Fifth Disease

CHRONOLOGICAL AGE: 17 MONTHS
ADJUSTED AGE: 13 MONTHS
CURRENT WEIGHT: 15 LBS, 12.1 OUNCES

The nurse practitioner diagnosed Truman with Fifth Disease, which explains why he had high fever on the 21st, which was gone within 24 hours and then back again two weeks later. His fever today was 101. He also has a runny nose, an inflamed throat, and a rash all over his cheeks and some on his shoulders and chest--all of which are apparently classic Fifth Disease symptoms. It typically lasts 1 to 3 weeks.

The sore throat could explain some of his reduced liquid intake and why it has been really bad this week (less than two ounces on Jan. 1). However, I don't feel like the NP and the nutritionist really listened and understood how pronounced the liquid issues are and the fact that they are about six weeks old. (We didn't see the pediatrician). However, we did see the nutritionist that we don't like much because she doesn't seem to understand Truman's particular issues. She also doesn't really support long-term breastfeeding and said that a 13-month-old should be getting most of his nutrition from solid food, which based on all the reading I've done on breastfeeding and infant nutrition, is just not true for a breast-fed baby. My understanding is that it should be 50% from solids at most at this point.

We go back on Tuesday to see the pediatrician and for another OT evaluation. We'll discuss the liquid issues again then. In the meantime, we are going to try some of their suggestions for liquids and means to get them down him.

In good news, Truman re-gained the two ounces that he lost, so he's back up to the weight he was just before Thanksgiving.