Five month old in hospital last night - very worried

[cannotbebotheredanymore]

My five month old had his last set of jabs yesterday at 3:30pm. We gave him calpol straight away and he was fine all day, eating fine, alert, his usual self.

At 1am he woke up and for some reason I had this urge to check his temperature. It was 38C. I gave him more calpol and then checked again and it was 37.6C. He then started making weird noises, almost like shouting but grunting at the same time. His tongue looked swollen and his lips did, too. It then sounded like he was struggling to breathe.

We called 111 and they sent an ambulance. While waiting for the ambulance his breathing got worse. It was like he was trying so hard for every breath, and after each breath he stopped breathing for around 3 seconds.

We called 999 and said we really really need an ambulance and they put it to highest priority and said they would stay on the phone until it got here.

During this time, his breathing got worse. He at one point he completely stopped breathing and looked like he was panicking and trying so hard. I had to jerk him to make him breathe. I was getting so panicked and it kept happening, he would just stop breathing.

The paramedics finally got here and they took his temp and it was 38.4. They stripped him off and took his observations. His oxygen was 100% but his respiratory markers were up and so was his heart rate. His chest was going inwards as he was trying extra hard to breathe.

However, he was alert and could grip well during this. I could wake him up from sleep straight away.

We went to the hospital and when we got there he was like a different baby. Happy, chatting, his observations were taken again and they were all fine except his temperature which was 38.1.

While waiting to see a doctor he drank 7oz of formula.

When he was examined; the doctor said he was okay. She said he had a reaction to the jabs.

We took him home and he’s been fine ever since. We haven’t slept in 30 hours so that we can both be there if something happens. The paediatric ward has given us access for three days in case we need them and said to monitor him over these days.

Today he’s his usual self, happy and chatty and laughing and sleeping and eating normally. Nappies are normal, too. His temp ranges between 36.7 and 36.9 which is good, right?

I’m just so scared because my health visitor said if he was struggling any longer he wouldn’t have had the energy to keep trying to breathe.

It was so terrifying, I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared.

I’m just wondering if anyone has any advice for what we do now as we didn’t get given much. We’ve been doing calpol every 6 hours and checking his temp. I’m scared to sleep.

Has anyone experienced this? It was the MenB vaccination he had. Luckily he doesn’t have any more until 13 months but this has definitely traumatised me and I’ll need a while to calm down.

My son had a severe reaction to his first MenB jab at nearly 3 months and we were in hospital for 4 days in isolation, as they waited for test results (over a weekend). He was treated as if he had meningitis as a precaution. The poor little thing had IV antibiotics through a tiny cannula several times a day - it was awful to see. It started the day after his jab. He became listless and out of sorts and developed a high-pitched cry. I knew immediately something was wrong. A family GP friend came over to see him and noticed a spreading petechial rash on his leg, and called an ambulance straight away. On the fourth day, the test results came back and the doctor told me it wasn't meningitis and was an "unidentified viral rash" and not connected with the MenB immunisation. A nurse told me (off the record) that I would be amazed at the number of babies they see with "unidentified viral rashes" after the MenB vaccine - and said it was definitely no coincidence, especially as DS has presented with classic menigococcal symptoms. My surgery were very cautious for his next jabs, and did the jabs separately as opposed to three on one day. A doctor sat in on his MenB second jab and we were told to be very vigilant and go straight to A&E at the first sign of any reaction. Thankfully he was absolutely fine that time, although it was a very anxious time.

Big hugs, OP. I know just how scary it is and how frightened and worried you must have felt xx

So sorry op, that sounds so traumatic and I really think your HV needs a lesson in tact and sensitivity!! We had to take DA in after the same jabs.

Possibly already been said but I'd stop the calpol and see if he maintains his temp.

Also sleep. Whether it's in turns or together waking up to check him if needed. You'll be more able to help him if you're able to steering two thoughts together x

My 5 year old had a similar reaction to his measles vaccine this year. Was terrifying. Within 12 hours he was much better but it was so scary at the time. It just sent his temperature sky high and, coupled with his asthma, his breathing got very hard and he was close to unresponsive. Horrible experience but the doctors were very laid back about the whole thing. I'm a bit concerned about his flu vaccine this year but I wont skip it. It was hopefully a one ofd

@gingerandsmall

pinkgin What research are you planning on doing? The research has already been done, that's why it's available on the NHS. Unless you're an immunologist, any 'research' you do is just googling.

Oh shut up please, I'm a scientist myself, I'm completely pro vaccination, my first DS has had all of them including extras like the BCG. But after experiencing my second sons reaction im worried about how his body responds and like any parent I want to make sure any vaccine I give him is suitable.