DS with breathing difficulties

[RuckAndRoll]

I've posted before about DS (12 months) and his chest problems. We ended up taking him to the Childrens hospital A&E last night after I picked him up from nursery and they said his chest had been bad the last hour or so and it continued to deteriorate.

DS is hacking coughing and struggling to catch his breath at alot of the time, including a lot during the drs examination. They listeded to his chest and said there was nothing to hear so he was fine and wait for an out patients appointment at the end of September.

He's back in nursery today and I've just spoken to them, his wheeze is now significantly worse so I've made an emergency GPs appointment for him in a hour. I don't know what the GPs can do for him, but have I done the right thing?

We did not feel reassured at all last night at the hospital and he's in such distress when he can't get his breath. Is there anything I can push for? I'm not very good at standing my ground and making a fuss so this is new to me

[Shallishanti]

if they don't suggest it ask if he needs a nebuliser (gives asthma drugs through a mask but the child doesn't have to 'suck' it in as with an inhaler)

[RuckAndRoll]

He has a salbutamol inhaler with a spacer but it's made absolutely no difference

[creekyknees]

Have they X rayed his chest?

I would be politely insisting they do one asap just to rule things out.

We were told Ds had a clear sounding chest by numerous Drs but was finally sent for an xray to reassure me because i was returning to the surgery every week, he was diagnosed with pneumonia at the hospital and admitted straight away for treatment.

Hopefully its nothing like that but at least you can rule it out.

[Shallishanti]

then I would say he needs a nebuliser
nb- am not a dr or nurse but had 2 dcs who had frequent hospitalisations with symptoms as you describe
for your long term reassurance- 1 is now completely symptom free adult, thr other has occassional asthma but well controlled- the hospitalisations stopped as soon as they were old enough to use a preventor properly
good luck, I know how exhausting and frightening it can be

[issynoho]

Back to A&E. Breathing in small children goes downhill fast.
If Blue inhaler 10x puffs (with 10 breaths each puff) makes no difference then he needs to be nebulised.

I once rang NHS Direct when DD's breathing was laboured (chest and throat recessing with effort of breathing) and they sent an ambulance. That's how seriously breathing is taken.

I have to ask (but you don't have to answer) - why is he back in nursery today if he was ill enough for A&E yesterday?

[RuckAndRoll]

Issy I didn't want to take him today but DH couldn't get off work. My office is right next to nursery, I trust them explicity and he's got 1 on 1 care today due to others on holiday. I've spoken to them multiple times already today and they know to call immediately if they need to.

creaky no x-rays at all.

ok so I'm not being over-panicky. I'll ask the GP about an xray. It's so hard seeing them in distress

[Sirzy]

What were his Sats etc like last night?

[RuckAndRoll]

sats were fine apparently.

Gp has said she can't do anything other than give him more antibiotics and that if she sends us to the hospital they won't do anything more than last night.