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Original poster

Any advice? My Son has bronchialitis

22 replies

1legmummy · 03/03/2008 22:27

My 15 month old was diagnosed with ear infection and tonsylitis. He was put on antibiotics. The next day we took him back as he seemed to look like he was having an electric shock we were told this was one stage down from a fit due to temperature.

Last night he had trouble breathing and at our latest visit to the Doctor he now has bronchialitis. He has been given steroids (orally) and stronger antibiotics, with an order to call an ambulance if it gets worse.

I am absolutely terrified to goto sleep, has anyone any advice? he screams when I go near him with his medicine and I really struggle with his inhaler and spacer.

OP posts:

weeonion · 03/03/2008 22:33

1legmummy - poor you. i have no advice for you but DD was diagnosed with this on friday as well. i have her monitor up extra loud and i am checking her every hour or so. i was advised to keep her room humid with damp towels on radiators. she does find it easier to breath at bath time. we also just have to keep an eye on her. some other people i know whose dc had this say that i t took a while ot get over so i guess we might just be in for a long haul. i suppose we have to be watchful but rest as much as we can as well.
hope he is sleeping ok now and you manage to get some sleep.

dizzydixies · 03/03/2008 22:39

the anti-biotics won't help the bronchilitis, its viral
dd2 was hospitalised with it and they stopped her anit-b the minute we got into hosp but by the sounds of it they are for your ds' tonsils/ears

give him pain relief - calpol/neurofen alternately so they are staggered and if you want medised instead of calpol to see if he will sleep - they really need rest to help them get over it - hosp kept dd's bed raised at the top to ease breathing - books under top end the cot maybe?

if he is having difficulty breathing get into the bathroom, turn on all hot taps/bat/shower etc and steam up the room - hot and humid

sleep when he sleeps and do not panic its a horrible thing hearing a wee one struggle for breath - did they not give you an inhaler - we have one with one of the big wide attachment/nebulisers and oxygen but she had a very serious case, I don't mean to frighten you

sounds like you have done the right thing by taking him to the dr

dizzydixies · 03/03/2008 22:40

sorry - missed last sentance re inhaler/spacer - I gave it to dd when she was sleeping as she freaked when we put it up to her face, not surprised - we were told to use it once an hour or when needed so you could try that?

Monkeybird · 03/03/2008 22:49

I started a coughers/wheezers thread some time back - will look for it and post a link. Lots of kids on there have had bronchiolitis and there's advice on coughing, inhalers etc... My best advice is try to do some of the inhaler in their sleep, but sorry not much else to suggest...

Monkeybird · 03/03/2008 22:50

is the link to the thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=138&threadid=449644#9096950

Feel free to bump it and ask for advice from others who's kids have had bronchiolitis there...

Monkeybird · 03/03/2008 22:51

buggered that up so here it is again!

hopefully...

maisiestar · 03/03/2008 22:53

Karvol capsules are also good and you can get a vapour thing that plugs in and releases vapours gradually, which can help them breath more easily.
Snufflebabe or Vick was also a help - I used to put it on the feet of his babygro
Also definitely raise the head of his bed - but put a pillow under the mattress, rather than something under the feet as it is more stable.
And hope he gets well soon - it is awful when they're ill and too small to even tell you what the matter is.

oops · 03/03/2008 22:54

Message withdrawn

Original poster

1legmummy · 03/03/2008 23:07

might sound a really stupid question but when he is asleep, I am trying to give the inhaler, does the spacer mask have to be against his skin? It wakes him up and he goes mad

OP posts:

dizzydixies · 03/03/2008 23:13

oops sorry I was just giving the advice that the hosp gave to me. my dd was on staggered calpol and ibuprofen

1legmummy just as close to his face as you can get it to make sure he gets as much in as possible

emma1977 · 03/03/2008 23:17

Sounds as though you have all the appropriate medication already. Bronchiolitis tends to be viral and the majority of kids get better at home within a few days, although it can be stressful for the parents.

I'd second the advice about a warm, humid environment to ease any breathing difficulties. Also raising the head of the cot by 4-5" (a tin of beans under 2 legs!) can help with breathing while asleep.

If at any point you are concerned about your LO's breathing, do as you have been advised and get to A&E promptly- hopefully you won't need to though.

swedishmum · 03/03/2008 23:21

Patting dd's back helped. I found it better sleeping with her face down on me while I sat on the sofa - but she did have it very badly. On the bright side, once she started to get better, she was well very quickly. Watch out for difficult breathing and the sternum moving up and down too much. PLEASE phone or go to A and E if you're worried. Keep liquids up.

shelleylou · 03/03/2008 23:39

try and prop up your dc, so his heads higher than his legs i know its easier said than done at that age but it helps open the airways. Try and give him fluids little and often. I dont know wat you wer told about the spacer. I was told to hoild it near his mouth and nose as no doubt your 15month old is the same as mine and doesnt like it near his face, but if you can smel the inhaler then he is taking it. From the soudns of it your ds hasnt got it really badly. Do keep a close eye on him. If you need it i have a load of info that a hospital printed of for me when my ds was hospitalised with it as he had it severely.

dizzydixies · 04/03/2008 09:16

hoping you had a reasonable night and the wee one is showing some improvement today

mrschop · 04/03/2008 11:24

I kept a kettle on the floor of DD's room and boiled it every couple of hours, with bowl of hot water and Karvol on the radiator, which really helped. Obviously that's only an option if there's no way a child could get to the kettle.

oops · 04/03/2008 12:19

Message withdrawn

oops · 04/03/2008 12:23

Message withdrawn

Ledodgy · 04/03/2008 12:27

When ds was in hospital with the same thing he was given oral steroids and calpol together with no ill effects. Maybe it's different in animals.

oops · 04/03/2008 13:55

Message withdrawn

Elibean · 04/03/2008 16:04

How's your LO today? Hope better, its a horrid illness.

My dd had it at 4 weeks and was very ill in hospital, but she was very young AND had a narrow airway (floppy larynx) so needed CPap.

Antibiotics are often given even though its viral, in case of secondary infections - at least in HDU, all the babies were on ABs. NOt all were on steroids - dd wasn't - but they can help in some cases.

What we were told over and over again was that the fifth day (counting from the very first sign of illness) is the 'peak', and after that they start to recover - so if you're not at the fifth day yet, keep a close eye on breathing and go to A&E if in doubt. But if you've reached the 5th day, with any luck you should be on the up

Original poster

1legmummy · 04/03/2008 23:53

Hi everyone - well I am knackered but I think we peaked yesterday and it was day 5!! so thanks Elibean.

All your advice was really helpful, we were told by Doc we could give calpol, but I decided against unless I was worried about temp.

My Son was very poorly at birth when he contracted strep b from me (a swab had been taken but Docs read results wrong!)and I am paranoid every time he is poorly.

Thanks everyone x x x x

OP posts:

dragonbutter · 05/03/2008 00:14

1legmummy. Exact same thing happened to me. DS1 was born with GBS pneumonia (i didn't know I was a carrier) He also developed bronchiolitis at about 4 months. It was really hard to be back at the hospital and for him to find breathing difficult.
I think it's normal to be paranoid when you've had children who have been seriously ill. DS1 is 3 now and if he has a chest infection I still like to sleep near him.
Well done for holding together, I'm glad he's over the worst.

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