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4 month old with suspected chest infection

19 replies

Heartburn888 · 06/04/2020 04:53

I suspect my son is in the latter stages of a chest infection or bronchiolitis

He was unwell and seems to have gotten a bit better except for when he breaths I can hear the mucus on his chest and I don’t know how to get him to get it up. I find myself coughing for him but he does not know how to do this obviously.

I have been giving him liquid to think the mucus and rubbing his back but he must be comfortable and I want to make him feel better.

He isn’t having difficulty breathing I have been watching his ribs and they don’t suck in it’s just normal breathing

Any ideas?

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SomeoneElseEntirelyNow · 06/04/2020 05:08

What liquid are you giving him?

If he's not struggling to breath and his ribs aren't sucking, i wouldn't be overly worried. KAEOI and carry on.

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twinnywinny14 · 06/04/2020 05:21

You suspect? Have you seen a dr? I would definitely think you need to with such a young baby

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Tomasinaa · 06/04/2020 05:33

Please seek medical advice with such a young baby. Does he have any other symptoms like a fever?

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Tomasinaa · 06/04/2020 05:35

Also using a humidifier, and cleaning out his nose with saline and suction can help him be more comfy but as I said, please talk to a medical professional first and foremost

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Heartburn888 · 06/04/2020 07:25

No fever, seems happy in himself just his chest

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BuddhaAtSea · 06/04/2020 07:31

@heartburn888 please take your little boy to see a doctor. Children notoriously overcompensate for a long time. Please, don’t be scared of hospitals and doctors, go have him checked.

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rottiemum88 · 06/04/2020 07:32

A lot of simple cough medicines for children can be given from 3 months. DS has been prone to chest infections since birth, with a couple of bouts of bronchiolitis and pneumonia at the back end of last year. The residual cough never quite went and the mucus definitely bothered him, but the cough medicine seemed to help move it down his throat I suppose? Worth a try

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rottiemum88 · 06/04/2020 07:33

P.s. the above would obviously not be an alternative to seeking medical advice

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SpillTheTeaa · 06/04/2020 07:39

My DS had bronchiolitis in Jan didn't go properly for 2 weeks it was horrible. Asda do a vapour bubble bath and that seemed to help my DS's chest aswell as his nose.

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SpillTheTeaa · 06/04/2020 07:41

The doctor I saw and of course all doctors are different was against cough medicines. He said the body is made to cough to get rid of whatever it is you're coughing up. He said they were pointless 🤷🏻‍♀️

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Gettingonabitnow · 06/04/2020 07:43

Definitely get him seen - mine had severe bronchiolitis and had her oxygen levels not been checked we would never known how bad it was. X

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rottiemum88 · 06/04/2020 07:44

The doctor I saw and of course all doctors are different was against cough medicines. He said the body is made to cough to get rid of whatever it is you're coughing up. He said they were pointless

But babies often can't "cough it up" because they don't know how? Nothing is pointless if it works to help someone and in DS's case it definitely did. Not through any active ingredient, but in the same way honey would work (which he couldn't have because he was under 1), it seemed to coat the back of his throat and help the mucus go down

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iano · 06/04/2020 07:48

My first had to be admitted to hospital due to bronchiolitis. Please call your GP.
I will say though they babies often sound more chesty and it might not be anything to worry about. What liquid are you giving him?

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ThePolishWombat · 06/04/2020 07:54

I concur with @Gettingonabitnow.
My 6mo is just getting over bronchiolitis. One night about 2 weeks ago, her cough got particularly bad, and she just suddenly took a turn. She went a weird grey colour and had to spend some time on oxygen in the hospital to help her maintain her own sats again.
Get her seen.

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Heartburn888 · 06/04/2020 09:05

I’m giving him sips of aired water and his normal bottles.

I will give them a ring. Might sound like a bad mom for posting on here rather than seeking medical advice but with everything going on I don’t want to unnecessarily expose my son to coronavirus.

I will ring the doctors now

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Pippinsqueak · 06/04/2020 10:00

What's aired water? I was told no water until 6 months of age just boob milk/formula

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Heartburn888 · 06/04/2020 14:17

Cooled boiled water. I have been advised it’s okay to give in sips but as long as it doesn’t replace a bottle feed as he needs the all important calories.

The doctor has advised that it sounds like he is through the worst of it and to keep laying him on his side if he struggling in the night and to keep putting baby vicks on to give him a bit of relief. Been to the Asda today and there was no vapour bubble bath.

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Pippinsqueak · 06/04/2020 20:28

I only asked as I was told not to give anything other than baby's milk in whatever form as anything else may cause them to aspirate and cause a chest infection but I didn't want to worry or scare you

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Heartburn888 · 06/04/2020 22:36

No it’s fine, no worry was caused :)

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