Bronchiolitis

[hsanders]

Just wondered whether anyone had endured a 5 month old/young baby who had bronchiolitis? My DS has been ill for ten days now and cough is getting no better, still has temp [despite Calpol], not eating great, and right now is sleeping in his cot and all I can hear is hweezing.

Lovely nurse at the walk-in centre this morning said to go to GP to confirm Bronchiolitis on Monday, but he could have it for up to a year and that it's highly contagious for other children!

Great - as I returned to work two weeks ago and last week, my boss kindly, but through gritted teeth [understandably], let me work from home to look after DS.

What have you found that has worked?

Do any natural medicines work?

Please help if you can - any advice gladly received.

[kid]

there is lots of useful information here

HTH

[QueenEagle]

My ds2 had it when he was 8 months old. He was quite poorly though and was in hospital for a week on a nebuliser. I don't remember him being very poorly for very long though and I never heard anything like being contagious for that long. However, he did then attend the asthma clinic til he was about 3 and had an inhaler up til then too but he didn't seem to have it very often. I feel it was more a precautionary measure with him than him having any desperate need for it. Mind you he is 9 now so a long time ago!

Hope your little one is soon on the mend. It's horrible when they are poorly isn't it?

[NickyJB]

Totally sympahise - my DS had it when he was 3 months old. He was misdiagnosed by GP as chest infection! Ended up calling NHS direct who listened to his breathing and then called for an ambulance - all very scary. He was in hospital for 2 days but was fully recovered within a week. He's now 6 months old and hasn't even had a cold since. Friend's baby also had it and she is fine too. Poor little things just can't get the hang of bringing up the phlem! All they gave him in hospital was oxygen and calpol and raised his cot slightly to help him breathe. If you get more concerned about his breathing, go straight to A&E - very often with Bronchiolitis babies need some oxygen. Try not to worry though, im sure DS will be better before you know it.

[Carla]

dd2 also had it at 3 months old - was immediately admitted to hospital. Monitor her very carefully (as if you wouldn't!). DD2 stopped feeding completely, and the hospital ended up feeding her via a tube up her nose.

Your DS doesn't sound nearly as bad though - hope all turns out ok XXX

[lou33]

dd1 had it at 10 weeks old, she was hospitalised and on a nebuliser for a few days, but wasn't ill for more than about a week or so iirc (going back a good few years now)

[foxinsocks]

ds had it at 6 weeks (nickyjb, bronchiolitis is a chest infection). He was assessed at hosp but never kept in. The paed told us his cough would last far longer than the actual illness (and he was right - he carried on coughing for around a month) but after that, he was OK. He had another 2 chest infections in his first year and a few bouts of croup but other than that, he's as right as rain.

[hsanders]

Thanks for all your advice.

Have spoken with new boss today and she has agreed for me to work from 1.20pm until 8pm tomorrow only - and my husband has arranged to work until 1pm tomorrow. I have no family near so cannot rely on them and the mother-in-law always has a cold and smokes 40 a day so is always coughing!!! So we cannot use her services although she'd love to look after him!

I am probably being way too protective but he has been in bed since 7.30pm, Calpol assisted and he's coughed every 10-15 minutes. His conjunctivitis is still not going either so will definitely be at the GP tomorrow and make arrangements to see an homeopath who specialises in treating babies - if anyone knows one in Bristol, please let me know.

Thanks again for all your assistance.

[NickyJB]

Keep us update on how he is doing. Im sure he'll be much better soon.

Foxinsox - i thought that broncholitis was a virus. They initially gave me antibiotics for chest infection but when hospital diagnosed bronchiloitis they advised that antibiotics would be no good so i stopped giving them to him.

[LIZS]

Bronchiolitis is triggered by the RSV cold virus, and causes inflammation and narrowing of the tiny airways but can easily lead to a bacterial infection. It is contagious in that RSV usually causes a common cold in older kids and adults.

[hsanders]

Have been advised on another listing about dairy products during breastfeeding and whether I have any sinus problems may not help DS - funny about the sinusistis thing for me as I am off to the ENT clinic at hospital today as have had sinusitis for eight years. (one GP even told me to stop smoking - never even bought fags, never mind smoked them!)

Did not have dairy while breastfeeding as a)was off all foods/completely lost my appetite since 37 weeks until about one month after DS was born - hence fact could not feed DS properly and he lost over 10% of birth weight very quickly. So failed miserably at breastfeeding and moved to formula after 2 weeks.

b) normally, due to sinuses, did not drink milk but whilst pregnant craved for at least 3 pints a day of Organic semi-skimmed!!! So I had sinuitis all through pregnancy and maybe DS developed an intolerence whilst I carried him!

As for work, boss is not so understanding, which I understand as I only went back two weeks ago. So I have had to take holiday today and probably for rest of week as DH cannot get time off.

As for GP - he said he thinks it's not bronchiolitis but the beginnings of asthma so have given us ventolin so help him - did not do anything last night but I am sure it's going to take a few days!