couple of thoughts came to mind after reading your post. The first thought came from my "nurse's mind": your daughter may have an overactive thyroid. A simple blood test would let you know. My next thought came from my "mom mind": your instincts are the best tool you have as a mom. You don't sound comfortable w/ the answer you're getting from the doctor. If she's otherwise healthy, you could probably wait until the next visit. However, if it's really bothering you, it's not going to hurt anything to get a second opinion. Good luck w/ whatever you decide.

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S.B.

answers from Tampa on

Hi K.,
My daughter is 6 years old and weighs only 35lbs. She weighed 5lbs when she was born. I am small and my husband is skinny as well, She also has a high body temp and my husband does as well. We are going through some test right now but everything is coming back normal. Your child could have a fast metabloism.
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