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Children's health

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Original poster

Is 51 breaths per min normal for a 4 yr old??

22 replies

ballroomblitz · 07/02/2012 11:04

Ds has a stinking cold that has got into his chest. He does have a weak chest and quite frequently ends up with it lingering for weeks and ending up on courses of Abs, steroids and inhalors. The past couple of days he has been coughing so much he has been sick. That seems to have passed but now it's constant coughing fits between bouts of sleep. He's not eating but I'm not too worried about that as he is drinking plently of fluids.

I noticed last night he seems to be breathing quite quickly for him. I just counted it there when he was asleep and it's 51 breaths a minute. Is that normal?

I do have an emergency appointment at the doctors with him in an hour. Should I mention it?

OP posts:
lukewarm · 07/02/2012 11:07

Of course mention it, why not?

If it was fast enough for you to actually count it, then it was probably fast! Doesn't necessarily mean anything other than he's a bit poorly though.

lukewarm · 07/02/2012 11:09

Just googled, that does seem very fast. Am assuming he's not struggling to breathe right now? So could mean asthma is flaring up at night, so you need to restart the relievers etc? Gp can advise better....

IHeartKingThistle · 07/02/2012 11:10

DD breathes fast when she has a chest infection. It sounds horrible doesn't it? We were eventually told she has virally-induced asthma.

Hope your DS feels better soon.

mousymouseafraidofdogs · 07/02/2012 11:12

seems very fast, of course mention it.

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 07/02/2012 11:14

No, that's not normal. It's about twice as fast as usual.

Definitely mention it.

Hope he gets better soon.

Original poster
ballroomblitz · 07/02/2012 11:17

Thanks everyone. I will do. Have never noticed it before with his previous bad chests so that's why I wondering. He is being kept an eye on for asthma (was a prem baby so I'm convinced his wee chest just isn't up to full strength) but I have none of his inhalor left. Hate seeing him like this. Wish I could take it myself :(

OP posts:
lukewarm · 07/02/2012 11:23

Whether its 'asthma' or just a viral wheeze etc, doesn't really matter. The symptoms are the same, and are what is treated.

Although, I have to say, since dd1 was diagnosed with 'probable asthma' (at age 2 or 3 since too young to actually diagnose for certain), and we've been using a long term preventer inhaler, we have had almost no problems around colds. Its been fantastic.

Original poster
ballroomblitz · 07/02/2012 11:33

Yes that's what I've been told - they can't diagnose until he's older. Had a dry wheezy type bark all the time as a baby which brought it to their attention. Find the damp cold weather makes it worse. First thing to help him is a holiday to the parents place in the sun twice a year.

The preventer inhalor sound like something to mention to the doctor. He's missing a lot of nursery because of constant coughs and I don't want it to continue next year when he starts school.

OP posts:
lukewarm · 07/02/2012 11:45

Unfortunately, we only got prescribed it after a fairly bad attack needing hospitalisation. Before then I'd been talking to the Gp, who didn't 'like' to label toddlers with asthma and so wouldn't give us anything more than the blue reliever we already had (the last conversation just a couple of days before her really bad attack Angry).

She is only on a fairly low dose of the brown preventer - 100mg beclomethasone twice a day via spacer- but it has made a huge difference. Maybe you could ask to try it for a couple of months (especially at this time of year), keep a diary of symptoms, and see if it helps? Obviously just because it's helped us, doesn't mean it'll work for you!

dikkertjedap · 07/02/2012 11:54

You may also want GP to check for whooping cough, many GPs seem to be unaware that it is becoming much more prevalent in the UK.

Sirzy · 07/02/2012 12:01

Its rare to get a diagnosis of asthma young but viral wheeze is treated the same way so I would push for preventer inhalers as when you get the right one it can make a massive difference.

Original poster
ballroomblitz · 07/02/2012 14:39

Thanks to all who replied. Currently sitting with ds on nebullisers, steroids and oxygen in casualty. Doctor thinks its viral and its a wait and see if they work so he doesnt have to be admitted

OP posts:
lukewarm · 07/02/2012 14:46

Oh bless you Sad. It's a horrible scary experience. I hope it is under control quickly and you don't have to stay overnight. Unmumsnetty hugs.

Sirzy · 07/02/2012 14:48

At least he is getting treated now. Hope your not in for to long.

IHeartKingThistle · 07/02/2012 14:50

You poor thing. Hope he's ok soon.

mousymouseafraidofdogs · 07/02/2012 14:57

hope he is better soon and you can get home with the right medications!

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 07/02/2012 15:25

Glad he's getting the treatment that he needs. Hope he picks up enough for you to go home.

Might be worth asking about the brown preventer inhaler too?

Original poster
ballroomblitz · 07/02/2012 16:52

Thank you. Unfortunately it will be an overnight stay. Discovered a chest infection as well as viral so needs IV antibs as well. At least he's in the best place now. So glad I went to see the gp when I did.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 07/02/2012 17:46

Is he still on oxygen?

lukewarm · 07/02/2012 18:00

Oh poor little fellow. How is he in himself? Is it a children's ward with the prospect of exciting toys when he's feeling better at least? Hope you get some sleep tonight x

dikkertjedap · 07/02/2012 18:36

He is in the best place, no matter how hard it is. Did they take a chest X-ray? Hope you can rest a little as well, so stressful isn't it? Hope he gets better soon.

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 07/02/2012 20:02

Well the iv's should get on top of things nice and quickly, might mean staying in a couple of nights though.

Where are you? Do you need anything?

If you're in The Childrens Hospital for Wales then I can pop in with any supplies (and vouch that the parents' beds are reasonably comfy!).

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