This is a lesson I have been trying to impart to my children for years. I am sure other parents out there can relate to the seasonal bug bites and the all to familiar words that come out of the parental mouth, " I know they itch, but DON'T scratch them". Well, my children will likely think twice before scratching those itchy bites again! How did I accomplish this great parenting feat, you ask? Well, before I begin, let me say, I hope your kids don't have to learn the lesson this way!
Our story begins two Fridays past when my 12 year old son, Jared, comes to me to show me 2 bug bites that are really bothering him. I persuade him to lift up his shirt to inspect bug bite number 1, just above his waistline.
"Ohh", I say, " Have you been scratching this?"( rhetorical question, mind you).
" It was really itchy", was the innocent reply.
"Where is the other one?"
He reluctantly unzips the jeans to reveal bug bite number 2, just below the waistline.
This one was even more swollen! But, keeping the motherly calm in check, I replied," Let's get some Neosporin and band-aids on these right away, and I will check on them in the morning."
After all, I was raised to view Neosporin as a cure for just about any scrape or cut. And, in all fairness, it does usually live up to these high expectation.
So, we sat down, along with most of the country( o.k. world), to watch the much anticipated Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics. I brushed aside my child's lack of appetite for his dinner as nothing more than the frequent pickiness of a 12 year old boys appetite. Big mistake.
The next morning, with Jared still not feeling well, I took a second look at those bug bites and decided it was a definite trip to the Urgent Care/ER ('cause where else do you go on Saturday?).
Sure enough these bites were infected. My husband and son returned with two antibiotics and a huge Slurpee( well deserved because he got a shot of antibiotics in the rear before leaving the ER). And we thought we were on the mend!
It wasn't until Monday afternoon when my fish of son didn't want to go in the pool on the hot summer afternoon that I began to suspect there might be trouble.
" Let me see the bug bites", I said as he sat poolside, shirt still on.
He reluctantly obliged.
The first bug bite had a head on it the size of a pencil eraser(not the kind that come on the pencil, no, the cap kind that you put on to replace the too small one they come equipped with). So, I began to think maybe this was a venomous spider that bit him, because this is certainly not what I was expecting after a full two days on antibiotics! I was not however, ready to run to the doctor. That is definitely not my MO. I reassured him that it wasn't that noticeable(figuring vanity was the most pressing reason he was avoiding the pool)and that it would likely pop at some point( hey,I didn't want him to freak out if it started oozing), and we should keep an eye on it.
Well, by Tuesday night bite # 1 had popped and looked somewhat better, but bite #2 looked scary!? (no head on it but swollen and red, almost like a bruise). It was enough to make me certain that a follow up trip to the doctor was necessary.
We made an appointment to see a pediatrician the next day. My husband took him in at lunch time, and then I got the call. They were headed to the ER, apparently the thing had abscessed and the antibiotics were not helping. They were going to have to drain it on the ER! Yuck! This time they were off to Children's Hospital, rather than back to Alvarado( I should mention that the ped. was surprised the ER let him leave with out draining it).
I went about my day, heading up to pick up Madeline from school, figuring they would be home,with another big Slurpee, when I returned.
Well, I was wrong! On my way home, I got a call from my husband. They were admitting him to the hospital to surgically drain the abscess! This was a lot to take in. I went home, made dinner for the other 3 kids, packed a change of clothes for Jared and headed out. In the meantime, at around 8:30 p.m, the ER became available and Jared had his 1rst surgery!
I arrived in time to to join Jon for a post Op conference with the surgeon. We found out that the second bite was not a bite at all. The infection had spread to his lymph system and the swelling in his lower abdomen was the result of this secondary infection! After another 24 hours at Children Hospital, IV antibiotics every 4 hours, the knowledge that this was a MRSA(methicillin resistant staph aureus) infection that likely, but not definitely, resulted from a bug bite, and a lesson in changing the dressings and unpacking the wounds, we were finally discharged. With, of course, another prescription for antibiotics(a stronger and less common variety this time).
I leave this experience with a few notable lessons!
1) I will even more faithfully apply neosporin to every scrape, cut, and bug bite my family gets.
2) Children's Hospital is incredible! And, I will not take my children anywhere else. - I think Children's needs to be added to my list of things I love about being back in San Diego.
3)head to the hospital if you have unexpected swelling and redness, this stuff can kill people!
4) Although I initially was not thrilled that my son had to have surgery, I am so glad he did! There is no way they would have done such a tidy job in the ER! So, my last lesson is that a good surgeon is a great blessing.
I am so thankful for our family and our friends( many of whom I consider family) who stepped in and helped us out with everything from lunch( and tips on the game of Risk) to helping out with picking up and/or taking care of our other 3 children.
Well, in conclusion, an update on Jared's recovery at home... We had a good number of laughs(hey, don't judge, sometimes it is best to find the humor in the situation)over the procedure for taking care of his "open dressings" on his wounds. Essentially I had to remove 8 inches of the gauze, that had been packed in the wound following surgery, each night. I kid you not, it looked like I was pulling a tape worm out of my sons abdomen! Thankfully, we are done with this part and he seems to be healing well!
In addition, I should mention that we have all been cleared of any contamination of MRSA bacteria, so you need not worry about socializing with us( besides I have been told that the stuff is everywhere! Comforting thought, isn't it?)
We are hoping that this is the end of the medical excitement for awhile! As great as our experience at Children's Hospital was, as I told the night nurse when she came back on duty Thursday night, " Don't take this the wrong way, but, I was hoping not to see you again!" It is my sincerest hope that I will never again have to spend a night in Children's( or any other) Hospital with one of my kids. But, in the event that I do, I am glad to know that we will be well taken care of.
