Help - Sick Child for 7 Weeks Now...

My guess is that the antibiotic needs to be broader spectrum meaning that they have not hit the right infection with the right antibiotic yet. It also sounds like he has had a number of things at once. I would get a second opinion.

Sounds like the antibiotics they're giving him aren't strong enough. (and I'm not one for putting babies on antibiotics)If it were my child, I'd be finding a new doctor. Seven weeks is a long time for one that little too be sick. And I wouldn't wait till next week. Antibiotics, if they are going to work will generally work within three days. You need to get in back in to see his pediatrition ASAP.

I'm a nurse, a mother and as of Tuesday a grandmother. I think the chest x-ray is a must. The x-ray will give a view of the lungs to rule out pnemonia and others chest problems and give the doctors a better idea of where to go next. This has gone on for far too long already. I would probably think about taking him to Children's Hospital if he doesn't start to improve.

If I were you I think I would get a second opinion. Take him to someone else. Very soon! Get some good referals from this website or from people you know on another doctor. You may love your current pediatrician but I think it would be worth getting a fresh second opinion.
I think this problem has been going on too long not to have resolved. Demand answers! Don't let the doctor just write you another RX and send you out the door. He's your child and you are paying the doctor for his expertise. I would not let them put my child, especially one that young, on any more prescription medications without a definate answer as to what is wrong and a solid treatment plan.
I'm not real familiar with pediatricians in Charlotte but I can reccomend Cabarrus Pediatrics in Concord. They are very good, they listen and they don't jump to RX's too quickly.
Good luck. I hope Caleb starts feeling better very soon.

Hi C.,
I am going through the same thing right now- nothing quite as bad as bronchitis, but my son has been sick pretty much since his 12 month checkup. He got shots that day (which he had a reaction to), and I think we have had a total of about 1 week of perfect health since then (he is 14 1/2 mos). Around this time, he also started going to a mom's morning out program and has been exposed to one virus after another. (Actually, my son is with my husband at the dr.'s office this very moment!) It is extremely frustrating... I really feel your pain. Hang in there!

i just joined but want to tell you about my experience with similar problems. My daughter had constant sever sinus problems. She had several ear infections. She was diagnosed with allergies when she was 2 or 3. They treated her with Zyrtec & nose spray. She had to take both of these daily. It didnt work. She would still get sinus infections. She would be on antibiotics (Augmentin) for 10 days each time. She would be better for a week or 2. Then it was back. This went on for over 2 years. By the time she was 5 her tonsils touched in the back of her throat. She never complained of sore throats. We had many nights of her sinuses draining making her cough til she threw up. Finally when she was 5 i threw a fit in the doctors office and was given a referral to the ENT. On our first appt he sent her for xrays of her adenoids. They were also touching. Within a month of that first visit to the ENT she had both her tonsils & adenoids removed. She is now 10 and has had 1 major cold since her surgery. Her pediatrician never tested her for allergies. Don't let them treat your son for them if they haven't tested him. Even if it seems to work for a while. They finally tested her for allergies and she's not allergic to anything. If the current treatment works and he gets sick again insist on being referred to an ENT.

Well, if it's asthma, the steroids will help. But they'll help if it's a lot of other respiratory things too. The scariest thing is that it seems to be getting worse. Which antibiotic was he on? Amoxicillan? A lot of infections are immune to it nowadays. He may need a stronger antibiotic.

Goodness, I really hope this gets resolved for you!

Ask the doctor if he would test him for RSV. The ear infection is a secondary infection to what is going on.

You and your son will be in my prayers.

C.

I am really afraid that this will happen to my baby, and if it does I plan to give Dr. Mark Eisen a shot, we met with him before I gave birth, unfortunately my partner wanted a more mainstream doctor. Here is his website: http://drmarkeisen.com/index.htm I really liked him, my boy has had 1 ear infection (he's almost 8 months), and if he has another, I am going to take him to Dr. Eisen because I prefer him not to be on antibiotics. Good Luck!!!

Hi C.,
Sorry your little guy has been sick for so long!Don't let the chest x-ray & oral steroid scare you. My son (who is now 6) was having some issues like this when he was 4 months old. It didn't go on for such an extended amount of time (more like 4 weeks) but we did end up at the doc multiple times. Actually, they probably just assumed it was me calling anytime the office phone rang! Anyway, the scariest part for me was when he was wheezing & needed the nebulizer & oral steroid...I was in tears. Seeing that little nebulizer mask on his face was so awful!!! I have asthma myself & I didn't want my little boy to end up the same way. But, the great thing is that once the oral steroid kicked in, it cleared him up so much & he got better very quickly. If Caleb sounds more congested now, even after using the nebulizer, you should let the doctor know...they may check him again sooner than next week.

I have no idea if this will help you any or not! I hope it does & that Caleb gets better very quickly:)

A.

C.,
My daughter is 7 months old and has had the same thing since the day I brought her home from the hospital. Her Dr put her on a decongestant and that was it. At first they were telling me that it was only milk getting stuck in the back of her throat.

It gets worse and then better. This week unfortunatly it is worse. But if anyone gives you any information would you please help me as well?