Back to the hospital

I made a blog a couple of weeks ago about my 10 months old (now 11 months, actually) running a fever, stooling and vomiting. He was admitted and treated for malaria and gastrointestinal infection before being discharged 4 days after. We discharged with a recommended follow up check that was scheduled for today.

So, the day started well with my boy his usual bubbling and babbling and each member of the household planning for their day. Wife will go for the scheduled check, my toddler dressed for school, and I was preparing to go to a couple of places. The day took a new turn when my 11 months old started throwing up just after the mother washed his mouth with cotton wool while preparing him for the day.

He vomited 2 to 3 times and we all though he was just a bit irritated by the cotton wool used too wash his mouth. I told the mother to make sure she complain of the throwing up at the hospital. I actually thought it should something small. I was wrong.

I went about my way while the mother headed to the clinic. I got a called some time after that he has thrown up again about two times. This is becoming unusual. I drove straight to the clinic and that is how the doctor recommended him for another admission. We just got discharged about two weeks ago.

I am currently in the hospital, away from the ward because I could not just stand the sight of my boy's loud cry while the IV line is being set. Despite being treated extensively for malaria the last time, the presumptive diagnosis is another malaria. How possible this is, I really do not know. Except the parasite has developed resistance to the drugs used in treating it 2 weeks ago.

The line was set on one of his feet this time. A bit more convenient for the mother to carry and breastfeed him.

As they usually do in Nigerian teaching hospitals, several tests have been prescribed, including malaria, full blood count, and a couple of pathological test such as blood electrolyte, carbonate, potassium, etc.

It has been about 3 hours now since he last threw up. Nothing else is wrong with him apart from being moderately dehydrated. The body temperature is normal and there is no incidence of diarrhoea like the last time. Considering the emotional and psychological trauma associated with being admitted to Nigerian teaching hospitals, I have started consulting to see if we can be discharged today if nothing else comes up.

What actually could cause an 11 months old to be vomiting without diarrhoea nor fever? My curiosity returned a couple of results most of which has been summarized in this article by healthline. Out of all the likely causes of vomiting (without any other symptoms) listed, gastroenteritis looks quite applicable in this case considering the fact that he was treated for the same issue about two weeks ago.

Could it be that the pathogen was not completely eradicated by the treatment regime involving antibiotics and probiotics? Or could it just be an issue of drug resistance by the pathogen? Maybe it is even another thing entirely?

So many questions, yet, very little to no answer. I just hope that the vomiting that has subsided for a while now will be gone for good so that we will have a case to present for going home as soon as possible. Staying here is psychologically traumatising, economically draining, and physically exhausting.

Hopefully, I'll be able to return to my normal blogging in no time.