Recurrent pneumonia dd is hospital for 2nd time, any experience?

[Gotsomepegsdave]

My dd is 7 almost 8. She’s been healthy not on any regular meds or had any medical concerns. Back in may she had a cough which turned into chest infection needed antibiotics dr said he was concerned about her but she didn’t meet threshold for hospital. Then in September she had a run of the mill cold turned into pneumonia blueligjter to hospital with a totally collapsed lung she stayed for 5 nights was on oxygen and iv antibiotics. Came home seemingly recovered chest X-ray two weeks later should complete resolution with mild streakiness. Now last week another cold then the chesty cough breathing quickened o took her straight to a&e she’s still in now again collapsed lung and pneumonia same side as before.
what is the cause of this? What investigations should happen? I’m so worried as she compensates so well even when we got to a&e drs didn’t think it was anything too bad until the got the X-ray they were talking about sending her home 6 days later she’s still there! Her oxygen levels didn’t drop until a few hours in a&e.
how do you manage your child with this?
do I go to dr/a&e first sign of a chesty cough? Do you children take any preventive medicine? Did they find out what cause it in your children? Did they end up diagnosed with asthma for eg? Did they have a CT the consultants want one the radiologist is arguing against it.
while she’s in I want to make sure going forward we have everything on board to investigate and try to prevent this from occurring again.

Have they identified the type of pneumonia? There are 4 types and it can be important to know which you are treating. Especially in serious/recurrent.

She needs referring to a specialist paediatric respiratory consultant and possibly an immunologist. An underlying immune deficiency or anatomical variation in the airway structure needs ruling out.

It is a different situation for us but we are under the complex respiratory team for respiratory issues triggered by viruses. There are lots and lots of tests they can do, to check for underlying causes and to assess lung function and many treatment options (including prophylactic antibiotics). They can also put a treatment plan in place for when your DD has a cold. Perhaps you could discuss a respiratory referral with the hospital? Hope your DD makes a swift recovery and they are able to get to the bottom of it.

Did she need a chest tube both times to reinflate the lung? There can be a genetic component with lung collapses, although I'd say that's probably less likely if there is an infection too. Are they referring her to a resp clinic? I hope she's on the mend, that must have been very scary for all of you.

I will be back to answer your question just on way to hospital to take over from dad

Hi dd is a bit brighter today yesterday she had a high temp and was vomiting so she was on fluids.
both times she’s been admitted she had a ultrasound and it didn’t show any fluid to be drained “just” total consolidation and infection.
she is going to be referred to respiratory for follow up I just want to make sure I’m aware of what they should be fully investigating so I can make sure they can try to get to the bottom of this.
I’m also worried about what till happen in the meantime while we are awaiting follow up so asking for a management plan for when she gets a cold is a great idea, what do you do when your child gets a cold now?

I wonder whether we need to try asthma medications on discharge even if she hasn’t been diagnosed or investigated for asthma yet?

dd infection markers never really got that high so they think this is could be viral thought yesterday the consultant says he thinks this one is bacterial but the bloods and swabs are ok? So I’m confused. The ward rounds are very quick and just focused on a quick exam and they haven’t really had any discussions about what will happen in the future but hopefully as we approach discharge that will happen.

a specialist from another hospital happens to check visiting here tomorrow is going to see her so I’m hopeful we can have a fuller conversation with them.

im terrified to send her back to school.

what terrifies me the most is that even with a collapsed lung she compensates so well this time I just didn’t like the chesty cough due to what happens before but before this all happened my other kids have had coughs like that and been fine! So I feel even a little illness I’ll need to take her in in case it’s this again!