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Stiff Neck
Sent to Health Experts September 06 12:37 PM

Hi my 4 1/2 year old daughter out of the blue complained that her neck was hurting. She has no other symptoms and what was strange was that it was all of th sudden. I made her touch her chin to her chest and move her head side to side and it hurt. It later subsided (with no medication) and although although it her a little she felt a lot better. She is on her last day of taking antibiotics for strep throat and although it seems nothing like it she had Viral Meningitis a year ago... what could this be?

 

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Female , Age: 4

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September 6 12:47 PM (4 minutes and 25 seconds later)
         
Reply to 4ren6's Post: No fever and I am checking it regulalrly -- actually last time I checked under her arm she had 96 F this was at 10 am.
Well when she said it hurt yesterday she was crying with pain when I would ask her to sit up or touch her chin to her chest. After about an hour though she did the same thing (when I called her doctor) and she said it hurt "teeny tiny". I put some vicks vapor rub on it. She is in school today running around and I've been calling to see if she has complained about her neck and they have said she has been fine all day so far.
Yesterday I did get scared because she was crying when she moved it but other wise she was laughing with her little sister and eating and slept perfectly well last night.

What do you think?
THANKS!!!!
Answer
September 6 12:51 PM (4 minutes and 37 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark
It sounds as though it was/is nothing more then the ending effects of the strep throat irritation. This can cause the neck to be sore or hurt as she described. I would continue to watch her and check her temp. If she is at school today and doing well and does well tonight then she should be fine. If this should flair up or if she should start to have fever then you would need to call her doctor. But this does not sound to be of any serious nature and not cause for alarm on the meningitis. Let me know if I can further assist you.


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September 6 1:01 PM (10 minutes later)
         
Reply to 4ren6's Post: Thanks -- I'm hoping it is nothing -- but what could it be? Isn't it strange that it was all of the sudden? And also that she finishes her antibiotic for strep throat today-- isn't it too late for the neck hurting to be associated with the strep???

Please enlighten me!!! I'm really nervous because of her viral meningitis history... but without fever or any other symptoms it seems impossible for this to be it... right? Or is it normal for stiff neck to appear so much earlier than the fever   for meningitis?

THANKS
Answer
September 6 1:08 PM (6 minutes and 31 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark

No it would not be the meningitis history unless she has been exposed to it again. Fever would be showing as well with this.

It could also be that her neck is sore simply from the way she slept. As odd and funny as this may seem to a child it is something that does hurt and may be of no connection to the strep. She is just now finishing her meds and the strep bacterial are indeed still present. It may be that she may have to go on a second dosage if her sore throat returns and the sore neck may be an indication of this. Sometimes the right specific antibiotic must be taken to clear this up. If she is complaining of pain and discomfort tomorrow then follow up with her doctor. Do not ask her as soon as she comes in how her neck feels. Let her do her things and just watch how she acts. If you bring it up then she is more liable to say yes. Watch her for awhile and then ask her. Or if doing well say, it looks like your neck feels better now does it?. This will give you a better indication of her current condition. But this just sounds as though she has some strep left over or slept on the wrong side with her neck. Let me know if I can continue to assist you.




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