Should I call a doctor?

[Jojay]

My 10 month old DS has had a cold all week, but last night, from about 11 pm, his breathing seems laboured and a bit wheezy.

He was up half the night crying, which didn't help, as he got himself into a state, but it's really unlike him to be up at night.

This morning, his breathing still seems a bit laboured and wheezy, though not as bad as in the night. He seems bright enough in himself and hasn't got a temperature, just a very runny nose and a hacking cough.

I saw a pharmacist yesterday who said to give him Medised, because of it's decongestant properties. He had it at 11.30 am, 3 pm and 7 pm yesterday, and none as yet today.

Any ideas?

I agree A&E to be on the safe side.

Agree a and e - really should of taken him in the night when it was bad he may have croup which tends to be worse at night and relieved by steam. Never worry about calling or taking a child to emergency services in the night it's what they are there for. Aed dr. would rather see a well child with worried parents than a really sick child that could of been treated earlier.

Sounds just like my dd - she has viral induceed wheezing, (always at the end of a cold). Always gets worse in middle of night and makes them very agitated. We had to do one middle of the night run to a&e and a second one another time in the morning.

We have now got an inhaler with a little mask which helps, (even if you do it when they are asleep), but if they get too bad they can give it through a nebuliser. At least they will tell you how to handle it, what to watch out for etc.

If it is this, I understand they usually grow out of it when their lungs/pathways get bigger.

Hope this helps.

superwoman you got there first, I thought croup aswell, get him checked out asap, even if everything is ok with him you will be worrying until you get the ok

my dd has this, if it helps i dont think the phlem causing the weeziness is from her chest, i think it is a post nasal drip which is causing the mucous to gather in the windpipe, also the lack of temp would signal to me that there is no infection, BUT having said that trust yours instincts and if u are still worried pop in and see the out of hours doc HTH

Thanks for all your advice - he's asleep at the moment. I've just been in to him and his breathing sounds calm and regular, and not wheezy now he's asleep.

I'll see what he's like when he wakes up. If he seems bad I'll take him to A&E.

I tried to call our doctor at 9 am this morning and left a message on their out of hours mobile cos it was SWITCHED OFF!! No-one has called me back an hour and a half later - how bad is that!?

Thanks again everyone - i took him to A&E and after a 2 1/2 hr wait where he seemed as bright as a button, they listened to his chest, said 'Hmmmm' and sent us off for a chest x-ray.

When it came back they said, in that non-commital NHS way,
'Well it's not too good, but not too bad'

They then said that it was probably a viral infection in his lings, and give him Calpol to bring his temp down ( it wasn't high, but he was a bit rosy cheeked and felt hot to touch)

They said to watch him closely and if he gets any worse at all, to bring him back and they'll admit him

So we'll see how we go tonight and prepare ourselves for a midnihgt dash to A&E.

Thank you again for all your good advice, and for making me go to the hospital. I was fully expecting to be sent home, having made a fuss about nothing, so I'm VERY glad I went now.

LUNGS, obviously, not lings(?)

He's absolutely fine now, thanks for asking.

The midnight dash to A&E wasn't required luckily - he seemed a litle bit wheezy when he went to bed but once he was asleep it settled down and he slept fine, only waking for a feed at 3 am because he'd refused his bed time bottle.

He was completely back to normal yesterday and even took his first proper steps pushing his walker truck thing!!!

So drama over...............until the next time!!

Thanks again for all your support