Mysterious red bumps

Last Wednesday Dean received his 12-month vaccines at an international hospital in Shenzhen. He was given the "5-in-1" which covers stuff like polio, Hepatitus A, and Varicella, aka the Chicken Pox shot. Even though it seemed like the nurse was slow as molasses, he took them like a champ and was soon charming the ladies at the front desk of the hospital.

On Thursday night Dean woke up in around 2 am running a fever of 101. A few little red bumps were appearing on his mouth and hands. After a very restless, little sleep night, Matt called the Dr. at the international health clinic where we are members and he made an appointment. Little D was clearly upset and drooling non-stop.

The Dr told us he believes Dean has the chicken pox, either due to the vaccine (like a flu shot, it is a "live" vaccine and contains a bit of a weakened form of the virus) or he was unlucky enough to be exposed to another kid with the pox around the same time he was getting the vaccine. Both seem unlikely to me, but by Saturday morning Dean's hands, feet, and several places on his head were covered in red bumps. He even had one on the top of his head!

We went back to the clinic on Saturday and the Dr. looked him over again, still sticking with his original diagnosis of the pox. We then had a very lengthy discussion about what we would do if Dean were to have a spike in fever or need medical assistance over the weekend.

What we would end of doing is having a car arranged to transport D to a hospital in Hong Kong where they practice western style medicine. The Dr. Told us that hospitals in Shenzhen that admit patients immediately start them on IV's, no matter what the problem might be. This in and of itself is not terrible, but seems unnecessary. He then told us that sometimes Mainland hospitals will refuse visitation rights, even by parents. That thought is terrifying to me.

Fortunately for us, by Sunday the little guy was already doing better and he hasn't seemed to notice the red bumps at all. It's nice to know we have the option of it, but I really hope we never have to experience an emergency commute to a Hong Kong hospital.