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Original poster

Wheezy baby - advice needed

36 replies

Wallace · 26/01/2007 20:22

Ds2 (6m) has a cold and a cough. I took him to the doc yesterday and she said he had a wheeze and prescribed him an inhaler(1 puff four times a day).

He is still very wheezy, but is smiley, alert and feeding fine apart from struggling a bit because he is so snuffly.

I was told if I gave him a puff of the inhaler and it didn't seem to be working, to give him another puff. How quickly should the inhaler work? I gave him a puff almost an hour ago and he hasn't improved yet.

Also, if he doesn't improve over the weekend, is there a point when I should start to worry? He does seem happy enough at the moment, and has been only a wee bit more grumpy than normal.

OP posts:

emkana · 26/01/2007 20:25

Which inhaler is it? Is it blue? Salbutamol?

I've been told that there is some evidence that Salbutamol doesn't work that well in babies this young.
I was also told that the feeding thing is essential, ie does he pull away from feeding because he is gasping for breath, or can he feed okay?

The inhaler is supposed to work almost instantly, but you can give 4 or 5 puffs of the Salbutamol to see if that works.

Is he coughing?

emkana · 26/01/2007 20:28

I'm going to watch some TV now, but will catch up with this thread later.

Sheraz · 26/01/2007 20:29

Does he have a spacer for the inhaler- makes it easier to give- was told you cannot o/d on salbutamol and can give until whezzing goes, BUT I would ring NHS direct first, befreo giving more than you have been recommende ( My DS2 has asthma)

misdee · 26/01/2007 20:30

you shuold really start to feel/see effects instantly.

do you have a spacer to use?

how is his chest moving?

Original poster

Wallace · 26/01/2007 20:31

yes that is the inhaler. I'll give another puff now.

He pulls away a bit while feeding, but I think that is because his nose is blocked. He is coughing, but not often, but when he does it sounds like it is very phlegmy (is that the word) Does the inhaler help to loosen the phlegm?

OP posts:

ThisTime · 26/01/2007 20:31

Hi Wallace - my ds is the same and uses salbutamol as and when needed but as he is always ok in himself, they send him home a happy wheezer.

There is a thread on here about child asthma sufferers I will try and find for you. Dont worry I'm not saying your ds has asthma but they gave me great advice.

emkana · 26/01/2007 20:31

No the inhaler is supposed to widen the airways.

misdee has a good point there, is he pulling in skin around the chest area while breathing?

Original poster

Wallace · 26/01/2007 20:33

Thanks. He does have a spacer. His chest is maybe working a bit harder (hard to see under all his chubbiness )

Meant to say his voice sounds hoarse too

OP posts:

northender · 26/01/2007 20:34

The inhaler works by opening the airways (relaxing the muscles). Should work within 15 mins. Phlegm on baby's chest could cause a wheeze as it narrows the airways. Try not to worry (easy ot say I know).

ThisTime · 26/01/2007 20:37

Sorry I can't find it but hopefully they will see your thread.

Ds has suffered for a over a year - one time because his voice was hoarse they diagnosed Croup.

misdee · 26/01/2007 20:39

keep an eye on his chest, if he starts recessing, (pulling in skin under the ribs and collorbone may bbe harder to see in a chunkier baby) then take him to a+e.

but try not to worry.

can you steam the room a bit to loosen some of the gunk on his chest?

Original poster

Wallace · 26/01/2007 20:42

Thanks for all the help

I have given him a second puff and it seems a bit better. He is feeding now (and only pulling off to see what I'm typing about him on mumsnet )

I hope it isn't croup, his voice wasn't hoarse yesterday so didn't mention that to the gp.

Asthma is something I am a bit worried about as dh has asthma. The gp did say there is no reason to suspect it at this age so fingers crossed

OP posts:

Nemo2007 · 26/01/2007 20:42

another place to check for tugging is in the throat where you have the little indent at bottom as when breathing hard that also starts to tug. If that happens go to A+E straight away.

Nemo2007 · 26/01/2007 20:44

They wont officially diagnoce asthma until age 2 as lungs are still developing..DD has been classed as having breathing problems likely to be asthma from 3mths old.

Original poster

Wallace · 26/01/2007 20:46

sorry keep on cross posting.

He is definitely breathing more easily now, and is falling asleep feeding.

If he is bad again later I will do the steam thing, dh will probably want a hot bath when he gets in anyway.

OP posts:

northender · 26/01/2007 21:15

You wouldn't mistake croup. The first time ds had it the GP diagnosed it by hearing his breathing over the phone. It's a very distinctive loud noise when breathing/coughing like a seal's bark. Cured with half an hour in a very steamy bathroom!

Original poster

Wallace · 27/01/2007 06:44

By the time dh came home ds2 was asleep and only wheezing very quietly (I had wanted dh to hear because he knows more about wheezes than me)

He had a good night's sleep, and seemed not to be wheezing at all until he woke up and now he is wheezy again. Anyone know why? He seemed to get wheezy again after a cough and splutter.

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stoppinattwo · 27/01/2007 06:55

Hi Wallace, my DS was a bit wheezy when he was little, and was often given athe blue inhaler. The doc told me to watch where he was breathing from, look at him in profile as he lies down, if his chest is rising, then he's breathing well, if his stomach is rising and his chest isnt rising as much then he is "asmatic" wheezy and he cant get as much into his lungs as he would like(he is using his stomach muscle to try and help).

They are often v wheezy when they have a cold, when they are so little as they cant cough as effectively as we can, my DS isnt astmatic, although a lot of my family are and this hint from the doctor helped rule this out when i was worried.

I dont know if you supposed to but i piriton when my lo's have very runny noses, it is anti histamine and it stops them being sooo snotty. I dont know what age you can give it though...........it did seem to work

Original poster

Wallace · 27/01/2007 07:05

Thanks for the tip. I had a look but it is hard to tell becuase he is wriggling around so much

We don't have any piriton in the house, I think it may be from the age of one anyway, anyone know?

OP posts:

lulumama · 27/01/2007 08:08

piriton is for over ones...i think medised is suitable and helps a lot with snottiness ! x

stoppinattwo · 27/01/2007 08:10

i knew with lulu on the case she'd talk sense. Shes like our mum

lulumama · 27/01/2007 08:13

also, try sitting in the bathroom, with the door shut and the hot taps running, so the room gets steamy, that also helps!

have you got one of those nasal aspirators..and is his cot mattress on an incline?

Nemo2007 · 27/01/2007 10:18

IF hew is wheezing after coughing it could just be a flemmy wheeze...sometimes can sound very scarey like an asthma wheeze but it is literally just caught in their throats. I would recommend the medised too as it has something in to help with snottiness.

Original poster

Wallace · 27/01/2007 11:44

Oooh medised - that would help him sleep

I have got his cot mattress propped up, but he has been in bed with us for the last few nights...

OP posts:

Original poster

Wallace · 27/01/2007 21:26

he's still not too good.

was okay for most of the day, but then woke up from a nap crying (as much as he could cry his voice was almost gone) and was very wheezy. the inhaler did work, and he was fine at supper time and ate fine. went to leep, but woke up crying like earlier, and was inconsolable. he has flaked out over my shoulder (hence awful typing) and the inhaler hass helped but if he is like that again i will take him to doc - was scary!

OP posts:

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