Flu vaccine & history of bronchiolitis

[CharnwoodFire]

Disclaimer - I am pro-vacciniation!

My just turned two year old had the flu vaccine yesterday. I stupidly didn't read up enough about it and didn't realise it was a live vaccine until afterwards - therefore didn't realise it would leave him with symptoms. He's now got a bit of a cold (cough, runny nose etc) which I'm pretty certain is a direct result of the vaccine - fine. But most worryingly, he's also starting to breath a little oddly - the way he's breathed before being hospitalised for Broncholitis (which has happened 5 times in the past).

I guess what I'm asking is / need reassurance about is - I presume that this vaccine wont give him Broncholitis again, will it?

Well bronch is just inflammation and I suppose that could happen yes? I’m not a dr though. Have they given you an inhaler? after recurrent bronch they should do. If not I would push for one so you can help treat him at home

Thank you - yes I've got one and it's been effective over the past 8 months. I've used it now and he's not better but not worse.

Can't believe I've given him the thing I was desperate to avoid 🫥

Unfortunately the flu vaccine did put my daughter in hospital. She had a history of frequent bronchiolitis. She's since been diagnosed with asthma.
However she seemed to react worst to the nasal spray.
Since she got diagnosed with asthma and given a preventer inhaler she now has the flue vaccine every year but she has the injection rather than the Nadal spray.
But yes it can effect some kids with breathing issues so just keep a close eye on him. Hopefully he will just recover quickly.

My youngest gad croup from about 3 months to 7 years, and bronchiolitis as well (croup very frequently, bronchiolitis only about twice a week). No problems with any vaccine

Thats good. Though I wonder if they had the nasal spray flu vaccine specifically? It seems to not have been consistently offered over the years.

I had my flu jab last week and was told it wasn't live - I daftly assumed that would be the case for all flu vaccines (I don't have anything against live vaccines, but in this case it would have been better to avoid).

He's still breathing heavily and has an amount of 'sucking in' - but seems quite cheerful? I'm going to keep an eye on him and keep my fingers and toes crossed

Can I ask where you got the vaccine?

I wanted it for my just two year old as he’s also had several admissions for bronchiolitis and wheeze, but no where, either NHS or private are willing to give it to him because he doesn’t meet the criteria under the NHS (which is to have turned two by August).

Though this thread has also alerted me to the risks around the nasal spray.

Sorry you’re dealing with it OP. It’s so tough. DS has been on a brown steroid inhaler since he was 1.5, which is on the younger side but he was being admitted 1-2 times a month that it was decided the benefit is greater than the risk. Now that your DC is two, perhaps it’s worth looking into it? It was a game changer for my DC who had the exact same issue.

Just to add, I gave the flu vaccine to my older DC when he was 2.5 via a nasal spray and he had no issues, so could very possibly be that your DS was already coming down with something.

@CharnwoodFire he always had the nasal vaccine. he’s 9 now, and its all pretty much gone (still prone to coughs, but that’s it)

He had it at our GPs. I didn't realise he should have turned 2 by August - he only turned 2 a couple of weeks ago.

Yes, he has the brown inhaler - which I agree has been brilliant up till now... And he was put onto montylukast too initially but after a few months was taken off

Same as us - we went onto Montelukast but didn’t make any difference. Brown is helping though. We’ve just upped the dose now that he’s turned two so I’m hoping for a more noticeable improvement.

Just to add, both mine have still had episodes even on the brown inhaler - it’s just not been bad enough to need an admission and the number of A&E trips dropped massively, so fingers crossed this is just an episode that can be managed with a blue inhaler or at worst, burst therapy in A&E and then you’re through the worst.

We managed to book an appointment for the flu vaccine at our GP practice but then later told he was too young. No private clinics were willing to give it because of his age.

@Frogbear did your GP / pharmacist up the dosage for the brown? We're still on the same amount - I'll look into it.

Thank you - you've given me reassurance that he can get through this without an admission. They were really rough - he was in for five days each time and seriously ill.

Can I ask - what's burst therapy?

I've had two emails this week from my 18 month old's nursery saying they they have multiple confirmed RSV cases in the baby and young toddler rooms. It's definitely that time of year.

If you are worried about your toddlers breathing, take them to see the GP/A&E and ask them to test for RSV. Any worrying respiratory symptoms could be the live attenuated flu vaccine, but they could also be RSV or another virus. My then-baby was in hospital with bronchiolitis this week last year - horrible experience.

We’re under consultant care so when we had our next routine appointment just after DS turned two a few weeks ago, the consultant upped the dose. Though I guess it depends on what dose you’re on now in the first place!

Burst therapy is when they give them 10 or so puffs of the inhaler every 10 mins or so in A&E. It’s usually the first step before they up treatment to steroids, etc.

How is he doing today? Really hope it passed quickly.

My GP won’t test and my A&E only test for viruses when there’s an admission.

But you can get at home kits for testing RSV. I know it doesn’t really matter what virus it is but I am always curious myself so I looked into it once!