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Original poster

update on berolina and babybero, + ABs question

28 replies

berolina · 17/04/2008 18:28

I have perked up today, and been spared ABs - it appears to be just a nasty bronchitis - I have to go back on Tues to check it's getting better and (as the asthmatic symptoms are worrying) have lung function tested.

babybero has been given a nebuliser with salbutamol, although he's not having trouble breathing, because he has a lot of phlegm and needs help gerting it off his chest. And amoxycillin to be started if and when his temp goes over 38.5 again, because that would point to pneumonia

He had 3 days of IV ABs for a neonatal infection at 3 weeks (he's 7mo now) and I really don't like the idea of exposing him to more... I have slight uto-immune issues, we've already decided he'll be having single vax but I still want to avoid over-exposure to stuff that could cause problems. Any views on risks v benefirs of the ABs?

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SlightlyMadSweet · 17/04/2008 18:31

Risk of nbot taking ABs for chest infection - DEATH. (Obv worst case scenario)

Risk of taking ABs significantly less than death. Shouldn't affect his immune system, just kill the bugs so that his immune system can cope. It will still be his immune system which has to work to clear up the dead bugs.

Original poster
berolina · 17/04/2008 18:35

Thank you.

Suppose pre/probiotics to accompany the ABs are unnecessary, seeing as he's still more or less exclusively bf (just started weaning)?

It's 4ml amoxycillin, so not huge amounts.

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SlightlyMadSweet · 17/04/2008 18:37

4ml of 125mg/5ml?

AMoyxl is quite a tame AB too.

NOt sure what/if probiotics are suitable for a babe....I guess they must be as they are in some formulas.

moondog · 17/04/2008 18:37

Nowt useeful to say on the AB front but very sad that you have both been poorly.
Get better soon.

Original poster
berolina · 17/04/2008 18:40

I spent half my life on amoxyl as a child.

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lulumama · 17/04/2008 18:42

i would give the ABs. especially if susceptible to chest infections

hope you are both feeling much better very soon x

SlightlyMadSweet · 17/04/2008 18:48

The problem is that an adult can help their body fight a chest infection by coughing up (and out) the bugs.

A baby can't do that - so the bugs st a fester & multiply in teh lungs. They need more help to get rid from teh inside.

If it was me I wouldn't wait for temp to spike to give the ABs....the lungs are kind of important.

Ellbell · 17/04/2008 18:49

No use at all on ABs, Bero. Just saw this and wanted to pop in to say that I'm glad you're feeling better and that I hope ds2 feels better soon.

Original poster
berolina · 17/04/2008 20:04

Thank you Ellbell and thank you for your email. I'm OK - in body and soul - really. I'm a bit taken aback because I really didn't think babybero was that ill - ad it's still not serious really - just something that needs to shift.

It's 250mg/5ml, SMS. I'll have to recheck her recommendation, as the bottle actually says half that for his weight. She did sit with a calculator and work it out.

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lackaDAISYcal · 17/04/2008 20:16

no advice on the ABs, but just wanted to say I'm glad you're feeling a little better. sorry about babybero's poorliness . I would give the ABs tbh, but I'm a bit of a slave to medical science.

I know how you feel about not thinking your baby was so bad......We ended up with a nebuliser for DS over Christmas as he was having a nasty asthma attack. I felt awful as I thought it was just a bit of a cough

I hope you're both on the mend soon

and fwiw, I'll be naming you as a lovely MNer on the next lovely thing naming thread

MrsJohnCusack · 17/04/2008 21:05

glad you feel a little better and I hope babyBero soon feels better too.

SlightlyMadSweet · 17/04/2008 21:08

Hmmm...a 6m old (I am assuming that is about right for babybero given you are saying you are just starting weaning?) would normally be given 5ml of the 125mg/5ml dose I think.

BUT with suspected pneumonia (as it is so serious) the dose is often doubled - which would make the dose you have correct.

policywonk · 17/04/2008 21:15

Just nasty bronchitis

Poor you and BabyB, sounds very very scary.

Original poster
berolina · 17/04/2008 21:50

thank you everyone.

Babybero is just short of 7 months, but little - he'll be about 14.5lb, I think. His temp is normal tonight, so holding off on ABs as per instructions... you think I should give them anyway? She did say possible pneumonia... unless the word for pneumonia can also mean more general 'chest infection' as well? (German, anyone?)

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SlightlyMadSweet · 17/04/2008 21:56

"Chest infection" is laymans terms for a number of conidtions. His notes won't say "chest infection" as that is not the medical description.

MOst chest infections are either pneumonia (lower airways/air sacs) which is usually bacterial or Bronchitis (upper airways/tubes) and is usually viral.

SlightlyMadSweet · 17/04/2008 21:58

The phlegm is inditive of a bacterial infection....which is where the pneumonia 'diagnosis' has come from.

Original poster
berolina · 17/04/2008 21:59

This is Germany, the word she used usually does mean pneumonia. Think I will recheck with her.

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Original poster
berolina · 17/04/2008 22:00

ah I see. Cheers for explaining. It's just such a horrid frightening word, isn't it?

He has just fed to sleep and is breathing gently and easily.

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SlightlyMadSweet · 17/04/2008 22:02

But what I am saying is that if he has a chest infection which has phlegm the medical term will be pneumonia.

Pneumonia is just the medical name for most bacterial chest infections.

If he has ABs for a chest complaint he has (suspected) pneumonia.

Peoples perception of pneumonia is something you catch from being cold/somehing really deadly... And whilst severe pneumonia can be a killer (especially if untreated/in tiny babies/the elderly where complications set in) it is also easily treated in the home (says SMS who is recovering from pneumonia too).

SlightlyMadSweet · 17/04/2008 22:04

Sorry XPOsts

But you are right it is a frightening word.

I think in the UK GPs tend to describe it as a "chest infection" as there is much less "stigma/fear" associated with it.

Original poster
berolina · 17/04/2008 22:06

I do kywm - that's what I meant - the fright-inducing effect of the word. Chesty/lungy things have been my big worry with him since his hospitalisation at 3 weeks taking approximately 100 breaths per minute.

You've been really helpful thanks.

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Original poster
berolina · 17/04/2008 22:07

lol - x posts again!

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CristinaTheAstonishing · 17/04/2008 22:08

Beolina - is this related to the rash he had a couple of weeks ago?

SlightlyMadSweet · 17/04/2008 22:10

No probs. I like the lungs...I know a bit about them in a professional and parental capacity

10 breaths per minute is more scary though...I've been there too (DTDS were prem). For 2 years I was couting breaths per min every time they got a cold as I knew their lungs were scarred from teh ventilator, which made them prone to mild infections turning severe.

Original poster
berolina · 17/04/2008 22:21

Cristina - I don't think so. I have rotten bronchitis (sound rather dog-like when I cough) and ds1 has been feverish - I reckon he's caught whatever-it-is from us. The rash actually turned up again when I was at my parents' some time later and my mum said 'teething'.

SMS - I probably spend a minute or two timing breaths most days, even when he's healthy...

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