My ten year old boy has always been easy going and laid back. He has suddenly (literally overnight) developed an intense fear of the weather. It is all he seems to think about and he has become weepy when it is overcast. This is has been going on for three days. He is also putting himself to bed at eight thirty, which is extremely out of character. This is a 180 personality shift. He swears nothing else is going on, just the weather and being tired. He was diagnosed with strep 5 days ago and is on antibiotic, but has never had a reaction from medicine before. Any ideas?
Google PANDAS. Strep could have triggered it... Not the antibiotic. I would definitely call his pediatrician.
S., has he been seeing any of the news coverage of recent storms (like Oklahoma City?). I would think that something has got to be triggering this new fear.
There's been a lot of crazy deadly weather happening that he's seen on tv. I'm sure it's normal. Just a suggestion, but I bet if you sat down with him and either develop or go over all of your family disaster plans he'll probably feel less fearful. Fire, tornados, floods, extreme thunder & lightning, you should have a distinct plan for everything. Also, my kids can have a different or new reaction to the same medicines. I'm sure he's just sleepy from being sick.
S.:
Welcome to mamapedia!
did he see or witness an extreme weather act? Like a hurricane or tornado? Was he watching the TV and saw the aftermath of the tornadoes in Oklahoma?!
I don't think this is a reaction to an antibiotic. I think it's a reaction to watching or witnessing a tragic weather event.
Talk with him. Keep the lines of communication open. Ask opened ended questions that does NOT require a "yes" or "no" answer. Get him to talk and communicate with you regarding his fear.
Good luck!
Could be the news on TV. Tornados, tropical storms, flooding, if I had to guess I think that would be the cause. Of course, he was not feeli g well which magnifies everything. He needs so e reassurance.
I agree with some others. Ask your pediatrician to consider PANDAS.
he's almost certainly seen something on the news about the killer storms in various parts of the country recently. i'd take it as an excellent teaching moment to do some basic meteorological learning together.
khairete
S.
Streph. Can cause a disorder called. PANDAS. I know a boy with it and have heard it on here before. Anxiety tics moodswings
I hope all it is. Is that your kid heard the news but you may want to talk to your dr about this just in case.
I've heard this about a lot of kids lately, because of the tornadoes recently. Even though we haven't discussed them at home (beyond where to go in case of sirens) they hear it at school/daycare/wherever and it seems really scary to them.
I'll bet Amber and Patty are right. No doubt they've been discussing this at school and I'll bet that's scaring him.
He sounds like he just does not feel well. When our daughter was really ill, and not feeling at all well, she kind of became weepy, clingy and out of sorts..
Remember also, some antibiotics do not show results until they are almost to the last dose, depending on how severe the illness is.
I would call the Nurse on call and just check in with this change in behavior.
I hope he feels better soon.
Have you been watching the news with all the horrible weather stories? You are in Georgia - very close to the action. Maybe you should turn OFF the news and try to distract him with something that he's interested in.
Hi S.! The same thing happened with our son. He would constantly go from one window to the next looking at the sky and be extremely worried about the weather. His teacher actually got him a book on 'weather' and once he was educated on the facts, that fear went away. I don't know about what the others have posted regarding PANDAS so that is interesting as well but sounds like you're a good mamma and will find a solution to this. Good luck!
