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Original poster

So ds has a cough and i'm a bit worried

35 replies

theUrbanDryad · 21/11/2007 13:57

He's had a cough and a snotty nose for about a week or so, so i took him to the gp on Monday, where a med student checked him out, and said he was fine. then today, after 2 sleepless nights and a bout of vomiting i took him back to see the nurse practitioner who listened to his chest again and shrugged at me. she said she's seen a lot of this at the moment, but it's not a virus or anything, so it can't be treated. he's now vomiting after every milk feed, refusing all solids (even yoghurt, which is most unlike him!) and very lethargic. what do i do???

OP posts:
belgo · 21/11/2007 14:01

get him back to the doctors. the vomiting and lethargy may be a sign of dehydration so he needs to be seen by a qualified doctor.

hayCHingleBells · 21/11/2007 14:03

Does he have a temperature?

Is he drinking water?

janestillhere · 21/11/2007 14:04

My dd aged 12 mnths had a sicky bug the other week which wasn't alarming in itself. But then one afternoon she was very sleepy and larthargic and I was then v. concerned.
Get the doctor rung again - I bet they'll have you in this aft just to check everything ok.
Better to be safe etc.
My dd was fine thank goodness but it does help to have someone in the know to actually confirm it x

hayCHingleBells · 21/11/2007 14:07

Both a nurse practitioner and a med student should be able to tell a chest infection quite easily.

Is the coughing related to the vomiting? I mean does he cough so much that he makes himself sick?
Or could it be that he has a tummy bug aswell as a cold?

bellaprincess · 21/11/2007 14:09

I would get back to the doctors. My DD1 had a cold and cough then started vomitting (couldn't even keep water down) turned out she had very bad tonsilitis and needed antibiotics. She is all fine now she completed the course of anitbiotics.
Good luck hope your son gets better soon.

Original poster
theUrbanDryad · 21/11/2007 14:10

Haychee - he's drinking water, but then vomming it back up when he coughs violently. ditto with breastmilk. no solids being taken at all.

i don't know if it's a chest infection - i would've thought it would sound different if it was. it's difficult to explain the sound he makes when he coughs, it sort of a whistly, wheezy cough, with a bit of movement.

i'm worried about dehydration as well, but his fontanelle isn't dipped and he's still dribbling and has had a couple of wet nappies today, so i'm not panicking yet (much)

thing is, this is the first time he's ever been ill, and it's horrible

OP posts:
Original poster
theUrbanDryad · 21/11/2007 14:11

no temperature, by the way

OP posts:
KerryMum · 21/11/2007 14:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hayCHingleBells · 21/11/2007 14:16

No temperature indicates no infections anywhere.

He probobly wont feel like eating and i shouldnt let that worry you for now. Like you say he is still drinking and producing wet nappies, so i think hes just suffering with the cold.

If it were you or i we would take some cold rhemedy (like day nurse etc).

Bless him. Have you given calpol? Are lo`s allowed honey and lemon - am not sure, someone else might know.

hayCHingleBells · 21/11/2007 14:17

Are his finger tips or toes or mouth (around lips) blue-ish??

Or is he lovely and pink?

Original poster
theUrbanDryad · 21/11/2007 14:18

no honey for under 12months, i think. he's had some medised. there aren't any cough remedies for chesty coughs for under 12months either.

KM - he's not wheezing all the time, and he's perked up a bit now, so i don't think he's in distress...

OP posts:
Original poster
theUrbanDryad · 21/11/2007 14:19

he's pink

KM - ds put the kiss on the end of my last post! i think he might have something going on for you!!

OP posts:
Original poster
theUrbanDryad · 21/11/2007 14:20

ooh, and it's gone. how bizarre....

he's sat on his playmat halfheartedly chewing his taggy elephant that was the sound of my heart breaking into tiny pieces.

ok, i'm being overly dramatic now. touch of PFB going on i fear...

OP posts:
hayCHingleBells · 21/11/2007 14:21

So basically both of you have to grin and bare it.

Horrid winter, horrid coughs and colds especially when its a lo. Its soo unfair for them.

I think all you can do is keep him drinking - flush it out of him.

Karvol is very good, for night time. Also propping up the cot at the head end (or just the mattress) so its tilted is useful. Not so tilited that lo keeps rolling down to the foot end tho

Original poster
theUrbanDryad · 21/11/2007 14:26

i don't have to bare it do i?? you really don't want me to do that...i've got a horrible flabby belly going on at the moment!

no, i think you're right, if he's still wheezy tomorrow and if we have another night like the past two i might get the HV to have a look, but if i'm still not happy, what would the next step be?

OP posts:
hayCHingleBells · 21/11/2007 14:30

Back to the Drs i spose, and ask for a second opinion by a doctor.

But by the sounds of it, i think its just a cold. And as he cant take anything like we would to dry up secretions and mucous etc. He is suffering a bit.

Im sure he will be fine.

Have you tried karvol?
Tilting the cot?

It could develop into croup? Google it. Youll need to know what to do if it does develop, comes on suddenly apparently.

hayCHingleBells · 21/11/2007 14:33

Remember, its our job as parents to worry about the los. Even if we are not usually worriers, we will worry, sometimes perhaps a little too much. Its natural instinct to ensure survival.
If he is happy enough to play and is drinking, fontanelle is not dipped and is producing wet nappies, id try not to worry too much. Especially as he hasnt got a temperature aswell.
Watch for croup though.

Original poster
theUrbanDryad · 21/11/2007 14:36

Haych - haven't tried Karvol, will get dh to get some on his way home. we co-sleep so tilting the cot would be difficult, but i could prop him up on some pillows maybe.

thanks for your replies everyone. i'm all hormonal and tearful and worried about asthma!

OP posts:
Elibean · 21/11/2007 15:37

Urban, have a look at his chest when he's breathing calmly (ideally, when asleep). If hsi ribs are pulling in at the sides, or, worse, if his throat is 'tugging' in, those are both signs he is struggling to breathe in his chest - as opposed to his nose. If you spot those (recessing and tugging, to be exact) get him to A&E asap.

And tbh, if he's still wheezy tomorrow, I'd get him checked again. Not having a temp means he's unlikely to have a bacterial infection, but bronchiolitis - for example - is a viral infection and can be very nasty without a temp at all.

The fact that he perked up and played is very positive though - there are tons of horrid bugs around atm, 'hopefully' he just has one of those! And not overdramatic at all - I'll never regret my last minute 'oh perhaps I'll just see the GP once more for peace of mind' last year.

Elibean · 21/11/2007 15:38

ps humidifier, if you can lay your hands on one, or wet towel on radiator if possible, will help blocked nose too - and you can put Karvol on the towel, if you do that.

KerryMum · 21/11/2007 17:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
theUrbanDryad · 22/11/2007 08:17

he's 10mo, will be 11mo on the 5th...

the vomiting is much worse today, he's been sick three times already, not managed to keep anything down, but again seems very bright and cheerful with it. his snot has turned yellow (nice...!) and there's about 40,000 tons of it.

it's gonna be a fun day in the Urban house today. i may have to go and cheer myself up with some rampant consumerism and buy Battlestar Galactica season 2 on dvd....

OP posts:
susiecutiemincepies · 22/11/2007 08:31

I dont understand some practitioners sometimes, it really p's me off!

Infections are either viral OR bacterial. a cough, or vomiting or what ever the presenting complaint is, is either caused by a virus or a bacterial infection... really frustrates me when people get such crappy advice!

Sorry... no help at all that little rant

I think he needs to be seen again really. If he's vomitting, so frequently, with oor without the other symptoms, he may get dehydrated fairly quickly. Coupled with the cough, your GP ought to listen in again. His chest may well be clear but doesnt mean he's not poorly... my Dd (same age! ) had bronchialitis last week, so scary. she went to hospital. She also had some vomitting but apparently the temperature can do that to them when they are little...

I think you ought to get back down to your gp today... sorry no mpre help to you.

also, sorry for the rant

PS, I cannot find the jan 07 thread again... i really want to tlak to others jan mums! found it twice i think, and never again

Original poster
theUrbanDryad · 22/11/2007 08:37

Susie - here we are!!

OP posts:
susiecutiemincepies · 22/11/2007 08:43

BTW: I was ranting about your Nurse pratitioner and med student...

Bronchialitis does not always give them a pyrexia, but, is really really nasty. If they have the RSV virus as well, which usually presents with snotty nose and upper respiratory symptoms, like your DS has... unfortunately, no treatment as such for it, unless really bad and need O2 and nebulisers like my dd had last week.
It can drag on too, she still is not well with it.

Sorry, if it looked like i was having a go at anyone here i really wasn't.