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Chest infection - when should I expect DS to recover? Sorry long!!

6 replies

ChocOrange05 · 17/02/2010 13:45

Hi all

To cut, a very long story short, DS (now 15mo) had a febrile convulsion (cause by pneumonia) in December lasting 20 mins, they gave him Lorazepam which made him stop breathing so he had to be intubated and was in ICU for one night and on a ward for another. We were discharged two days later and he bounced back very quickly.

On Friday he had another FC, but only 2-3 mins this time, and was very sick before and after and couldn't keep anything down. He was diagnosed as having a bacterial chest infection and discharged from hospital with antibiotics for 5 days. Today is the last day of antibiotics and he just doesn't seem to be recovering, he is very lethargic, can't play for long and just wants cuddles. Nighttime for the past 3 nights has been tough - last night he didn't go to bed until 9pm which is very unusual as we usually have a struggle to keep him up past 7pm. Then in the night he woke at 12am and cried inconsolably for 2 hours, I tried BF-ing him but he would latch on/off and scream. The only time he was quiet in his bed was when I was lying over him with my face right above his and holding both his hands - he would then drift off and jerk awake a minute later, let go of my hands and then frantically reach out to find them again. We don't want to leave him to cry in case he has another FC but after 3 nights of little sleep I am not sure what to do.

He has also been off his food, very unusual for him but drinking lots.

When should I expect him to start showing signs of recovery? I will take him to the docs soon but I wondered if anyone else had any experiences of something similar and can help, or explain behaviour. (Frankly MN-ers often have better advice/info than GP's!)

Thank you!

OP posts:
CharlieBoo · 17/02/2010 17:48

I agree these boards are fab for advice. I can't help really as I thought anti bs would have worked. Maybe it's viral afterall?? Take him to docs in morning. Poor you and your ds. My dd gets recurrent bouts of bronchiolitis so I know how tough it is. Big hugs xx

plusonemore · 17/02/2010 19:19

my little one has recently had tonsilitis with added chest/ear infections, he has been improving but i wasnt happy with his wheezing so went back to GP, she gave him a single dose of steroids which seems to have helped today HTH

CharlieBoo · 17/02/2010 21:25

Yes my dd had steroids for her chest, a 3 day course and they were loads more effective than antibiotics. X

CMOTdibbler · 17/02/2010 22:05

Sounds like those weren't the right antibiotics for the infection - I'd go back to the GP tomorrow for a different set. Normally you should see a pretty dramatic improvment by day 3 of antibiotics for a chest infection

foxinsocks · 17/02/2010 22:10

poor you, yes please take him back to the GP. Sometimes these infections need more than 5 days of antibs and it might be that he needs a different type.

Are you monitoring his temperature in case of another FC?

tell the doc how lethargic he is

ChocOrange05 · 18/02/2010 13:32

Thanks for your replies. Fox the thermometer is my best friend at the moment, poor DS keeps getting it poked in his ears when he is asleep! His mood has improved today and thankfully he slept through last night but he's still coughing. We have an EEG appointment tomorrow so I might see if someone can listen to his chest too.

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