Really worried about my DS

[strawberrycornetto]

DS is 8 months old. He's recently started nursery and he's been unwell for about 2 1/2 weeks, with various cold/virul type symptoms. For the last week, he's been waking up at night coughing until he's sick. He's already coughed until he was sick twice since he's been in bed this evening. All day today he's sounded really congested, kind of like he needed to clear his throat, but all day. I could feel the noise through his chest, kind of crackly.

He was examined by a doctor on Wednesday for an unrelated reason and they said the cough was on his check but he wasn't wheezing. His cough has got gradually worse since then and particularly over the weekend. He did seem a bit better in himself today though.

I really want him to see a doctor but is it worth it or will they say its just a cold? Is there anything that can be done for a baby with a bad cough? He's had a few health problems (eczema, milk allergy) so I feel like I am always at the doctors and feel a bit scared to take him in again if they will think I am just being paranoid. I just feel so worried, like he's not thriving and I don't know what to do.

[PhantomOfTheChocolateCakeAvena]

You do need to take him back to the GP so that he can have his chest listened to again. Children of all ages can change so quickly. One day it might be just a cough that an turn into pneumonia within a couple of days. Is he feeding OK during the day? Excessively sleepy?
It may just be a cough but as I can't listen to your child's chest you do need to take him to the GP. You are not wasting their time, it's their job. If he's keeping down most of his feeds and is only vomiting once then the chances are he's not loosing weight (provided his apetite is OK). They won't think you are being paranoid. If his condition has changed then he needs taking back.

[wintera]

My 3 year old daughter has been ill on and off for a couple of weeks also, with exactly the same symptoms. She started with cough and sore eyes the first week, but the doctor checked the cough and it wasn't on her chest. She seemed to get better then last week started coughing again and for a couple of days would cough until she was gagging or vomiting. It was really awful to see so I can imagine what you are going through, plus your child is a lot younger too!

I took my daughter back to the GP last week and she gave her a thorough examination, and to my amazement found that she had a bad ear infection! Not once did my daughter mention her ears hurting so it never occurred to me! The doctor reckoned that my daughter's head was so full of gunk (yuk!) that it was making her sick to her stomach and thats why she was vomiting so much when coughing.

We were given Amoxycillin, and she has also been having Medanol or Calpol for her temperature. She is much much better now so I would definitely, definitely go to the GP and get him properly checked. Make sure they check his chest, his throat and ears. There are all sorts of bugs about at the mo, so its best to get him looked at. I always take my daughter to be looked at, and I couldn't give a monkeys if they think I'm a pain in the arse neither!!

[singyswife]

I had my dd at the gp on Friday with the same symptoms (after 3 weeks of having them). They gave her antibiotics because it had gone on so long. Medised (for 3 months plus) has a decongestant in it. Also turn the shower or hot tap on and sit in the bathroom with him. The steam will help to loosen mucus (make him sneeze and cough etc) and will generally help with breathing etc. Hope he gets better soon.

[singyswife]

Also my dd was being sick from the gunk in her chest and throat. Its nasty.

[3littlefrogs]

Phone nhs direct. They will talk you through the symptoms that are important: His breathing rate, his colour, whether he is feeding etc. They will advise you what to do next.

If you feel he needs to see a doctor, do whatever works best in your area - WIC, On call GP or A&E. Better to be safe.

[strawberrycornetto]

Thanks everyone. Wintera, that's really interesting. DH started out with conjunctivitis, which nursery said to take him to the doctor for. He has been touching his ear too. He hasn't had a temperature but then we have been giving him medised at night which could be keeping it down. He has been awake and sick again since I last posted but has settled now. I will take him to see dr first thing. I just hate him being so distressed.

[wintera]

Glad I could be of some help. It does sound very similar to what my daughter has had. She started nursery in September and seems to be picking up all sorts! She was never ill much before starting there, but thats the way it goes isn't it when they start mixing with groups of children!

The GP also told me to put an extra pillow under her head so its lifted up a bit more. That might help with the coughing. She also told me that the mistake a lot of parents make is to have the heating on in the house, or in the child's room, but that the warm air actually makes the cough worse. She told me to keep her room cool so as not to agrivate the cough more. Hope this helps you. Let us know how you get on at the Docs! Take care! : ) xx

[strawberrycornetto]

Hello. The doctor said its a virus and won't do anything until Friday . Its probably true but it makes me annoyed that they always make you come back.

DS also started nusery at the end of September and I guess its just one of those things. On a long term basis, its good for their immune systems apparently!

[minko]

A humidifier is really good for a persistant cough. We have one for DD, who has mild asthma in the winter. It really stops the coughing... does make the wallpaper peel off though! Try Argos, they are about £30.

[PhantomOfTheChocolateCakeAvena]

Your doctor wants you to go back because a baby/child's condition can change so quickly that they just want to keep an eye on your little one. They are just being thorough.

They do pick up all sorts from nursery, you can't escape this. It does get better though.

You can put a bowl of water under a radiator to add some moisture to the air. It's the same as a humidifier only free!