Ds has pneumonia [sad] and I thought it was just a cold.

[AbbyLou]

Ds has been up and down all over Christmas with a cold and a cough. He's been ok in himself so didn't think it warranted any investigation. Over the last few days he has been complaining of a 'bubbly tummy' and has had literally no appetite - very very unusual for him!! He eats loads!
Yesterday morning he woke up covered in a horrible itchy rash that looked like an alleric reaction. I gave him some Piriton but it had no effect. Phined drs - no appointments until at least tomorrow afternoon so I took him to the walk-in centre who were brilliant. The Nurse said defintiely allergic reaction but we couldn't think of anything he'd eaten or been in contact with that was different. He was coughing a lot while we were there so she said she'd give him the once-over. He had no temperature and his oxygen was 98% but then she listened to his chest. I could tell by her face that she was worried. WHen she said he had pneumonia I couldn't believe it. She said he was amazingly well for someone so ill Now I know it is there I can hear the creaky door noise coming from his chest!
He was given antibiotics and has had his 5th dose this lunchtime. How quick do you think it should start working? I would have thought by now he would feel better but he is still saying his chest really hurts. The rash is worse as well and is driving him mad. I'm giving him Piriton every 4 hours but it doesn't seem to be having any effect. His skin is really itchy and it's sore to touch. Poor boy looks awful with massive patches of red raised skin.

Whenever DS has had pnunomia it has taken at least 48 hours on antibiotics before he starts improving. If you are worried though don't hesitate to take him back.

I think my problem is that he doesn't appear to be particularly ill so it's hard to tell the state of his condition. He is 8 so is quite capable of explaining how he feels but I don't really know what to look out for. He has no temperature although isn't eating particularly well and doesn't have a lot of energy. I guess I will just have to watch his breathing etc and keep plodding on with antibiotics for now. I wish I could take the rash away for him though.

When ds had pneumonia it took him ages to get over it but we saw a definite improvement within 24-48 hrs on antibiotics - however his temp was 40 with meds previously so the reduction in that was our main improvement iyswim.

If he seems ok in himself give it the full 48 hours and then call back - do NOT worry about seeming over anxious and actually I think maybe Id call re the rash anyways - yes, sorry, I think Id call now.

Do you think it would be normal to get worse before better? He went up to play in his room about an hour ago and I just went to check on him and he was in bed. I think I woke him because he was a little disorientated and confused. He got up and went to the toilet and now he's gone back to bed - this is so unlike him! I know he will be tired but he slept well last night. I can't find my thermometer anywhere. He feels a little warm but has been under a thick duvet for an hour. His pupils look really big - is that relevant? His chest is still very squeaky. I think I will leave him to sleep for now but will be checking him very often. Do you think ringing 111 would be any use? I think if he is not improving soon I will have to either ring my gp (no chance of appointment really) or drag him back to the walk-in 10 miles away.

I think if you are at all concerned, to give GP or NHS direct a call. And please dont feel bad about not realising. Kids of all ages can have sontty noses and coughs for ages sometimes, and with our busy lives if they say they are Okish, you tend to go with it.

Sleep is good for him so as long as he is rousable I wouldn't worry to much, but phoning for advice if your worried makes sense

Dobby I made him play rugby on Saturday morning He had sat around so much during the hols watching films I thought the fresh air would do him good. What do I know eh?

Not sure if this helps as I'm a grown up! but up I had pneumonia recently, mine came on suddenly and I started the abx on a sat night, my chest still hurt a lot for a while and it was say tues before that eased. On the wed even though I felt physically very marginally better - I was utterly convinced it was still monday, I mean properly convinced and I'd been ok-ish before that mentally.
They changed my abx and it was another few days before I really improved.
I would certainly give it 36 hours before taking him back unless you see a dramatic deterioration, but I'm sure NHS direct would be happy for you to call now to reassure yourself.

Have a hand to hold. Can't offer an advice but DD2 was poorly for quite a while, I assumed some sort of bug, turned out to be chest and secondary infections. Hope your DS gets better v soon.

Please check on him often. Could he be struggling to get enough breath and it has made him tired? I'm no expert but he seems such a stoic, is he just trying to put up with it? I think you should get more medical advice.

Thanks everyone. I have been up again as fil just dropped off some calamine cream. He was awake but quite sleepy. He didn't want me to disturb him to put the cream on which has worried me slightly as he would have done anything earlier to get rid of the itching. I asked him if its hard to breathe but he said no. He said it just feels as though someone is squeezing his chest. He is due more Piriton in 15 mins so I will go up again and see how he is then. I have dd off school as well and she has made an improvement so needs my attention too! She will definitely be going back to school tomorrow. Yesterday I was worried she was coming down with something similar as she had to come home from school with raging temp, headache and cough!

How is he now?

My 4 year old was ill for 2-3 weeks before we worked out she had pneumonia. I also sent her to sports because she seemed ok on that day. Don't feel guilty!
She was a bit better after 24 hours and a new person after 48 hours.

Could it be the piriton making him so sleepy?

Hope he improves quickly

There are different types of pneumonia which respond to different types of antibiotics. So I would have him checked at an A&E, because there they can take (1) chest X-ray and (2) do a blood test to accurately determine what he got and what type of antibiotics he needs. I am surprised that he has such good oxygen levels though. Also, other things can also cause a rash. All this together would lead me to think that it is best to have him checked out by A&E doctors (proper paediatricians with access to diagnostic tools, eg not GP/nurse).

Don't feel bad about not having realised he had pneumonia, my dd was seriously ill for several weeks with fevers between 40 and 41.8 with maximum doses of calpol and nurofen and the various GPs we saw repeatedly during this time all insisted it was nothing to worry about just a virus - she had life threatening pneumonia in both lungs with extreme low oxygen levels (and was hospitalised for quite a while as a consequence). If GPs can't diagnose it, then it is not so surprising that you didn't realise as your son didn't even have high fever.

Hope he gets better soon.

24-48 hours, but please give dr/ nhs direct a call if you need reassurance

He sounds very ill, ring the doctor. Don't mess around with pneumonia.

If you are in any doubt at all, please take your DS to out of hours service to be checked out. The same happened to us and my DD has pneumonia at this time of year several years ago and we had no idea she was so poorly. I still feel guilty for not realising she was so unwell.

She did have to go into hospital for a few days and unfortunately, she has been left with scarring on one of her lungs. This is rare however, and I am sure that your DS will be fine.

Trust your mother's instincts and if you feel that he is getting worse then do seek help asap.

I am surprised that he has such good oxygen levels though

DS gets pneumonia a lot, but has had times when his oxygen levels were perfect which shocked everyone considering he is also asthmatic!

Oh Abby, poor old ds. And don't beat yourself up about it. You weren't to know. The pneumonia will have developed from 'just' a cold and you (I assume) haven't fitted a window to his lungs just yet? Maybe consider it in the future, eh?

DS had pneumonia at 5 months old and was v poorly indeed. He did get worse before he got better and I was warned that he would. His oxygen levels were low 80s on admission and had a heartrate of 212. He was admitted on the Tuesday morning and double dose antibiotics started that afternoon. Tuesday overnight and Wednesday during the day he was not well at all. Temp was higher than it had been but they said it was his body fighting. It did cause other problems like him being disorientated, floppy and not particularly rousable but this was the temp and not the pneumonia per se. He turned the corner on the Thursday and was like a different baby. From then it was onwards and upwards very quickly indeed. They double dosed ibuprofen and paracetamol throughout.

I've also had pneumonia in the last 12 months and it was a good 48hrs for the abs to kick in and weeks to feel fully well.

You must seek a second opinion if you need to. Wishing him a very speedy recovery. Nice to 'see' you on here too. Not chatted for a long time!

Dd1 had pneumonia badly when she was 8yo. She had a weekend of saying her shoulder hurt. She did two long ballet shows, a swimming party and normal activities. She suddenly went grey half way on the walk to school (after about 20 minutes walking) and I decided to take her to the doctors despite her protests. Turned out she had pneumonia so bad the doctor was surprised she could stand up and had to take 2 strong antibiotics for the first week, reducing to 1 for the next 10 days after that.
98% was where we were aiming for her oxygen levels to get up to.

She had no symptoms except the sore shoulder, not a runny nose or cough or anything. She was worse after the first 2-3 days of antibiotics. She wasn't better for about 6 months.

So don't feel bad.

Thanks for all the replies and a big hello SoH, nice to see you! Well things are looking a little brighter. Ds had an hours sleep earlier and when he woke he felt hungry - first time he has said that in a few days! He managed a little bit of tea and was definitely brighter. The rash has gone from his face so that is a start. He's still got it everywhere else but it looks a little less angry.
I had forgotten that Piriton makes you drowsy so all being well if he can go a little longer between doses tomorrow I may be able to tell if it is that causing the drowsiness. Dd is going back to school tomorrow so he will have my full attention. I have been watching him like a hawk to make sure his breathing is ok and and far as I can tell he is ok. He is sleeping soundly now so hopefully the sleep will do him the world of good. I hope tomorrow his chest will start to hurt a bit less and then he will feel better.