Roseolla

We had a good run. We managed to go 13 months without sickness, and then it came full force.

Day 1 Thursday: Cameron started running a fever of about 101. We actually had to search the house for our thermometer since we hadn't needed it up until this point. As the day progressed Cameron just became lazy and sleepy. Thursday was just a teaser.

Day 2 Friday: On Friday Cameron could no longer hold his head up and food became a thing of the past. Not my child. Remember the kid who licked every block in the pediatrician's office? He didn't even want to be put down in the waiting room. My pediatrician said it might be viral but it may also be strep but it could also be tonsilitis. I'm pretty sure I could have come up with that same damn conclusion courtesy of WebMD. At this point Cameron's fever started reaching 103, and he had to be soaked in the tub and cool compresses to get it back under some reasonable number. I woke him up every three hours to give him medicine and nothing was helping.

Day 3 Saturday: On Saturday Cameron sat on my lap and let the tears run down his face while watching Super Why. All day he was totally lethargic and didn't want to move from Brian's arm and the recliner. That night Cameron's temperature shot up to 104.3 and he cried the entire time we were soaking him in the tub. Panic mode. At this point I'm debating whether or not to bring him to the emergency room. The nurse from my doctor's office was a little too laid back. "Just give it time." Wow. Can I please get a diagnosis??? At 3am I went to take Cameron's temperature and finally some relief.

Day 4 Sunday: On Sunday his fever magically disappeared. My confidence went up until I saw his neck. He developed a rash all over his body and spreading to his face. Allergy? Scarlet fever? Something I don't even know about? The nurse said, "Just give it time." I need to change my career. I can sit on a phone and tell someone to sit their ass at home. She assumed it was scarlet fever caused by strep even though he tested negative for strep.

Day 5 Monday: On Monday, I was back in the doctor's office to get Cameron checked out. Nothing creeps out other parents more than a child with a giant red rash covering his body. The doctor walks in with a book which looks like an encyclopedia with pictures. I need to buy this. "It's probably Roseolla." Great. My child is now contracting diseases only found on the Oregon Trail game. Apparently it isn't that uncommon, and the only true way to diagnose it is by the rash that forms after the fever disappears. I'm posting a few pictures below. They don't do this rash justice at all. He looks like a speckled Easter egg.