Question: My son (3.3 years old) is experiencing an extended cough period which is now accompanied by a slight limp. He's been visiting relatives in China with his mother since mid-August and is scheduled to return to US in Thanksgiving. I have been back and forth; now in US since last week. When I was in China, he got noticably better - no cough and has great spirits. However, once I departed, his condition worsened to quiet a cough and fever (last week) which was treated with Children's Tylenol; the fever went away so mom stopped with the Tylenol. However, this morning mom called telling me that our son now has a limp (not walking straight) and he still has quiet the cough (congested cough). One other thing I noticed was his legs were severely stricken with bites; I confirmed that there were/are 'jumping spiders' that have been biting him - I killed most/all of them and smuggled some bug spray to assist (which is now all gone). His mom said the bites have gotten better but she has not taken him to doctor for fear of them in China. His mom gave him some herbal elixer I had brought from US for his cough but from the call tonight I can still hear he is congested. I advised her to take him to doctor and am STRONGLY considering shortening his stay in China - returning him to US this coming week. Any ideas or worries?

ok thank you. I have communicated the urgency to my wife and she will take him to the pediatrician first thing in the morning. Apparently there isn't one at night in the village she resides in. I have also looked into repatriating him back to the US, including my going to get him.

Thanks so much and I will alert you to the findings of the China doctors once they become available.

BTW - he has all of his vaccination but I am a little worried that he hasn't yet gotten the DPT booster because he isn't 4 (recommendation says get between 4-6 years old). I know China has all of these things going around, with those jumping spiders biting him - I wonder if he caught something or might be having complication. ... Anyway - I will keep you abreast as to what they say.

Regards,