Rant about taking care of sick kids,** UPDATED**

[Schfifty Five]

This. Kids get sick. Parents do their best to take care of them. Doctors don't give a shit about what you're talking about.

Only questionable act was taking what sounds like a pretty ill child into a public place like a restaurant. Be a man, tell them that was a stupid idea and ask them how their kid is doing and shut up about it.

I was going to say this. Seems like that was kinda dumb to take a young kid who is really sick out instead of resting at home.

Again, OP is just a nosy gossipy neighbor who likes to bury his nose into the lives of other people just so he can post about it here it seems.

 

[MarkXIX]

Good parents don't take their sick child out in the cold while they are having violent diarrhea.

Ummm...they might if the child is running a high temperature and they need to cool them off. I'm not exactly keen on placing a kid with diarrhea in a cool bathtub full of water, or even a cool shower if I can take them outside and let nature cool them off.

 

[ShawnD1]

Some kids get sick all the time. Having diarrhea for a couple days isn't a reason to run to the ER. Some parents try to let the kids get over stuff before going to the doctor.

Especially in the US. I wouldnt blow a couple thousand dollars on tests until i was reasonably certain the kid was dying.

 

[Theb]

Kids get sick. I'd call the pediatrician's office on the second or third day depending on how bad it was. I wouldn't go to the hospital for a stomach bug.

 

[waggy]

a 6 year old thats not in kindergarden yet? arnty 6 year olds in 1st grade?

no. depends on when they have a birthday.

 

[OutHouse]

Ummm...they might if the child is running a high temperature and they need to cool them off. I'm not exactly keen on placing a kid with diarrhea in a cool bathtub full of water, or even a cool shower if I can take them outside and let nature cool them off.

once as a kid 7 i think i got a really high temp like 105. my mom took me to our doc and the min they saw how high my temp was to take me in the back strip me down and start dousing me with rubbing alcohol. HOLY MOTHER OF GOD WAS THAT COLD!!!!

 

[waggy]

1st) after reading the OP's threads on things like vaccines i don't think you are one to be saying that anyone needs to call DCFS.

2) they took the kids to the hospitla. WHAT FUCKING MORE DO YOU WANT? oh gee it took 3-4 times to get the iv in? BOO FUCKING HOO. that happens.

3) a mouse? you are freaking out over a fucking mouse? guess what thats not uncommon or even a sign of neglect or them not keeping the house clean.

4) diarrhea is not a reason to go to the ER (well depends on how bad). you have no real idea how bad it was.


in short you have no real clue what the fuck is going on. so mind your own business.

 

[OutHouse]

Kids get sick. I'd call the pediatrician's office on the second or third day depending on how bad it was. I wouldn't go to the hospital for a stomach bug.

yup our family doc told us when our kids were little and puking to give them flat ginger ale. if they arent better in a couple of days then bring them in.

 

[waggy]

once as a kid 7 i think i got a really high temp like 105. my mom took me to our doc and the min they saw how high my temp was to take me in the back strip me down and start dousing me with rubbing alcohol. HOLY MOTHER OF GOD WAS THAT COLD!!!!

yeap. my limit is 103 then we go in.

but one of the things the doctor told us is cool baths, cold washcloths and they have patches you can put on them that help.

 

[BoomerD]

The OP has enough details about the family and the kid's illness that it makes me suspect this is family. Maybe a sister and her kids...

That might also explain why he doesn't want to actually discuss this with the parents, and instead, would prefer to just call CPS.

 

[lxskllr]

What's CPS supposed to do? Inflicting governmental bureaucracy on someone should be absolute last step considered, and is equal to a declaration of war. I haven't heard anything in this thread that warrants war, so keep it to yourself.

 

[waggy]

The OP has enough details about the family and the kid's illness that it makes me suspect this is family. Maybe a sister and her kids...

That might also explain why he doesn't want to actually discuss this with the parents, and instead, would prefer to just call CPS.

true.

Also i don't think the OP understands what CPS does. What does he expect them to do? either CPS will ignore the situation or it will be a nasty outcome (wich does not mean the kids were neglected or abused in anyway. cps is hte last government entity i would want in anyone life)

 

[ShawnD1]

once as a kid 7 i think i got a really high temp like 105. my mom took me to our doc and the min they saw how high my temp was to take me in the back strip me down and start dousing me with rubbing alcohol. HOLY MOTHER OF GOD WAS THAT COLD!!!!

LOL safety fail
Instead of giving this kid a cold shower or dunking his head in cold water, let's make him the world's biggest fire hazard.

Parents are actually warned not to use diesel or gasoline to remove lice from hair because a few kids have accidentally burned to death when some random thing sparks. It could be anything. My humidifier sparks when I unplug it; that's generally what happens when a 3A current is abruptly stopped.
(yes diesel effectively removes lice eggs. it dissolves what makes them stick to hair)

 

[Paladin3]

My 3 children have all had flu symptoms that included vomiting and diarrhea. With our first kid we spent a lot of time at the docs, but quickly learned that they just sent us home with the same common sense directions of Tylenol, fluids, rest, and the b.r.a.t. (bananas, rice, apple sauce and toast) diet to help combat the diarrhea. For kids number 2 & 3 we were far less nervous and took care of it ourselves. I don't think that made us bad parents.

We've also had our kids go through the sick at night and better during the day routine. If the fevers breaks, the kid perks up and the diarrhea seems to be under control, then it's very tempting to take them out for some fresh air after the kid has been stuck home for days. And sometimes the diarrhea or fever returns, so it's back to bed. It happens.

What you posted does not equal neglect or abuse, but you are really considering a call to cps WITHOUT EVEN TALKING TO THE PARENTS FIRST?!?!

What if nothing is wrong and some nervous social worker pulls the kids from the home for further investigation? It happens all the time. Later, nothing is found and the kids are returned, but they've had to suffer through being yanked from the home and put in foster care. Who wins then? How to you make a 6-year-old ever feel safe again after a cop has snatched them from their own home?

I know it is tempting to play protector of children on the Internet, but hopefully that is as far as you will take this. Keep your medical second guessing and speculations to yourself, unless you have some real evidence that you haven't posted so far.

 

[lxskllr]

LOL safety fail
Instead of giving this kid a cold shower or dunking his head in cold water, let's make him the world's biggest fire hazard.

Parents are actually warned not to use diesel or gasoline to remove lice from hair because a few kids have accidentally burned to death when some random thing sparks. It could be anything. My humidifier sparks when I unplug it; that's generally what happens when a 3A current is abruptly stopped.
(yes diesel effectively removes lice eggs. it dissolves what makes them stick to hair)

Diesel's barely flammable. You can put a match out in a cup of diesel. You can do the same with gasoline, as long as there isn't a vapor cloud over the cup. Alcohol is a perfectly reasonable way of accelerating evaporative cooling. There's about as much chance of something happening by doing that, as there is getting hit by a meteorite. That's assuming the people involved aren't brain dead, which I guess I can't assume.

 

[grohl]

I have quite a bit of insight on this subject.

Please PM me for more details if you want to do this out of public view.

My wife and I made a heart-wrenching decision to call CPS on her sister's family. We (were) very close prior to a series of dysfunctional events that took place within their family. The end result was a set of events where we were concerned for the welfare of their children.

We also consulted her mother, and I think 2 older brothers and an older sister, plus her in-laws.

What was very difficult for me is knowing that our relationship with them will likely be over for a very long time. Like I said, heart-wrenching. In the end the welfare of the children were what helped us make our decision.

Since the report was filed, CPS made a huge todo about it. They interviewed teachers and doctors. It has gotten back to us that the parents told these poor children that we were trying to take them away from them (the parents). I am sure they are confused and now hate us. Hopefully someday they will understand we did it in their best interest.

Best of luck, like I said, pm me if you want more detail.

 

[KK]

I have four children I went through the same thing with.

I am not some 21 year old that has never been around kids. I am 43 years old, have 4 kids of my own, 4 step kids, 12 grandkids and one more grandkid on the way.

12 grandkids at 43? any of these yours or are they from your wive's kids.

 

[nanette1985]

Don't know about where you live, but here in NJ child services are legally required to tell the people who reported them. And as Grohl says, they have to go through a huge number of procedures. It's a huge deal.

The kids get very badly damaged in the process. What makes you think that CPS is going to magically make anything better?

Obviously, this is my own experience.

 

[waggy]

~ EDIT ~

The kid is much better today, no vomiting or diarrhea.

oh look the kid is better without you destroying his family.

 

[NetGuySC]

I'm glad the op is not my neighbor.

 

[Sluggo]

Is this the same family you were complaining in this thread:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2186910&highlight=

Or are you just up in everyone's business?

 

[Schfifty Five]

Is this the same family you were complaining in this thread:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2186910&highlight=

Or are you just up in everyone's business?

He's up in everyone's business b/c he thinks he's better than everyone.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

I think the parent not taking the kid to the doctor when they are clearly sick, and instead taking them to a restaurant is worthy of an investigation. That's carelessness and neglect.

Bullshit. Kids get sick all the time. Diarrhea and vomiting for a day or two is routine. When my kid gets sick, I'm lucky it isn't coming out both ways at the same time. Heck, the last time he was sick I told my wife that I was going to try and coordinate the eruptions like those folks on youtube did with mentos and soda.

Seriously, people need to back off when it comes to allegations of child abuse and neglect. Taking a sick kid to a restaurant is hardly neglect, especially if it is an isolated incident. Does it totally disregard the health of the other restaurant patrons? Sure! But it is not neglect.

Of course, these situations often involve a sliding scale. If the kid's parents are off to Friendlies for a fribble everytime little johnny gets the sh!ts, maybe there is something legitimately wrong (either that or they are just trying to cheer the kid up). But if a kid happens to be sick and they take him a restaurant once . . . . hard to see how that is "neglect."

Also OP, what interest do you have in this kid? He/she doesn't seem to be related to you, so how are you so knowledgeable about what is going on in his/her life?

And FWIW, the only time my doctor requested a stool sample from my kid was when he was shit!ing pure liquid for 3-4 days and had a really high fever to boot. I'm not saying 1-2 days of diarrhea doesn't warrant a stool sample, but my own experience tells me that it is not always called for.

 

[CrazyAznDriver]

Every time I take my kids to the doctor 'it is a virus' nothing we can do... gets old after awhile. My son had a 105 degree fever a couple of years ago and and we got the same line.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Over the past few years there have been some events that made me scratch my head and say "wtf?".

Such as the dad leaving boards with nails outside, kid steps on nail.

My wife and I were over at their house about a year ago. While we were there, I saw a mouse in one of the kids rooms. The mouse ran into a hole in the wall that was about the size of a baseball. I thought to myself, "really?".

I might be a little over critical, but sometimes I ask myself what the parents were thinking.

Demonstrates a lack of common sense, not child abuse. If said dad were hitting said kid with said board full of nails, then you might be on to something. But none of the stuff you mentioned thus far has me saying OMGWTF! Look at those horrible parents! Chances are if you went back in time and watched how you raised your kids, you would see that you made similar errors in judgement.

As to the mice, people don't always live in perfectly sealed homes. There are houses in my town that are $750,000 and I can guarantee they have mice.