Crackles in lung

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

DD (5) has just been given antibiotics for her cough. She started with a cold which got better then just became very off colour and was crying at school -she has a terrible sounding cough now but seems happy and her usual self, just a bit quiet and below par, and is still eating a LOT. Temperature is normal.

The GP could hear crackles at the base of one lung. It was my understanding that that meant a serious infection/pneumonia..but yet she seems OK?

Just not sure how long to keep her off school etc and how much rest she should be having.

TIA

it complicates things that DD can't speak to tell me of any symptoms she is having so have to do a lot of guesswork.

anyone?

When ds had a lung infection there was no crackle heard with a stethoscope - it was only finally picked up on an x ray. He was very very ill, temp 40 with calpol and nurofen, not eating, delirious, weak etc.

Imo you would know if it was a serious infection. Id keep her off the rest of this week maybe? Let her rest and recover but you cant MAKE a kid rest, they know their own limits i think.

Thanks, yes, she doesn't seem that ill, she was much more ill recently when there were no crackles heard but she had high fever and lethargy, off food etc.

It's a mystery! :)

Will keep her off tomorrow, and see how she is, Friday is a half day here and she loves the things they do on a Friday.

She is already getting her bounce back a wee bit I think!

Could it be asthma? My dd, 2.5, was just in the emergency room after the GP heard crackles at the base of her left lung. They took an xray, which was completely normal, and since she also had wheezing and was using her accessory breathing muscles, they put it down to an asthma attack caused by a viral infection.

Crackles is different to wheeze. It also does not necessarily mean serious infection. If she's OK in herself then I wouldnt be too concerned.

I do hope she gets better soon!

Oh for school etc I'd just go by how she is. If cough is settling, and she is Ok then I'd send her to school. If she's tired and unwell then keep her at home and have a quiet day. I'd say that by Monday, after 48hours of antibiotics, she should be well
On the way to recovery.

My DD is an asthmatic who frequently has infections, she is on a permanent antibiotic to try to counteract them. She often has a crackle in her lung but is often OK in herself when her lung is crackly. The docs only become more concerned when her breath sounds decrease in her lung as that is a sign that something more serious is occurring.

thanks..just seen all these replies!

Decided to keep her off today too and was glad I did as by 10am she was sobbing and needing to sleep, then this afternoon we saw a huge turnaround and she was a lot better and ran around for first time this week (very unusual, she is lively!)

Seems the antibiotics took a good 2.5 days to kick in!

Thanks for all your advice :)

It is my understanding that 'crackles' means pneumonia. Pneumonia can be accompanied by fever, and serious cases often are, but you can also have pneumonia without fever. Nowadays pneumonia is often treated at home and GPs usually closely monitor the patient by requiring the patient to come in every 2-3 days to check if the anti-biotics are starting to work. If not, another type of anti-biotics might be prescribed (although pneumonia can also be viral). Anyway, it is very important to complete the anti-biotics and I would make another appointment with the GP if you have not already done so, to check whether the crackles are still there. Pneumonia responds well to treatment but needs to be taken seriously.

Thats what I thought,but GP didn't seem concerned and just said to go back if we were worried or she got worse.

How odd ... I think I would play safe and maybe see another GP at your practice and ask to check whether the crackles are still there. Out of interest, which a/b did your GP prescribe?

Just amoxicillin.it does seem to have worked, DD is much better than she was, although not 100%

The GP said she would probably be Ok for school on Monday

Amoxycillin is used as a first line defense (so it is not one of the really heavy duty anti-biotics used for the more severe cases of pneumonia). Maybe he wasn't really sure what he was hearing and prescribed it out of caution. If she is okay I would let her go to school and make a follow up appointment for next week. If she does not seem right, I would keep her home and try to get an appointment for Monday.

Yes am going to see how she is tomorrow, don't want to send her to school at less than full power.