My 3 year old daughter keeps getting chest infections 😢

[Kirsty83]

Hi 👋

I have a 3 year old little girl who is suffering with reoccurring chest infections. She had had at least 8 in the last year, her most recent one saw us being rushed to hospital by ambulance from the doctors surgery as her oxygen levels where so low. We are waiting for an appointment for a sweat test and also physiotherapist on her chest but I’m worried that so many infections could cause her little lungs some permanent damage. Does anyone have any advice on this?

[3girlsmama]

Hi Kirsty83, so sorry to hear your little girl has been so poorly. It’s bad enough for us adults but when they’re little it’s so difficult for them to understand. I would ask for a referral to see a consultant. If your GP is not helpful then I would ask to see the community paediatrician. Sounds like they need to give you some support and specialist advice and hopefully find out what’s going on. I hope that helps a little. Also try and keep her in a warm and constant temperature and if she goes outside try and gently cover her mouth with a scarf so the cold air doesn’t get in. Welcome to the group of it’s your first time, do let us know how you and your daughter get on xx

[Kirsty83 in reply to 3girlsmama]

Thank you for the advice, I will be making an appointment to see our gp tomorrow. It’s all just so stressful not knowing the cause of it or even if there is a cause or it’s just “one of those things”. Just a waiting game I suppose. I will make sure her mouth is covered thank you, that’s really helpful.

[Hidden in reply to Kirsty83]

I think "at least 8 in the last year" indicates that the GP is out of her/his depth here.

[3girlsmama in reply to Kirsty83]

It must be extremely stressful for you. I’ve got little ones who have had repeated breathing problems (croup) which they’ve been hospitalised for and it’s awful feeling like your just waiting for the next emergency. I was also a paediatric nurse (before children and developing my complex respiratory issues) - I would definitely press hard to be referred and then get a plan in place for when she gets infections. In the meantime make notes of when she’s had infections, how long they’ve lasted and what treatment was needed. This really helps them take you more seriously. Hope it’s not too cold where you are. Take care xx

[Hidden]

I can understand you being terribly worried about the little mite, but it's surprising how resilient little children are. I would have thought permanent damage at that age is most unlikely, but it's most important to make sure that those appointments are dealt with quickly. So I would advise keeping pressure on by frequent phone calls requesting early dates.

[Hidden]

She needs to be referred to a paediatric respiratory specialist asap. I cannot think what your GP is up to. The sweat test is to determine whether she has cystic fibrosis. This is now very old fashioned as the genes for this can be picked up by blood test in specialist units as can other genetic conditions which result in these multiple infections. Yes these infections can result in permanent damage to the lungs. Whatever is the cause it needs diagnosis, treatment and ongoing management now. Go stamp your foot, don’t take no for an answer and get her to the right people. Good luck

[cofdrop-UK]

Hi Kirsty

I feel for you and your little girl but I am pleased you have joined our family here.

You do not say who has arranged the sweat test, nor the respiratory physiotherapist.

I agree with littlepom (we have both had a lifelong lung condition) that you need to be very proactive in getting your dear little girl referred to the appropriate paediatric respiratory consultant. I wonder has she had a ct scan? Eight excerbations in 1 year is far too many to go by without further investigation. In any event the quicker the consultants see her the quicker they will have a baseline assessment.

You might find speaking to one of the nurses at BLF 03000 030 555 before you speak to your GP helpful. They are very knowledgeable about paediatric lungs.

I had a very strong Mum Kirsty and she was my rock and that was in the days when folks doffed their caps to doctors on the pedestals.

You are a great Mum and great advocate for you little Daughter.

Please let us know how you both get on.

Love cx

[Kirsty83 in reply to cofdrop-UK]

Thank you for your reply, yeah I’ve begged them for a year almost to do something, she was only referred in the end by a doctor at a and e because she was rushed there. Our own gp just seems to fob us off. I’m going to make an appointment and insist on being seen by a specialist. Thank you so much.

[cofdrop-UK in reply to Kirsty83]

Good for you. We will all be there willing you on. Do try have a word with BLF. Please let us know what happens.

Love cx

[cofdrop-UK]

Just had a thought if you haven’t got a consultant. You could check out a hospital in a large city you have access to online the paediatric respiratory consultants. You could always contact them and explain the situation and ask if they would consider seeing your little daughter if you had a referral from your GP. Then you can let the GP know the name of the consultant and that s/he has agreed a consultation upon referral.

A tip: Hopsital sites differ on the amount of professional information they give online re particualr consutants, some good some not so. Sometimes you can get a better insight by looking the same consultant at a private cinic, where they are more likely sell themselves by giving previous posts held and areas of medicine of special interest to them.

Cx

[Kirsty83]

Thank you everyone for your helpful information, At present my little girl has another chest infection 😢. Day 1 I took her to our local primary care centre who sent us straight to A and E due to low oxygen levels. We were seen and sent home as it was “viral”. The next day she was still really unwell so I went to gp who also sent us to A and E to be reassessed, they did a chest X-ray and gave us an antibiotics my daughter was to take once daily for 3 days and sent us home again, the next morning my daughter had her appointment for a sweat test which the doctor at A and E told me it would be ok to go ahead with although she was poorly. We arrived for the sweat test and where sent immediately back to A and E by the nurse. My daughter was then assessed by a senior doctor and admitted onto the children’s ward for iv antibiotics. We stayed in hospital two days, have been sent home now with oral antibiotics and still no sweat test done. The doctor in a and e mentioned the possibility of giving my little girl antibiotics which she will take everyday long term as a preventative. Surely they should be finding out why it keeps happening not just prescribing medicine to reduce it? Thank you for the support.

[Tugun]

Hi Kirsty,

I have only just accidentally seen your post. I hope everything is going well. How is your little girl now?