How do you know when its a chest infection?

[calvemjoe]

Ds (22mnths) has had this nasty cold and flu bug thing thats going round and I wondered how you can tell when a cough needs to be taken to the drs?

TIA

I'm no doctor but having gone through countless cases of croup, asthma, bronchiolitis, bronchitis & pneumonia with dd & ds, I would consult if the child has a temperature and/or coughs for more than 4 days. Consult immediately for temp over 39°C or if child has trouble breathing. Good luck!

my dr said to watch out for rapid breathing

Wheezing is normally a sign of a chest infection.
Thats what happened when dd1, had one at 6 months old.

thats what I thought tiger,My ds was breathing at a really fast rate,but dr said chest was clear.She did say that his temp of 40c was the cause of the rapid breathing.

Also, hope everything is ok

I would take after 3 or 4 days of coughing - even if there was no high temp. DS1 used to have recurring chest infections (every time he caught a cold - lovely) but he NEVER had a temp with them. Infact I distinctly remebering tell one dr., who told me, he's got no temp and that cough is in the throat not the chest (without even listening to his chest ) to listen to his chest. Which he duly did - and discovered that I was right - he had another infection.

Ds1 has recently recovered from pneumonia. His symptoms were a total lack of appetite, very high fever, swollen glands at front of neck, wheezing, difficulty breathing due to coughing, coughing up phlegm, and eventually pain in chest on breathing in which is when he was sent to hospital for chest x-ray. He also was lethargic and had a general very unwell appearance, pale, heavy eyes etc.

OTOH, when dd has a heavy cold, she might have a temperature, a cough, look poorly, have a snotty nose, heavy eyes etc and seem tired, but I can tell it's nothing to worry about. So a few similar symptoms, but no serious symptoms iyswim. I think it's instinctive to me and I also know that dd doesn't suffer from chest problems. HTH

He had one when he was 5mnths and the skin on his chest was drawing in but he had no temp.
He has asthma and I had to give him his inhalor twice in the night and one cough earlier woke him up screaming so I think it hurt him.
Probably the docs tomorrow I think, the lack of temp is confusing me but his appetite is terrible and he's not playing.

Thanks for your kind wishes softjo

I'd say wheezing, coughing up coloured sputum, rapid shallow breathing, sucking in around ribs, tmeprature and lethargy. If breathing is a problem may also have cool, purple hands and feet and bluish lips.

If he's off his food & not playing, I'd go asap! Hope he (and you!) feel better soon.

Thanks!

If you're ever worried, go straight to your GP or to A&E. Most parents know when they are not over-reacting so trust your instincts. I've been right every time that I've either gone back to the GP or gone to A&E with my dd.

My dd had pneumonia last week. Came on really really suddenly - I always thought you'd know in advance; she had been fine (bit of cough and runny nose that morning but happy as anything). The sucking in of the chest is a really good sign. IMHO GPs are almost useless when diagnosing children's ailments or at least they have been in my experience. We've taken dd to A&E four times following misdiagnosis by GPs (two UTIs and two chest infections). She's been admitted to the ward each time so we def were not panicking in any of the cases, though I do sometimes feel like the world's most neurotic parent. Last week she had a febrile convulsion in A&E and then the pneumonia was quickly diagnosed with a chest x-ray. Scariest moment of my life but we were in the best place for it to happen. She's now getting the pneumonia vaccine as she is categorised as high risk. If your children are prone to severe chest infections, check with your GP regarding whether they are eligible.

Hope all goes well with your little one.

Thanks for the advice newkid, he's played a bit this afternoon and I honestly now think the cold has irritated his asthma, but I'm taking him to the dr in the morning cause I think he needs his brown inhalor increasing till he's over it and i'm not doing that without medical advice.

Hi
How is he today.

He's been up half the night coughing bless him so he's booked in at the drs later, will keep you updated. Thanks for remembering tho, sleep deprived and not feeling great myself it really means a lot.

Any news?

Dr says no infection but his asthma has indeed been irritated by his cold and he's had his inhalors increased for the next 2 weeks. He has to have 10 puffs on his blue till he's better bless him but he has been so sad all day and just wants cuddles. I think he's a bit worse this evening than he was last night, I've been up to him 3 times already. She said to keep a close eye on him cause his condition could worsen quickley. Feel so bad for him. Thanks for remembering him x

Oh, calve! SO hope he's better soon. DD1 was so ill w/that cough back around New Year and had a chest infection - she had a 39 degree temp.

I know how hard it is! I wished it could be me instead of her.

Sending him healing vibes!

Awww poor little chap ....and poor you too! You must be exhausted!

I am the same, I never know when a cough is bad enough to take any of my boys to the doctors. If I ever do, I just get told 'It's a virus, there is nothing we can do' DS3 (14 months) is much more 'chesty' than the other 2 have ever been and I do worry more about him when he has a cold/cough. All 3 are ill at the moment but sleeping better than normal so at least I am getting some respite from it.

I hope your little one is better soon....and everyone elses.

Roll on Summer!!

Thanks everyone, he seems a little better a the mo so I think we're on the mend