Since the weekend we have been in and out of A & E with Harry – he has Bronchialitis and has been rather unwell with it.
On Saturday he really struggled to breathe so I call the out of hours doctors who took 3.5 hours to call us back, by which time he was fast asleep and seeming better. By Sunday he was clearly unwell so I called out of hours again and got an appointment for an hour later – leaving Emmy and Daddy at home I took him off to the docs. He was then sent straight across to A&E as was too unwell for the doctors liking.
Poorly Boy
Once there he was put on Oxygen for a few hours and then treated with a saline nebuliser and dismissed a few hours later. The children’s casualty area was full with very small babies all with the same symptoms and we had been told there were no beds, let alone side rooms which Harry would need if he was to be admitted (he is yet to have his immunisations).
He hasn’t got any better, so I took him back to the doctors yesterday, and they listened to him and decided he now had a chest infection, so they sent us back to A&E. We were rushed through and made to feel silly for taking him back even though we were sent there. They treated him with a saline nebuliser again, and we stayed until he fed (something he hadn’t done for 15 hours), but they sent us home again, saying he didn’t have a chest infection and it was all normal for bronchiolitis.
I can’t say I’m at all happy; they were nice enough in A&E but I was still made to feel like a paranoid parent who was over-reacting (despite being referred there twice) so I am now watching my son like a hawk, listening for changes to his breathing and I will NOT hesitate to take him back.
Bronchiolitis is a common chest infection that affects babies and children under 2. It’s usually mild and can be treated at home, but it can be serious.
Check if it’s bronchiolitis
The early symptoms of bronchiolitis are similar to a cold, such as sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, a cough and a slightly high temperature of 38C.
A child with bronchiolitis may then get other symptoms, such as:
breathing more quickly
finding it difficult to feed or eat
noisy breathing (wheezing)
becoming irritable
Causes of bronchiolitis
Bronchiolitis is caused by a viral infection, usually the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
RSV is very common and spreads easily in coughs and sneezes. Almost all children have had it by the time they’re 2.
Treatments for bronchiolitis
There’s no specific treatment for bronchiolitis. It usually gets better on its own and you can look after your child at home.
But it can be serious in some children, who may need to be treated in hospital.
Check out the NHS website for medicines you can and can’t give your baby/young child and call a doctor is symptoms can’t be managed at home but it is always best to get a doctors appointment for young children. Emergency and urgent cases go straight to hospital or call 999.
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Clare
Hi, I'm Clare (Emmy's Mummy). A former Nanny and Mother of 2 - Emmy (born February 2010) and Harry (born October 2012). We are Essex based and share our adventures and misadventures of a busy crazy life.
Comments (6)
oh no, i hope he is much better now.
Well done on your top 50 blog though 🙂
Thank you. Hoping she is fully recovered for you now.I'm counting down the days until his injections – never thought I would say that.
Don't ever feel like you are a nuisance with a baby with breathing difficulties. The doctor and hospital would much rather you went in than letting him get worse. We have been to the Children's Assessment Unit with Little Miss and she had Bronchiolitis too, luckuly she recovered quickly but she also has Laryngomalacia (floppy larynx) so we do have to be vigilant with her chest. I was almost pleased to take her for her jabs as I knew they would add protection 🙂
Its good that you take action if you're worried there are so many sad tragic stories where things are left too late. Xx
Thank you – I knowvi was right to take him but I worry the attitude of the staff there would put of others from going.The first time we went they were nice but the second is when they were rather rude 🙁
Its good that you take action if you're worried there are so many sad tragic stories where things are left too late. Xx
oh no, i hope he is much better now.
Well done on your top 50 blog though 🙂
Thank you. Hoping she is fully recovered for you now.I'm counting down the days until his injections – never thought I would say that.
Don't ever feel like you are a nuisance with a baby with breathing difficulties. The doctor and hospital would much rather you went in than letting him get worse. We have been to the Children's Assessment Unit with Little Miss and she had Bronchiolitis too, luckuly she recovered quickly but she also has Laryngomalacia (floppy larynx) so we do have to be vigilant with her chest. I was almost pleased to take her for her jabs as I knew they would add protection 🙂
Its good that you take action if you're worried there are so many sad tragic stories where things are left too late. Xx
Thank you – I knowvi was right to take him but I worry the attitude of the staff there would put of others from going.The first time we went they were nice but the second is when they were rather rude 🙁
Its good that you take action if you're worried there are so many sad tragic stories where things are left too late. Xx