Baby has chest infection/ mild retractions. Any tips on getting him better asap!

[frenchu]

Just that really

my baby came down ill a week and half ago we’ve all had the flu in the house so assuming it was that he caught. He started to deteriorate not eating much food no energy mild chest/neck retraction so I took him to a&e after speaking to 111. When we got there his respiratory rate was 48 - supposed to be 35-40 so slightly up. We didn’t see a dr just a paramedic who was on shift there. She said he’s very congested and wheezy. tried an asthma pump on him and it helped slightly so we got sent home with that. I didn’t feel reassured at all as the night went by as he was breathing in so deep/ out of breath a lot and his wheeze sounded horrific. I took him to the GP the next morning for a second opinion. She then said he has tonsillitis and a chest infection despite the night before being told it’s just viral. We have an owlet sock and his oxygen during the night was showing 93-94. We’ve used it since birth and it’s usually around 96-97 so must be accurate so obviously lower. Gp confirmed again yes wheezy , slight retractions, working harder to breath and just keep an eye for grunting a temp cyanosis etc and call an ambulance if need be. 3 days into antibiotics his breathings still sounding the same. It makes me SO anxious. He’s eating again and lots of energy but what can I do to help congestion wheezing etc? Any tips?

How olds the baby? A steamy room would help.

He’s 10 months old , no fever , eating/drinking fine, wet nappy’s, energetic. So obviously no danger signs which is why I think the gp says keep him at home and keep an eye. I have health anxiety so this is gruelling for me! As his oxygen isn’t consistently below 92 he’s supposedly fine at home for now as they wouldn’t give oxygen support for 93-94 although they said they like to see 94 and above!

Oxygen levels of 93-94 isn’t worrying when they’re unwell, so try not to worry about that. Generally they don’t provide oxygen for anything above 92, or 90 when sleeping, but it varies from doctor to doctor and hospital to hospital. If it’s low 90s, then worth having a trip to A&E again, but take a photo of the reading. DS2 often has his oxygen levels drop to mid 80s when he’s got a virus but low 90s when awake so the photo has always helped them take me more seriously.

A little bit of pulling in isn’t that much of a concern but if you’re worried, you can just go in again. Might be a long wait as it might not be in the emergency category, but you can get the reassurance you need. I should add though, that having two children who have had many admissions between them for respiratory viruses, you can usually tell when your child is very unwell. They won’t be at the cyanotic phase but you can tell when they’re working hard to breathe.

How many days has he been unwell?

If there seems to be no improvement of breathing after 3 days on antibotics I would see the GP tomorrow. A humifier can help.

@Frogbear
thank you! The owlet sock connects to your phone so I have a graph of his oxygen over the 12hrs he’s asleep for at night. Usually dipping into the low 90s for the first 6hrs of sleep and peaking up towards the last 6hrs of sleep. I’m worried that as I know I have health anxiety and can take things a little dramatic than needed to be, that I’m then going to miss if he is really struggling or make myself believe he’s not and he’s fine. Like atm he’s crawling around happy as can be babbling away to himself after he’s just had a full plate of dinner so I’d assume he’s happy and okay but the wheezing and heavy breathing is scaring me still and I’m on edge 24/7. He’s been unwell for 13 days now. First 7 days was just congested moaning coughing etc then day 8 started going downhill not eating much lethargic. Day 9 wheezing a little. Day 10 wheezing a lot and retracting a little, lower oxygen on the monitor that’s when we went to a&e. Day 11 starting antibiotics than morning. Now at the end of day 13. As I say he’s perked up loads just breathing still not 100%. I was ill for 4 weeks and it’s only just gone now!