17mth old with chest infection not eating

[WorrisomeHeart]

Hi all

My 17 mth old DS has a viral chest infection (spent Monday night in A&E after his wheezing got really bad and he was coughing up bloody mucus). The doctor had his chest xrayed and he had a nebuliser dose and is now on a Ventolin schedule but not anti-bs or steroids at this stage. However, he's been refusing solids for the last couple of days and this morning didn't take much milk either. He's really snotty and obviously the cough is still bothering him, and I wonder if his throat is sore which is why he's avoiding the food. I'm just trying to figure out when we need to start thinking about going back to the GP or OOH WRT the food thing - is this a normal reaction to this kind of illness? He took 8 oz last night and then 7 at 3am but since then has only had about 3 oz and no solids at all.

Just keep pushing fluids, don't worry about the food. Ds has had a lot of chest problems and never eats when it is bad- when he was 12 months he went a week with no solids but hopsital weren't bothered when they got him drinking.

If your worried at all though then go to your ooh

Thanks Sirzy. Thats the way I was leaning as he was still taking lots of milk. I'll keep an eye on his intake.

I know it is hard but try not to stress about the not eating thing, if I ever have chest infection, or cough, I don't feel like eating either.
My ds had a chest infection a month ago ( still getting over it) and didn't eat anything at all for 5 days and then only one meal a day for a couple more. He was still taking milk and lots of water, so I got calories into him by giving him more milk than usual so he didn't lose too much weight.
Hope your ds is better soon

I have a very sickly DS and FWIW he is huge (100th centile weight etc)..eats like a pig. However, when he's ill, or coming down with something, he will not even entertain looking at food (sometimes not even being in the same room as it!) for days.It is heartbreaking and I can feel the weight dropping off him.
However, I have now learnt that its fine for them. They will drink loads and know what is best for their little bodies. When he feels better your DS will eat you out of house and home to compensate.
I give DS more snacky little treats when he's ill, the odd bourbon cream etc. Just to tempt him.
Hope he feels better soon.