Patient's question:
A 1.5-year-old baby had diarrhea and vomiting two days ago and is now recovering. They received an injection and took medication. Today, they complained of chest pain, had an X-ray which showed nothing, but their white blood cell count was 21.8. What should be done? They have had chest pain for two days and are particularly irritable. The hospital said the white blood cell count is high and there is some anemia, but the child doesn't have a fever, isn't running a high fever, and isn't coughing.Previous treatment and effectiveness: No specific treatment was given.
Help needed: Wants to know what caused the high white blood cell count. The baby cannot receive injections. What medications can be taken?
Urgent, thank you.
Doctor's answer:
From your description, the child's condition should be considered acute gastroenteritis, and acute gastroenteritis itself can lead to elevated white blood cell counts. Regarding chest pain, it is likely caused by stomach spasms... If vomiting is severe, it is recommended to temporarily fast for a period of four to six hours, and absolutely no medication should be taken. The purpose is to allow the stomach to rest fully, which will aid in complete recovery. If the child is extremely thirsty, they can drink a very small amount of ginger and brown sugar water, which can help alleviate nausea and vomiting. If drinking water does not trigger vomiting, they can drink small amounts of water multiple times. Never drink a large amount of water at once, as this can further irritate the stomach and intestines, leading to further vomiting.