Just call 111

[WinnieMaudPeggy]

My 5 month old niece has developed a cough. It sounded a bit like the start of croup this afternoon so we got her checked over by the gp.
GP basically laughed at sister-in-law saying 5 month olds don't get croup. She is being over anxious and it will just be viral.
They went back home. She is progressively sounding worse but being soothed with a saline solution. At points it has sounded like she is really gasping for breath but my brother thinks there is nothing more can be done and they shouldn't call 111.
My sister-in-law sent me a message asking my opinion as she feels she should get checked over as she is definitely worse. This is their first child but I would always err on the side of caution. I would definitely have called and got her checked instead of waiting for things to get worse.

She’s 5 months old - Hospital

Just because they saw a GP - It doesnt mean they are right or that things cant change

If it was my baby gasping for breath I’d be calling 999 or driving immediately to A&E - forget 111. Anyone of any age struggling to breathe is a medical emergency and all 111 will do when you describe the situation is send an ambulance.

Get her checked again. Doctors in A&E would rather see 100 children that don't need to be there than have one get there too late.

I've rung 111 multiple times with my children. They're very helpful and go through triage at the beginning to determine whether you need hospital or just a call from a clinician. But honestly for peace of mind, I'd be ringing. It's a service there provided, take advantage of it. My twins boys have often been scary with coughs in the past and have rung when unsure. Most times we've been called back by a clinician whose given us helpful advice but then usually also referred us to a GP.
On another occasion though we were in fact referred to hospital and I was so glad we had rung!

Babies can get very sick very quickly. They are not like adults. I would suggest hospital straight away.

The youngest patient I have ever seen with croup was 5 WEEKS old. Unusual, but it happens. And croup is eminently treatable, most commonly with a slug of steroids. But sometimes in babies can need a lot more than that. It is also absolutely classic for it to be dramatically worse at night. This sounds like an A&E job. Now.

This 100%

A&E or 999.

Agree 999.

But just for future, I'd never be wary of calling 111. I've called them for my daughter before and children get prioritised.

I've also called it for myself before and have been pushed to front of the line at A&E.

This is the perfect scenario when "better safe than sorry" definitely applies.

It is also well documented that mother's have an instinct and should be listened to and they should listen to themselves.

Any news @WinnieMaudPeggy ?

No news, she woke and still sounded awful when crying but less so when feeding so they haven't done anything. I'm so frustrated but I'm not the parent.
I would have had her together checked out. I can't get my head round not getting checked.
I haven't heard more in a few hours. I'm hoping that they have seen sense but not messaged me as it is night time.

If my baby was struggling to breathe I'd go a&e. Think of how tiny her little lungs are. I hope they get her the help she needs.

Google the signs of respiratory distress. The sound of the cough will not be a sign of how poorly she is / what to do next

you need to be looking out for a high respiratory rate, sucking in at the ribs, trachea tug, head bobbing, flaring nostrils

My DS has croup at 4 months and then again at 6 months. They need to get baby checked out.

Anything to do with breathing get them checked.

Took my one week old to children’s hospital as we felt something was off and even the initial ‘triage’ team was quite dismissive of us, couple of hours later waiting around (being ignored as paranoid first time parents) and making them check him when sleeping (this is when we noticed the issues most) revealed that he had covid and oxygen was dropping to low 80%. He spent a week in hospital on oxygen although the first team would have happily sent us home.

This was in 2022 but the only people he had interacted with were midwife’s and us. DH and I both tested negative the full week.

Theres so much out there your always better to be safe than sorry please encourage them to follow it up, not every symptom might display or it might show differently in the wee one !

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/croup/

Send the NHS page to them. It says when to call 111 and when to call an ambulance.

Never let yesterday's doctor affect today's decisions. Doctors only see the patient at one moment in time, patients progress. Also any doctor can be incorrect at times.

For now whilst waiting for medical attention it's worth getting some oregano oil. It's potent antibiotic and antiviral

There's a list of symptoms you can check for when to go to A&E, and difficulty breathing is on the list for children.

www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care-services/when-to-go-to-ae/

Hospital. Always. I had one of mine in for a similar reason, I didn't even bother ringing the GP I wasn't happy with how their breathing was sounding so I took them straight in. This is why I hate the internet at times and specifically here. People have become so entrenched in telling (dictating) people to save the NHS don't seek help etc that genuine cases like sick babies are ending up with mothers terrified of seeking help. No healthcare worker will ever turn away a worried parent of a poorly child.

My son had croup when he wasn't much older. We went to A&E and they could help him quickly, he got better in an instant. They gave us medication to use when it happened again, but it never did (he's 11 now).