9mo with Bronchiolitis

[ManhattanMama]

DS was diagnosed with bronchiolitis on Friday, having had a persistent cough (with vomiting) for 3 months. We've been back to the docs 5 or 6 times and each visit have been fobbed off with "Allergies" or "just a regular cough" - so am a bit that it's turned out to be something more serious.

Anyway, he's got a nebuliser that we have to give him 3 times a day, and we're back at the docs for a check up on Friday, when they may send him for an xray to rule out pneumonia. I did a search on MN and scared myself with the fact that lots of DCs seem to end up in hospital with this?

What can I expect recovery-wise for him? As I understand it the nebuliser just helps with the breathing, rather than actually fixing the problem - how long will it take for him to get over it?

You poor thing - it's a horrible illness

To be fair to your doctor, it can take a while before a cold can turn into bronchiolitis.

My DS was one of the ones that was hospitalised at nine months for five days. He was ill for about 3 days before he really couldn't breathe (which is why he had to go in) and then it probably took him another week after coming home to be right as rain. Hopefully DS won't get as bad as mine did so will recover faster. It's viral so there's not much they can do.

I know you're in the US but if you look on the NHS Direct site, there's some very useful information about when to call the doctor out/take him to hospital - breathing rates etc

Most children don't end up in hospital though so please don't worry too much. Hope he recovers soon.

Not sure if I can help but my dd had pneumonia. You have the weather on your side at least. Keep him out of drafts and keep him with you at all times so you can monitor breathing. Watch out for a steep rise in temperature.

My dd didn't recover too well and we used alternative approaches, cranial osteopathy really helped and there are some very effective herbs that help clear mucus and protect the lungs.

Thanks for the replies - I'm worrying about the long-term effects of possibly having this and not treating it for weeks.

Hopefully we've caught it early enough, and can keep treating with the nebuliser at home, rather than him having to into hospital.

It's made worse by him having an ear infection at the same time, with a temperature of over 101 - talk about "it never rains but it pours"

Poor you, and poor DS - it is a horrid illness, dd had it at 4 weeks (she did end up in hospital, very poorly, but she had complications due to laryngomalacia).

From all I've ever heard or read about bronchiolitis, including when dd was in HDU with it, the viral phase of the illness lasts about ten days maximum - the cough may continue for a few months afterwards, but not the active viral bit. So either your DS must have had a long drawn out cough/cold which has ended in bronchiolitis, or he started with bronchiolitis which has ended in a cough/cold - and ear infection - did they do a swab from his nose, to check for RSV infection? Its one of the most common viruses that cause bronch., though not the only one.

I think recovery depends on lots of factors, but dd was lucky - in spite of her complications - in that she never really coughed afterwards, and was fine a week later. She still has a narrow airway, is a bit wheezy at night etc but thats down to her larynx structure and a genetic tendency to asthma, not the RSV itself.

Really hope the poor lad is better soon, and avoids hospitalization (most do, stats on your side!)

You need to concentrate on prevention as much as you can and cut down on mucus forming foods for a while at least until the mucus has cleared. We switched to goats milk and that was half the battle. Also sugary food too. EFA's such as fish oil is excellent for building and strengthening immunity we use a higher nature lemon fish oil, also vitamin supplements dinochews (for short periods) for children. If I were you I would locate a reputable cranial/sacral osteopath to support recovery. I think you are doing the right thing just by being cautious. Plenty of rest too lung problems deplete energy.

Things to look out for is redness in cheeks and cold to the touch.