Newborn Bronchiolitis

[appledai]

Thanks for your wish. As BB is newborn, no medicine. I let her take bath 2 times a day (2-3 mins) with Johnson's Penaten bath oil though it is for 6 months or above. and run humidity. also use saline nose drop and clean her nose everyday but it is very hard since her nose hole is so small. Besides those things, I do not know what else I can do. Sometimes during her sleeping, no coughing, but other time she can cough more than 10 times within 2 mins so I do not know it is better or worse. Now the only thing I can is to pray.

unfortunately you are right about the long waits at the Public hospital...i waited 3 hours just to get my son admitted for jaundice, but they are very thorough and the wait is really worth it. my son is still at QMH but not for jaundice any more but a bacterial infection that they detected only from a slight fever, which would have probably gone un-noticed elsewhere. so, wait is long, but well worth it in the long run.

but since you have gotten so many opinions, i think your baby is OK - heart breaking as it is, you will probably just have to wait it out and do things that your baby enjoys or makes him comfortable....taking a bath perhaps so there is more exposure to humidity and the cough is not quite so bad?!? hope you LO feels better soon.

 

[AudreysMom]

Is it viral or bacterial? If it is a bacterial infection, the doctor should give antibiotics. But most of the time — because bronchitis is much more likely to be caused by a virus — antibiotics won't help. The condition should improve in a week to ten days. Give plenty of fluids to help relieve congestion / prevent dehydration. Run a cool-mist humidifier. Moistening the air may help her breathe easier. (Be sure to follow the manufacturer's directions for keeping it clean. When dirty, the device can spread germs through the air.) Try saline nasal drops to help with congestion. put a drop or two in the nostril, then suction it out with a bulb syringe. Cold weather, dust, and smoke can irritate airways, so provide a clean, warm, smoke-free room for her to recuperate in. Prop her up while she is resting and sleeping, to make breathing easier. To ease fever and any discomfort, give her the appropriate dose baby acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Never give aspirin. As much as you hate to hear her hacking away, coughing up the mucus helps her heal. I hope your little one heals soon.

 

[appledai]

Thank you so much. Actually this very morning, baby was coughing much. I can not count. maybe 50 times. I do not know viral or bacterial. her grandma had a cold and now I also have cold symptom. I wear a mask almost all the time. I guess it might be virus.

But already 6 days. her coughing sometimes bad. I run warm humidifier at night. should I use cold mist one? I know it will be the same, no medicine if hospital. A doctor said do not be afraid her coughing, it will help Sputum out. But when her coughing is much, I am not sure if everything is worse. I am so anxious and worried. I still can not see when she can heal. no idea if should send her hospital.

She is less than 1 month, can her take acetaminophen or ibuprofen?

Is it viral or bacterial? If it is a bacterial infection, the doctor should give antibiotics. But most of the time — because bronchitis is much more likely to be caused by a virus — antibiotics won't help. The condition should improve in a week to ten days. Give plenty of fluids to help relieve congestion / prevent dehydration. Run a cool-mist humidifier. Moistening the air may help her breathe easier. (Be sure to follow the manufacturer's directions for keeping it clean. When dirty, the device can spread germs through the air.) Try saline nasal drops to help with congestion. put a drop or two in the nostril, then suction it out with a bulb syringe. Cold weather, dust, and smoke can irritate airways, so provide a clean, warm, smoke-free room for her to recuperate in. Prop her up while she is resting and sleeping, to make breathing easier. To ease fever and any discomfort, give her the appropriate dose baby acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Never give aspirin. As much as you hate to hear her hacking away, coughing up the mucus helps her heal. I hope your little one heals soon.

 

[lesliefu]

you really should double check with a doctor to see if it is a virus or bacteria. my baby is only 2 weeks and has a bacterial infection and as such, even at that young age, must go on a course of antibiotics for 2 weeks at QMH. i know we don't want to medicate, but when it is necessary, we really have no choice as you really need to solve the problem or it might become worse or affect other things.

 

[Gracey]

AppleDai -- I would REALLY not self-medicate such a small baby without doctor's advice. How is it that you've seen so many doctors, and nobody has told you if it's bacterial or viral? Why don't you see a good pediatrician?

 

[AudreysMom]

AppleDai-- don't self medicate without first getting a doctor's approval. You must go see a good private pediatrician if the public system isn't working fir you.

Warm or cool humidifier- it does not matter much. They essentially do the same thing, humidify the air. For safety, many use cool-mist humidifiers bc hot water or steam from a warm-mist humidifier or steam vaporizer can burn a child if he or she gets too close but yours is a newborn so it's up to you whether you think it's a safety hazard. Its essential for water in a cool humidifier to be kept extremely fresh and clean. If bacteria is contained in the water, it will be pulled into the air. Some say warm humidifier is cleaner bc it vaporizes germs converting water to steam, which then kills any bacteria present.

 

[Gracey]

AppleDai -- I just recognized your name from an old post about whether to have an early C-section or natural birth. What did you choose in the end.
And, belatedly, congratulations! I know this is a tough time, but look on the bright side. You were worried whether your baby would be born OK or not, and it looks like baby was!
Try to stay positive and not worry too much.

 

[Gracey]

By the way, the Mayo Clinic website says that Bronchiolitis is mostly caused by a viral infection. But don't take the Internet's word for it -- ask your doctor, and don't randomly medicate your infant with adult drugs!

 

[charade]

Appledai, sympathise with you... it is really so hard to see a newborn suffer and not be able to do much to help. When my baby was a few weeks old he had acid reflux (not as serious as this but i know the feeling) and I saw about 5 doctors. I know the panic when you feel no doctor is giving answers that help solve your baby's problem. But finally I realised my first doctor was right... my baby grew out of it and time was a healer.

You have seen 3 doctors and they all seem to have given you similar answers. So why not trust them and wait a week? I'm sure they checked your baby thoroughly and also have experience of babies with similar problems and how it progresses. If you feel your baby is getting worse, pick the one you trust the most and take her back for a check-up.

The main thing is for you to try and get through this difficult time yourself without going crazy with stress. Just take it a day at a time...otherwise you will fall sick too and that won't be good. Also I think babies can sense anxiety and that makes them more cranky.