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Original poster

is there any way to stop crackles developing into a chest infection?

27 replies

chlochlo · 30/01/2007 21:03

Ds is poorly again he's only just got over a serious chest infection.
Today he has been very grumpy and slightly warm and his chest sounds crackly and he's been quite out of breath.
Is there anything i can do to stop it before it starts (iyswim)

OP posts:
naughtymummy · 30/01/2007 21:18

DS (2.9) has lots of coughs (his dad had childhood asthma) I dread going to the GP as it always means anti-biotics and i dont want him to have too many. I think the best you can do is keep him off school/nursery encourage fluids with vitamin c eg; barley water is good, lots of little snacks rather than big meals and SLEEP. You don't say how old he is and whether he has any previous medical conditions obviously you don't have to.Did he recover completely from the last one ?

IME some young children (usually between 1-3) do have lots which then stop as they get older. If he goes off his food or gets realy hot >38.5 then it is better to get anti-biotics as a short oral course may knock it on the head. It is horrid when they are poorly

Original poster
chlochlo · 30/01/2007 21:26

He's just 2 and he has got chronic asthma
Hate the fact that as soon as doctors see him they give him abs just incase.
They usually say because it j.... they don't want to risk him getting worse.
Wanted to give him a chance without putting him in danger

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naughtymummy · 30/01/2007 21:39

With asthma you can get crackles and out of breath with a viral infection (ie a cold). Which wouldn't need antibiotics. If you can maybe try to keep him quiet i know not easy as running about=more secretions. I would try to give him a quiet day or 2-give him his inhalers. If he gets worse then obviously will need the antibs- lots of them outgrow it , is hard though difficult to know when to go to Docs

Original poster
chlochlo · 30/01/2007 21:44

thankyou
I'm off work tomorrow he's gone to bed propped up and fully dosed up so fingers crossed.

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naughtymummy · 30/01/2007 21:45

Good luck

Original poster
chlochlo · 31/01/2007 21:53

seems to be slightly worse today so i think its of to doctors yet again
if it is a chest infection then its the third since i last saw consultant on 27th dec

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naughtymummy · 01/02/2007 11:47

How is LO today ? 3 since xmas does sound like a lot. Are you seeing consultant again ? Maybe worth aphone call i am sure s/he would want to know that DS is having so many infections- maybe they could give him something else ?? Hugs to you and DS

Original poster
chlochlo · 01/02/2007 20:06

been to doctors today he's got another chest infection and an ear infection, he is already on the maximum preventative medication he can be on
We see consultant again on 28th

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emkana · 01/02/2007 20:10

chlochlo - when did all this start with your ds?

My ds is seven months and has had one chest infection after the other since he was born.

He's got all the medication as well - steroid inhaler, Atrovent, Ventolin when needed, Singulair...

We started low-dose AB's three times a week two and a half weeks ago, and this is the first time that he has gone for more than three days without getting poorly.

Now his sisters have a streaming cold, so he's having crackles and a slight wheeze in spite of all the meds.

What meds is your ds on?

Original poster
chlochlo · 01/02/2007 21:14

it started from when he was born he's on seritide 2 puffs twice a day, atrovent 1 puff 3 times a day and 2-5 puffs of ventolin 4 times a day plus singular. prednisolone steroids and a nebuliser at home for when he's really bad.
Whats the antibiotic called i may ask consultant.
He's had loads of test done at hospital but all come back clear.

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emkana · 01/02/2007 23:11

It's called Azithromycin. He has 2.5 ml on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

How frustrating for you that all the tests have come back without a result. The consultant said to us that in a way we should hope for no answer from the tests, because then you can hope that he might outgrow it.

Have they given you a prognosis?
Has your ds got any other problems?
My ds has a skeletal dysplasia (dwarfism), including a small chest with small lungs, which might or might not be related to his frequent chest problems.

Original poster
chlochlo · 02/02/2007 07:54

Hes got small twitchy airways which means at times they can become very narrow. He always breathes with his stomach iyswim.
Also he's got multiple allergies.

They don't think he will grow out of it but they think it will become more managable

Its just horrible that he's so young and has accepted it all so well he can also manage a smile when he's on hospital attatched to oxygen.

Hows your ds feeling better i hope.

Won't be on here till tonight

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Original poster
chlochlo · 02/02/2007 17:32

bump

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emkana · 02/02/2007 19:58

hi chlochlo, sorry I haven't been on all day.

How is your ds now? My ds is still a bit wheezy, but so far not too bad, will have to see how it goes, whether I need to take him back to the doctor's.

It's so frustrating when they get ill even though they have all these medicines...

Do you end up in hospital a lot?

So far we've been quite lucky in that respect, touch wood...

Original poster
chlochlo · 02/02/2007 20:32

he's a bit worse today really struggling to catch his breath i've given him some nebuliser before bed that should keep him going overnight.

He's only been in a&e twice so far this winter a quick dose of oxygen usually does the trick. He was admitted four times last year.

Glad your Ds is doing well on the new medicine it was mentioned last year by consultant but nothing ever came of it but i may bring it up when i see him again.

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naughtymummy · 02/02/2007 20:47

Sorry you both are having such a rotten time. I hope the antibs do the trick chochlo- if this year is better than last then maybe he will suffer less as he gets older. Deffo worth asking about the azithromycin i would think. Best of luck to you all.

Overrun · 02/02/2007 20:52

Chlochlo -
Just wanted to say you have my sympathies. My ds1 has Asthma, which is pretty chronic, not as severe as your Sons sounds but nethertheless, I think I can empathise.
You say he has had lots of tests, did they check his Group A immunoglobins? I'm sure it is pretty standard, the reason that I ask is because my ds1 has low levels of group a, and this means he is more prone to pick up infections.
He benefitted from a preventative dose of anitbiotics last winter. I find that viruses, kickstarted infections and Asthma
just a thought

Original poster
chlochlo · 02/02/2007 21:25

To be honest I'm not sure if he has had that one he has had numerous chest x-rays a swallow meal and scan and plenty of blood tests so may be

I think we've managed to stay out of hospital because we are a bit more experienced iyswim

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Overrun · 02/02/2007 23:02

might be worth you mentioning at your next check up then, it might be of help.
I am going to bed now, and will go in to ds1's room, and prop him up a bit,and hope that he doesn't wake himself with coughing in the night
Its hard hearing them struggle for breath, I have pretty severe Asthma, so unfortunately know how that feels.
Keep us posted

Original poster
chlochlo · 03/02/2007 08:36

last night wasn't too bad was coughing on and off throughout the night but seems quite bright this morning He seems to be coughing quite a bit of phlem up so hopefully its clearing his chest

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Overrun · 03/02/2007 11:16

Figners crossed for you and your ds, I think a productive cough is always easier to deal with then an unproductive one, at least you get that feeling of relief as you cough it up iyswim

Original poster
chlochlo · 03/02/2007 15:53

spoke too soon his temp back up and really wheezing oh the joys of being a mum.

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Overrun · 03/02/2007 19:32

How is he now?

emkana · 03/02/2007 20:27

chlochlo I'm sorry your ds is not improving much yet.

My ds is not doing too badly - hope I'm not speaking too soon now...

Do ask about those AB's for your ds, I'm hoping that they are the reason that my ds is doing so well atm.

Original poster
chlochlo · 03/02/2007 21:10

emkana glad the abs are doing the trick
I have given ds 4 prednisolone tablets and another nebuliser if that doesn't clear it i'm not sure what will
Shall i wait for appointment on 28th with consultant or do you think it might be worth giving him a ring

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