8 month old with relentless chesty cough and wheezing

[raevans]

Hi,

Looking to see if anyone can help or share a similar experience..

My daughter is nearly 8 months old.. back towards the end of November ( she was around 5 months at the time) she caught what I believed to be a cold. This progressed and she became very wheezy and chesty. For the next month and a bit until beginning of January she was seen 3 times in her own GP practice and we took her to A&E pediatrics on Xmas eve as her breathing seemed a bit laboured. GPs and own surgery said it was viral and would pass and the doctors at A&E suspected bronchiolitis but that she was showing good observations and holding her own so didn’t need treatment. We were told things would clear in
10-14 days. They didn’t…

Beginning to mid January she was still the same so I took her back to her own GP. GP advised trying a course of antibiotics incase it was a chest infection. Antibiotics given and she was back to normal. Cough/wheezy completely gone. Roll on 5 days later and it was back again. GP said that because antibiotics did the trick that maybe she needed a little more as some bacteria was lingering. Finished the second dose but there was no change this time. GP advised this was viral but that if she was still the same in 7-10 days to come back.

Day 11 is today and I took her back to her GP this morning. Was seen by a different GP this time who wasn’t very compassionate and made me feel like I was over reacting when I said I was concerned with the duration she’s had these infections/ viruses and even though I know to expect 10+ viruses a year I would have expected some let up since November. GP did then listen to her chest and said crackles were still present and that her ear was very red so have been given a 7 day course of a different antibiotics to see if this finally sorts it out..

Im just wondering if anyone can share some insight or experiences. GP did mention that she may need an inhaler in the future. I feel like this is an awfully long time for her to be coughing/ wheezing etc and am trying not to worry that there is nothing more sinister happening. I think if these antibiotics don’t do the trick I’ll be asking for blood tests. DD is otherwise very happy in herself, enjoys playing and rolling around, still eating/drinking and wet/dirty nappies. Just can’t budge this feeling something else could be wrong! Any replies will be greatly appreciated 🙏x

Any asthma in her family? If this doesn’t clear it up I’d be asking for a trial of an inhaler.

In my experience drs have been quite liberal with handing out blue inhalers for what they call 'viral wheeze' - they suggested to me if it's not letting up then it doesn't do them any harm taking it even if don't necessarily need it, and if it helps then great. Might be worth mentioning to see if they can give you one to try? My little boy always gets chesty with virus' and the inhaler usually helps us get a good night sleep x

Also if it helps reassure you I definitely felt like my little boy was ill for the entire duration of last winter (he's two now) and was worried there was more to it, but one year on it's not so constant and he doesn't seem to suffer so bad any more x

I’m surprised that they haven’t done a breathing treatment for her at least once during all of these visits.

Poor her and you!

@DustyLee123 @Lizzieregina @ellybelly123

Thanks all for replying. No history of asthma in the family. Really am hoping she’ll get a break from catching all these viruses for a bit. I’ll definitely be speaking to the GP again if these course of antibiotics don’t do the trick or she becomes wheezy in the future and be asking about an inhaler. Thanks again ☺️x