Cameron’s mysterious illness has been diagnosed.
And by “diagnosed”, I mean that Dr. Google (with an MD from Wikipedia U) has diagnosed it. Because walk-in clinic doctors are clearly under-qualified*.
I’m pretty sure Cameron has Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD). Here is how I diagnosed Cameron.
Symptoms Cameron displays:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Malaise
- Non-itchy body rash followed by sores with blisters on palms of hands and soles of feet (a few hand and feet lesions started showing up today)
- Sores and blisters on the buttocks of small children and infants
- Irritability in children and infants
- Loss of appetite
Symptoms that could explain Cameron’s behaviour:
- Headache
- Ear pain
- Sore throat
Symptoms that Cameron does not display or that I have yet to notice:
- Vomiting
- Painful oral lesions
- Oral ulcer
- Diarrhea
As you can see, Cam could very well have HFMD. And I can thank Dr. Google for listening to my complaints and giving me an adequate diagnosis.
Now here is the question: Do I go see a real doctor? Cam seems very uncomfortable and unwell, but according to Wikipedia, since HFMD is a virus, doctors rarely prescribe anything. It tends to run its course within a week. Only very rarely are there serious complications.
I hate being in this position. I hate having to second guess a doctor because my instincts just don’t jive with a doctor’s conclusions. Really, who am I to question a doctor? I am Mommy. And I know my son best. And I know that he is sick.
And what if Dr. Google is wrong? What if Cameron has something more serious?
I am going to keep trusting my Mommy-instincts and I will pay close attention to my child. If he seems to be deteriorating, I will go to a doctor again. I will insist that they re-diagnose Cameron’s illness and I will leave with a better understanding of what is going on with my son.
So, thank you Dr. Google for listening to a concerned Mommy. Thank you Dr. Google for taking my concerns seriously. Thank you Dr. Google for giving me a diagnosis that makes sense.
Say AHHHHHHH
Photo taken today.
9 months, 1 week, 3 days old
*I don’t really believe that walk-in clinic doctors are under-qualified. I completely trust going to any doctor in Canada.
Laura (@LauraORourke) lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia. A wife to Dan and a mother to Cameron, she spends her free time blogging, reading, and doing photography. Her blog finds it’s home at http://miraclesofamily.blogspot.com. You can find find her book reviews here and her photography here.
