ds grunting when breathing. Rapid laboured breathing. V worried

[MommyD]

ds2 is 16 months old. he was taken into hosp last thursday because of suspected respiratory distress - continual grunting and laboured breathing. He stopped as soon as we got to hosp. His blood oxygen was low. They ventilated him and we went home. Took him back Friday as he started it again. Got to hosp and he stopped (again!). They said he had no chest infection and he had to just get over it.
It is now Tuesday - he is still grunting, rapid breathing, tired, not sleeping, not eating, seems hot but no temp. Calpol makes him cheer up a bit. Sometimes he is absolutely fine, smiling and interested, then suddenly it hits him again and he is not the baby I know.
What would you do? At hospital they make me feel like a neurotic mother as he seems fine when he gets there, but I am so unhappy with this grunting on every breath. The only time he doesn't do it is when he is asleep.

Any ideas what it could be? Just a virus?

Asthma? We had this last year, and got sent to hospital with him. He spent the night in hospital, and they told us that he definitely has asthma, and that it will appear every time he has a cold. It has!

It sounds like Broncholitus - just got out of hospital with my DD2 age 8mths - she was exactly the same. The sharp intake of breath etc.

Thanks ladies - I think it is either:

1. He had bronchiolitis badly last year and now that he has a slight cold and cough it has affected his chest
2. He is prone to chest problems with colds etc. because he is going to be asthmatic (I do hope not) He is absolutely fine today. He hasn't had calpol for 24 hours now - he has no fever and is now back into everything and eating again. He still slept badly though ... and so did I (and I'm 9 weeks pregnant!) HAPPY CHRISTMAS ALL...