The Episode of Stomach Flu Invasion

Air quality has been bad recently because of the haze, and the burning of incense during this Hungry Ghost Festival is not helping at all. (Hungry Ghost Festival happens during the 7th lunar month. Believers would offering incense like joss paper to their deceased ancesters as a show of filial piety.)

Many people are down with flu, cough, sinus, sore throat and also headaches. I was thankful that mine was mild. I had a sty on my right eye. Irritating but because I behaved myself, not to wear contact lense or put on eye makeup, it recovered within 4 days.


Little Elric and Alphonse wasn't as fortunate. They were both mega down with stomach flu. It's not quite caused by the air quality, but it definited was noy helpful during the recovery process.

Elric's fever started on 8 Sep Saturday morning. It was considered mild and we thought it might just be fever caused by teething. We thought little about it and just fed him with chinese medication to bring down the fever. Elric had diarrhea too and we thought it might just be the symptom of teething.

On 9 Sep, Elric's fever refused to bulge and he vomited. I was rather surprised as I never heard teething would cause vomiting. We fed Elric with paraceptamol but it didn't quite help either. That night, Elric's temperature shot up to 39.4C.

We brought him to the PD on 10 Sep (Monday morning) and he was diagnosed with stomach flu. (and HOW ON EARTH DID HE GET THAT?) Elric was very grouchy and uncomfortable but as his usual self, he still waved and said hi to the people he met. (This is my PR-pro son.)

We sponged Elric with cold water through the night and the temperature kept fluctuating. Any Chinese sinsei would tell you not to let a child with fever sleep in air-conditioned room. The GPs would also advise against it because the germs in the air would pass to another person easily. For us, we didn't have a choice. Which the air quality the burning of incense directly under my bedroom windows, opening the window wouldn't do any do. (I stay on level 2, by the way)

Alphonse was over-stretched and came down with stomach flu on the following day. Elric was still vomiting and having diarrhea, but I was relieved that his high fever came down.

 

New problem arised soon after when rashes appeared all over Elric's body. He could not sleep well and was waking up many times in the night. Poor whiny Elric was itching all over and kept lying face flat on the floor to cool down his body.

Elric had no appetite and couldn't absorb the food he took. Minutes after he ate he would puke them out. :'( He was more sleepy than usual but still willing to carry out the daily activities like reading and drawing.

 

What made me worry was when I noticed Elric wasn't taking in enough liquid and not peeing enough. Elric became very restless and sleepy on 13 Sep. Which could be a sign of dehydration. He vomited on the bed that night and again in the morning of 14 Sep. I was ready to send him to the hospital when Alphonse told me that he had diarrhea twice. I rushed home from work but my mum and Alphonse said he managed to gulp down some breastmilk without throwing it out. So we decided to observe till evening.

On the evening of 14 Sep, Elric ate about 3 tablespoon of porridge. Do you know how happy I was??? FINALLY!!!! I knew Elric was also happy that he didn't puke. In fact, his appetite came back. He asked for more but I didn't want to be too ambitious. We fed him some H2O drink instead. Alphonse felt better. He was very tired though because he was watching Elric in case he vomitted when sleeping.



15 Sep:
Good news! Elric had diarrhea only once and NOT PUKING!
HURRAY! I hope that means we no longer have to change him 3-4 times a day, wash of his clothes and change the bedsheets so frequently.

Bad News: Mummy Kaye is feeling unwell.
The stomach flu infection didn't spare me.

BUT...

I WILL SURVIVE!!!! (=__=)  Gambate!!


LOVE,
Kaye