To take baby to hospital and demand an answer

[notsurewhattodo7]

Hello

Regular user but changed names.

Baby is 7.5 months old and nearly 3 weeks ago, she started coughing, nose running etc. she also cut her 2 bottom teeth around the same time. We started calpol/nurofen, baby Vicks, humidifier, snot suction etc.

Within 3 days her cough was so bad and she was taking less than half of her usual feeds so I took her to GP and they listened to her chest, diagnosed RSV and sent her to paediatrics to be checked over.

Her oxygen levels and temperature were fine at the hospital, they monitored for 6 hours and sent us home with an instruction that if she had dry nappies etc to bring her back up.

A few days later, her chest was vibrating, you could feel it when holding her so DH took her back to GP who started antibiotics as she said the infection had moved lower and was now a chest infection.

5 days of antibiotics, cough went but still wheezy and rattling chest/snotty nose and unhappy.

30th December, called 111 again as she was so unhappy, no calpol or nurofen seemed to help and just a feeling that something isn't right. They sent us back to paeds, they listened to her chest and told us she should never have been given antibiotics and it's still RSV and will improve.

It's now 2nd Jan, still really unhappy and crying/fussy most of the day which is not like her, she's always been such a happy and content baby, snoring, hates being laid flat, sleeping more than usual, chest still sounds like it's rattling and hasn't had a poo in 2 days which isn't like her.

I'm so worried that something is being missed. I hate seeing/hearing her like this. We've got the humidifier running all night, calpol is still being used, she's pale and her eyes have dark rings around them but I feel like if I take her back to GP or hosp or call 111 they are going to think I'm an absolute pest, overprotective first time mum and not listening to them that it's "just RSV".

I'm worried she has pneumonia or something more serious and I can barely sleep at night.

What would you do in this situation?

antibiotics won’t do a thing for RSV - because it’s a VIRUS

But yes ask about an inhaler

Absolutely see a doctor somewhere today. Babies can decline so quickly and she has been ill for a while.

I haven’t RTFT, there is an App by the Lullaby Trust which is absolutely brilliant for this- worth any new parent downloading.

RSV is horrible and can take a good few weeks to get rid of. Sounds like she's on the mend as he breathing is better. I'd recommend a GP call, lots of steam and lots of getting outside in fresh air. However, I'm not medically trained, so just going on my own experiences with my kids.

Yes if you're concerned get her seen, I'd try GP first. A&E won't make attempts to diagnose if it's not an urgent issue, as her oxygen levels etc are decent and all other observations they won't admit her because she doesn't require immediate intervention; not to say she doesn't need examining and more thorough tests etc to determine what's wrong, but this is via GP and then referral rather than A&E. If you don't get anywhere with the GP then of course go to A&E if it's the only option but I'd phone 111 first and see if they can book you in rather than waiting what could be a long time with a poorly baby.

It is horrible having an unwell child, RSV can be especially nasty and linger on, antibiotics can also cause all sorts of digestion issues so please do follow your instincts. DS was in and out of hospital on oxygen when he was small and it was so frustrating not getting any investigations into why or any preventer, it wasn't until the GP referred to paeds outpatients that we managed to get answers and medication.

Better safe than sorry - if you think there’s something wrong, definitely get her seen. If it makes you feel better in the interim, my little one was hospitalised with RSV in November when she was 2 weeks old (😭) and even now she still sounds a little congested at night, I think it can take ages for them to fully recover once the most alarming symptoms have gone!

RSV is horrible and seems to last for ages. My baby had it at a similar age and she was vomiting after every meal for ages but likely
the antibiotics (she had a secondary infection) contributed to that. She got super skinny and I was worried more about the vomiting in the end than the chest. I had a couple of follow/up gp visits as was worried but it seemed like something we had to ride out.

Def take her to the GP if you can get an appointment, the vomiting every feed is an issue

What kind of humidifier is it? Please consider not using it. Most of those work by creating tiny droplets of water and blowing them into the air. This isn't the same as water evaporating, because it pushes all the chemicals in the water (so things like minerals if in a hard water area, microplastics etc.) into the air too, for your baby to breathe in. This is completely unnatural, your lungs should not be inhaling these droplets of water full of other substances. They have caused serious issues for some babies and adults, and are a relatively new technology. Ditch the humidifier.

I would get her seen by a doctor today. Try GP first and if no luck, then yes. I would go directly to the hospital.

Your GP should see her today as she is under 5. Maybe go to a different hospital, is there a specific children's one near you they are often better for little ones.

Just to reassure you, I've 4 kiddos (2adults now) and I've been so convinced many many times the docs have it wrong and they were absolutely right. Out of the 1000s of gp/hospital trips only once did they get it wrong and misdiagnosed glandular fever and tonsillitis as a cold. So its always worth going back, and if anyone ever tells you you're overreacting as a first time mum then knee them in the..... oh sorry, I meant take no notice 😉

Oh and be mindful she might not have a fever as it can be masked by calpol ect. Take temp towards end of the 4 hours to be sure x

How strange this has come up because the dates are the same for me. I went to hospital after Christmas a few years ago, I wasn't well at all, they told me I had a chest infection and gave me antibiotics sent me home. I wasn't getting better dh found me in bed New Year's Eve when checking on me on all fours with really bad pain in my sides I thought it was trapped wind . Went to the hospital and it was pneumonia, I nearly died and I'm not saying that lightly , I was rushed into isolation and put on oxygen etc , I should never have been sent home with antibiotics. Please bring your baby back do not be afraid of putting them out ! She is the most important person in your world ! Hope she's ok

I would get her seen. In my experience, most medical professionals rather parents were over than under cautious with a little one. Hope your little one feels better soon - it’s so awful when they’re poorly

Lots of little ones like this at the moment. Recovery can take many weeks. However, a GP review is appropriate.You can discuss the vomiting(although this often goes hand in hand with respiratory infections) A weight recording would also be good. You will at least have the satisfaction of knowing she's been examined. Never feel you are a nuisance, when you are seeking help for your child - that's your job. I hope she's better soon.

Op no one will think you are a pest.
Illness especially in small children is a fluid free flowing situation.
Some children will have got better and you are quite within your rights to keep checking your dd is OK because she's still struggling..
I went to docs years ago with breathing issues / cold dd and given steroids and stuff...the following day I had to rush her to a and e.

I would take her to GP to be checked over again however it really is normal for viral symptoms to continue for weeks in babies and small children, as miserable as it is.

I agree, this can lead to dehydration. And quickly.

I'm sorry you were so poorly but a chest infection is pneumonia- and antibiotics is the treatment. Obviously you deteriorated but that doesn't mean that the initial plan was wrong.

Op do you have your own oxygen monitor for finger.. Maybe worth getting one

Did you start weaning at 6 months? Some of these symptoms could be food allergy which could coincide with the rsv

Please take her back to be seen if you feel something isn’t right.

Babies can be very poorly with RSV and I’ve experienced this twice with my 15month old. I went back to hospital the following day after being discharged with RSV after a few hours of observations because something just didn’t feel right. A few hours after we arrived he was showing signs of sepsis and treated as such. Our hospital is fantastic but if I hadn’t have taken him back as I felt like he wasn’t right I dread to think what could have happened.

Go back to hospital and ask them to swab her for RSV and other viruses, and they should also swab for bacterial infections such as strep A.

They should also do a chest x-ray.

The reduced fluids and vomiting after meals is a red flag. Please trust your instincts.

I have a weeks of hospital stays with RSV with an otherwise healthy baby, including tube feeding. ‘Just’ RSV is a perfectly good reason to take a young baby back to hospital. You might also find a baby Oximeter helpful but I would definitely take your baby in again in your circumstances and I’m a relaxed ‘kiss it better and have a wet paper towel’ sort of mum.

I would take her back to GP in person, I don't have kids but I know from friends that things can change very quickly.