17 mo - v v v bad chest, not sure what to do given time

[Weegle]

He's been deteriorating since about 3pm. Temp of 38 so not massively high but looks peaky and clearly doesn't feel well but his cough is getting worse and worse and he keeps getting really stuck for breath. He went to sleep at 7.30pm fine (although was unhappy getting ready for bed) but has woken twice since v distraught and coughing and wheezing and seems to be getting in a panic about not breathing. I'm quite worried but don't know if I'm being an over-anxious mum and if I do call NHS direct (only option I guess) I know from previous experience they always say to take him to out of hours doctor which is at a hospital half an hour away, this is after several hours of waiting for calls back etc which could potentially mean disturbing him at 11/12pm?? Will he be ok if I just keep an eye on him? I'm quite worried

Is he pulling his chest in as he breathes?

If you are worried then I'm afraid there's nothing for it but to take him to the doc/hospital. Is he breathing fast? Is he pulling in skin under the ribs when breathing?

Hello how horrible for you. Is his temperature responding to calpol / neurofen?

I phoned NHS direct about my DD last week and they were asking questions about her breathing ie.e was she struggling; did she look pale or blue around the mouth, is she getting worse etc.

My honest feeling is that you should trust your instincts and if you're not happy, then just phone your out of hours Dr - they'll call back within the hour after a good chat with you and say whether or not to bring him in. Is he your first child?

The temperature itself is almost irrelevant, it's how they are with it. I would phone if it was me or if you're really worried, then go to A&E - it's absolutely fine to do that and they triage children quickly.

I think you should go to the doc. My dd2 has a very bad chest and it sounds very like what you are dealing with. They can go down hill so fast, i do find that if i steam her it really helps. I put the power shower onto 9 and close the doors and sit in the room with her and the steam softens the phlegm. The only way that kids of this age clear their chests is to puke it up so be prepared for that. I would rather have a long night in the hospital then be up the walls at home. The doctor might feel ds needs a nebuliser which is like a small mask put over the mouth and nose and he will inhaile solbutimol. Good luck

Not sure about chest pulling in - will go and check. He looks like he's heaving when he starts coughing if you know what I mean.

The temp goes down with calpol, yes.

Yes he's my PFB - but that also means I'm not very experienced at illnesses! He had coughs last winter but nothing like this.

Just to add if his tummy is rising as he breathes rather then his chest it can indicate a nasty infection so dont hang round at home

Yes, steam very helpful.

Ds has had lots and lots of chest problems in his young life but has never had a temp with it.

Agree with PTIYPASI. Its horrible when they have trouble breathing, have had that with dd2 in the past - I'd go straight for the out of hours doc or A&E, I think. Good luck, I really hope he's better soon.

Don't bugger around when it comes to breating difficulties please. If your worried enough to be thinking he needs to see a doctor then he does.

Always better safe than sorry (unfourtunately voice of experience

TBH, if you are worried about his breathing, then you must see someone about it straightaway

Well the great news is that he's responding to calpol

Has he puked anything up and if so what colour and does he have any snots and if so what colour? If green, then it sounds like a bacterial chest infection and he may well need antibiotics if he's struggling. BUT it may be more than that and needs checking.

Oh Babalon

I am a children's nurse and my advice is take him asap if he is ok then no worries if he isn't then you can be seen and sorted much better to go than not as littlies can deteriorate quite quickly.OTH they get better quickly too hope all is well

clear runny nose, not green.

DH just trying to find a direct number for out of hours doctor now so we don't have to go via NHS direct and wait for someone to call back.

Sorry Babylon - you're right, if I'm worried I should trust my instincts

thanks everyone - sorry, i rush, forgot to write that in my last post

weegle if you are really worried go to A+E they will see you quickly

To get your out of hours Dr, call your usual Drs number and it will say on the answer phone.

A&E is a good start anyway - absolutely perfect outcome if you end up going home feeling reassured!

Glad your are ringing out of hours.

Just spent a week in hospital with a very poorly ds who had a very nasty chest infection.

Trust your instincts

weegle how are things this morning

Yes please let us know how he is.

We took him to out of hours last night. He was really distressed being examined but it gave a good demonstration of his breathing! Anyway, it's "just" croup, although quite bad so we were sent home to keep an eye on him and to call if he worsened. He actually slept quite well but has been off colour so far this morning but his breathing is better now he's up but bless him, all he wants to do is sit on my lap, so we've already gone through his whole book collection! Thanks for your concern and advice everyone, I'm glad we went as it really reassured us last night as we were quite worried. I had no idea croup could sound so dreadful!

my ds had croup recently .. we bought a humidifier from argos for about £35 and it is fantastic .. it has really sorted his breathing out. We still put it on at night sometimes if he is a bit snuffly as it helps his breathing especially now that the central heating is on which dries the air out.

Glad you saw someone weegle - always good to trust your instincts on things like that

Glad you went and he's ok at the moment.

Sorry my post sounded last night that I'd lost a child but very luckily I didn't, close thing but he's ok.

My 8yr old DS1 got croup for the first time 3 weeks ago, was treated with steriods on the thursday morning at a+e then again that night and was admitted to hospital. He had a very bad night and was confused and distressed most of the night. He got up in the morning and seemed better went to the play room but within 10 minutes was struggling for breathe so was given nebulisers and steriods and responded well to them. An hour later the consultant came and said he didn't need to be in hospital and he could go home and croup wasn't life threatening anyway especially in such a large child (hold that thought!. I explained that he seemed fine now because he'd had drugs 1 hour earlier and I was not going to take him home just so that I had to bring him back later, she very reluctantly agreed to reveiw him at tea time.
Anyway day passes DS1 eating playing on play station, I'm thinking maybe Dr was right and we should have gone home. About 3.30 stridor returns and gets steadily worse. At 7.15 I ask for steriods and nebs only to be told he was in for observation and we'd have to go home sometime so no drugs try and destract him.

7.50 my Ds has a respitory arrest

This is the shortened version even more errors bad attitude unfortunately.

He was transfered to ICU at a bigger hospital and was ventilated for 4 days. Yes it was croup but bacterial croup(rather than viral) otherwise called baterial trachyitis.

So like I said don't bugger around with breathing difficulties its not worth it. If I had taken my son home he'd most probably be dead

Blinking hell Babalon, that sounds just awful for you and your DS - you must have been so scared, thank goodness he is fine now. And good on you for trusting your instincts and standing your ground. At the very least you deserve a letter acknowledging and apologising for the errors made with your sons care. Have you made a complaint? I guess all you care about is your son is safe and well and with you.