4 year old ill with same symptoms every couple of weeks

[ActonBell]

Wasn’t sure where to ask this - sorry if this is the wrong place.

Can anyone help? I’m really worried.
Just turned 4 year old DS had a temp, vomiting, coughing, fast breathing, wheezing in mid-July and was hospitalised for a night because his oxygen levels were low. Covid test negative. Diagnosed with post-viral wheeze and sent home with a blue inhaler to use as and when. Too early for a diagnosis of asthma apparently.

About 2-3 weeks later he had the exact same symptoms. We monitored his breathing and managed it with inhaler/calpol. He had a week off nursery. Covid test negative.

Now he’s got the same symptoms again. So that’s three times between mid July and end of August. Covid test negative. The only difference this time is he’s had a bit of a runny nose as well.

DH took him to the GP after the second time and they basically said ‘that’s kids for you, it’s viral’. They said we could try an antihistamine to help with congestion, which doesn’t really seem to be a major symptom anyway.

I’m having a bit of a (perhaps unnecessary) panic now that there’s something underlying that’s really wrong.

Should we try the GP again? Or is this just to be expected given relaxation of restrictions and more viruses spreading around? We’re very cautious as I’m pregnant and high risk so we don’t really go anywhere indoors still but he does go to nursery.

I’m just worried because it’s the same every time and to have a temp/breathing issues so often seems unusual.

He’ll be starting school in a couple of weeks and if this continues he’ll have to stay off every other week!

Really grateful for any advice.

Bump.

Hi OP I don't have any specific advice but thought a reply would bump your thread.

If you haven't already, I would start keeping detailed notes specifying the exact date his symptoms start, what they are, what meds you're giving him, how long symptoms persist etc.

Kids are like little virus incubators at that age but you should trust your gut if you feel something isn't right.

Is there any chance you could maybe consult a private paediatrician?

I think when you go in next time you have to spell it out for them. Plus yes viruses are common in kids but it's the wheeze. Strange they didn't diagnose him, my son was diagnosed at 4 with asthma and we got inhalers. Best of luck OP, hope it gets sorted quickly

It's not too early for a diagnosis for asthma. My DC was diagnosed at the age of 4.

Have the GP or hospital ever prescribed steroids for breathing difficulties? Does the inhaler make any difference?

It's difficult, because chest infections etc can last a long time. My eldest DC had issues like this on and off until he was diagnosed with asthma and treated properly. He needed antibiotics and steroids for every cold from six months old.

OP I had this on repeat when I was young. It turned out to be allergic reaction to food we were eating on rotation. It may well not be that for you but putting it out there just in case you can think of a common food denominator...

Are you doing pcr or lft tests

I had a winter like that with one of mine, he was hospitalised 2/3 night each time 4 times between Sept and
March, had a brown inhaler for a bit then it was withdrawn and no issues since.

Viral wheeze.
It's possibly just the number of viruses going around and not quite getting over one when the next hits him.

@FightingtheFoo - thank you. That’s a really good idea about keeping notes. We will do that from now on. I think a private consultation is probably outside our means at the moment.

@stayathomer - the hospital said they would want to see more of a pattern over time before diagnosing and the GP said they wouldn’t formally diagnose until 5. I think that must be wrong though because as you say other kids are diagnosed earlier.

@PepsiHoover - thanks. The inhaler does make a difference to the wheeze, cough and his breathing rate. He had steroids I think in the hospital and they helped loads too but we just had the inhaler to go home with.

@user1477249785 - thank you. That’s a really good point. He is under the allergy clinic because he’s had an egg allergy from 6 months old but that’s been getting progressively better. We did wonder about that because we have a bit of a family history of allergies. I’m going to talk to the doctor at his next allergy appointment.

@Branleuse - he’s had 3 pcr tests poor love, all negative.

@Lockdownbear - poor you and your little one! I guess it may just be one of these things that we have to get through. I’m a bit thrown I think because this seems like more of a winter thing but viruses are probably circulating differently at the moment because of lockdown and opening up.

We definitely think the cough/wheeze/breathing is the key issue. The vomiting seems to be because of the amount of coughing.

I’m so worried he’s going to miss loads of school and I’m constantly second guessing whether we should take him to A&E. We’re operating on the basis at the moment that if we give him the inhaler and it works for a sustained period of time we’re okay to stay home but if it ever didn’t work or worked only briefly we’d take him in. His oxygen sats were high 80s/low 90s when he was in in July.

Waiting for a call back from the GP today.

GP won’t do peak flow until he turns 5 because it’s not reliable enough apparently.

We have a renewed prescription for the inhaler, some different antihistamines to try and more guidance on when exactly to take him to hospital. Wish there was more we could do but that seems to be it for the moment.

Part of me thinks I should book another GP appointment for 3 weeks from now in anticipation of it following the same pattern. If we don’t book ahead we can only see the locum and it’s a bit hit and miss. Then again, I don’t want to waste an appointment we might not need.

You should book it - you can always cancel it with 24 hours notice if you need to.