ds in hospital with chest infection - any advice?

[zippy539]

Okay, am I being a neurotic mum. Ds (3) got admitted to hospital on Saturday with a chest infection. He's being given steroids, an antibiotic and is on a nebuliser (now every four hours). His stats (sats?) are improving now, especially during the day, though he still needed a bit of oxygen last night. The consultant almost discharged him this morning but I was reluctant a)because he still needed oxygen last night and b) because I felt though he was better yesterday (ie not wheezing etc) he was actually worse, in himself, today (rising temp, grumpy, flushed).

I think I'm worried because he had a chest infection which was v similar (though didn't need hospital) about five weeks ago which eventually went after antibiotics - I'm suspecting that this is the same thing, and it's continuing to go untreated - although the superficial symptoms (wheeze) etc are being brought under control by the drugs he is on.

Does anyone have any experience of this type of thing? Am I being neurotic? Should I just get him home? Is there anything I should be asking?

Have to go back to the hospital in a couple of hours for the night, but any advice appreciated. Sorry this is such a ramble - I'm knackered.

Hope your ds is improving.
You don't mean you have literally been sleeping on the floor do you? THey should at least provide a bed!

zippy, was the word "mycoplasma"? It's a bug, sort of half way between a virus and a bacteria (very primitive bacteria) and is one of the causes of the "atypical" types of pnemonia. It won't respond to Augmentin (as most bacterial chest infections do), but should respond to another antibiotic. If they seriously suspect it, they will change the antibiotics. If it is just something to "rule out" they may just stick with the current treatment plan and see how it goes. They are certainly not going to keep your ds in for a fortnight, waiting for the results, so if he continues to improve they will stick with the current antibiotic, if he doesn't they will change it. BTW, be prepared, a common side effect of antibiotics is diarrhoea; they kill off the normal bugs that live in the gut. You can help minimise this by feeding your ds live yoghurt or Yakult/ Actimel. I managed to get plain live yoghurt into dd by mixing it 50/ 50 with Petit Filou!

How's your DS today, Zippy?

Computer has been bust and I'm only just back on line. Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who saw me through my hospital madness three weeks ago. Looking back I was completely knackered and had everything out of proportion. Ds is fine now - though has had a couple of wheezy episodes since so there is a slight possibility of asthma. Thanks so much to everyone again - I know my mini-drama was sooo minor compared to what some folk are going through but I really appreciated you taking the time to talk me down! Mumsnet rocks.