Management of RSV

My son has RSV and is on a nebulizer, and it seems to be working great! No more wheezing, and we just found out he has it on Wednesday! Did they put him on one of those? I hope he gets to feeling better soon! That RSV is nasty!

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My son just had it and he was about 7 months old. Fortunately for us it only lasted about 1 week, we were told symptoms usually last about 2 weeks. The worst part is the hacking couch it would make him throw up almost at every feeding. We had to stop giving him formula for a couple of days and just gave him pedialyte. We bought the vicks humidifier and used it with the vicks pads that you can put in it it really helped at night also make sure you rub vicks vaporub on his chest twice a day you can get a cream that isn't oily at Walmart. We were also told he had to sleep semi sitting up or else it could turn into pneumonia. This was the hardest part but we would prop him up in a semi seated position at night (and we put him in a bouncy seat for naps)with pillows and he slept in the bed next me. Also the Dr told us he could sleep semi vertical on my chest but I wasn't getting any sleep that way. Good luck you have some ugly nights ahead of you. Let me know if you have any other questions : )

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Definitely stay on top of hydration. That was our daughter's biggest problem when she had it at 6 months. Seems like kids I know that had RSV as babies were given a nebulizer, but the thinking on that may have changed in the past few years. If he's truly wheezing -- you hear his breathing loudly, you see his rib cage when he inhales -- that would call for a nebulizer treatment, or maybe an ER/Urgent care visit if you don't have a nebulizer AND since he's so young. To the untrained ear (like ours!) the rattle from sinus drainage can sound pretty bad, and we think it's "wheezing" but it's not. We've made at least 2 trips to urgent care with our asthmatic son because we couldn't tell the difference! We're learning though :-). If your doc listened to his lungs and isn't concerned, I'd go with that unless something has changed since then.

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I've dealt with this a lot. Steam is great, I ususally turn on the shower in the smallest bathroom and read until it gets so thick you can't see the book. Then saline & suction. If you can incline the bed at all it will help with sleeping. Has he suggested a nebulizer? I find they work much better than the humidifier. Sometimes a humidifier will get some bacteria backed up in it.

Also when I put socks on the little bugger it was always an easier night than when he was without them. Still is and he's 6 and I still fight it.

Good luck! I hope he gets better soon.

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My son had RSV at 12 months. It was Christmas Eve and we were 2 hours away from home, so we had to take him to the ER, where they admitted him for 2 nights. While he was there they gave him breathing treatments every few hours and monitored his oxygen level - actually, the reason we had to stay for a second night is because his oxygen level wasn't above 90, even though he seemed much better. I still wonder if they overreacted, being a small rural hospital without a lot of experience with young kids, but I guess there's no way to know for sure.

After he got out of the hospital we continued with breathing treatments (Pulmacort and Xopanex) for a week or so. The pediatrician warned us that he would probably have breathing issues for a couple of years afterwards, and he does. Every time he gets a minor cold, we have to bring out the nebulizer and give him treatments for a few days. We also use the humidifier and Vicks. Other than that, we haven't had any long-term problems.

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My three month old just had RSV. And the doctor gave her breathing treatments that we did at home. And She didn't recomend that we use the humidifier. But they do recomend that you keep your house cool. Like around 70 degrees. The heat makes it worse. She was fully recoverd by a week. But it was tough at times. Just hang in there I'm sure he will be just fine.

J.- A SAHM with a wonderful husband and three kids, 13Y old boy, 4Y old girl,and 3m old baby girl.

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My daughter had RSV and an ear infection last year when she was 10 weeks old. We too were able to stay out of the hospital. We had a regimen of breathing treatments, saline and bulb suction, and a humidifier. My doctor said to make sure she was eating. If she were to stop that would be a reason to admit her to the hospital. I was nursing so I would do suction before I fed her and would pat her back to keep her chest loose. One trick that I learned was to plug one nostril and suck out the other one. It helps to get out all of that junk. I hope your little one feels better soon!

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i went thru this when my youngest was 2 months old. he had only RSV though. it was a very long weekend of round the clock care and very little sleep then some more days of meds before it was all over. but we kept him out of the hospital. you have my empathy.

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My son was hospitalised at 2months and 5 months old. I about went crazy... however, just keep a close eye on him and now he is a healthy 12 year old. They told me insteading of patting his back to put my hand like a cup and do the patting that way. He had a breathing machine too. Now you can try this but it is an old wise tale, however, I did it. Was told that to bath him with leaf lettuce at night. I use to do it all the time until he was like 10 months old. Good luck....let me know how that goes

My son had RSV when he was nine weeks old, but my doctor put him on a nebulizer(which is a breathing machine) it worked wonders and he still uses it for his asthma. I would also elevate his bed at his head.

E.,

Sorry about your son. My daughter does not have RSV, but my husband has asthma and we were advised to get the chemicals out of our house because they can irritate the lungs and cause attacks. We use cleaners from a company that doesn't use ammonia, chlorine bleach or phosphates in their cleaners, and my husband has all but retired his inhaler. THey also have a great product to get rid of dust mites. I would assume the same would work with little ones. Our daughter has never had lung or respiratory problems. Let me know if you're interested and I'll get you some info. about the company.

Good luck,
K.

Hi E.,

My little one had RSV at I think 6 weeks and the doctor told us to keep her elevated when she slept. So she slept in her carseat in the cradle for about two weeks. She was much better. The doctor never gave any medicine, I think that they don't like giving medicine to children under two. Hope this helps.

Both my Boys had RSV (1st one at 15 months and my 2nd son at 2 months old). We treated both with two medications:
1. Xopenex (or Albuterol) - supposedly the Xopenex makes them less hyper/cranky (varies by child...try the Xopenex unless your insurance won't cover it...very expensive. This is the one you use temporarily - at first when it's bad and then you wean off it...then only get back on when they flare up or have a wheezing spell (follow Dr.'s orders of course).
2. Pulmacort - this is used to help repair the irritation/damage and as a preventative to the airways. We used this once a day (possibly twice a day during the beginning of the treatments when things were bad).

I've had several other friends with a similar plan of care for their young ones with RSV and/or Bronchiolitis.

I pray your Son gets well and that he does not have more wheezing spells...my 1st son, had 3 wheezing spells w/in a year and thus he was deemed "childhood asthma" but he grew out of it (swimming and other excercise helped build up his lung strength).

Take care & Blessings,
N.

U need a nebulizer or a inhaler or something this is serious his breathing problem can take a turn for the worse. My son had it last year and my doctor said that it didn't seem serious enough to go to the er but they did use a nebulizer on him in the office and they didn't think it would work but it did and they sent us home with the nedbulizer and then they told me they would have a nurse to call and check on him the next morning but if there were any changes in his breathing to go straight to the er. Now if that's not serious I don't know what is!

My son had RSV and his doctor had him use a nebulizer at home.

I went through the RSV when my oldest was 3 months old and he has had the bronchiolitis a time or 2 after that. We did the humidifier and also had him sleep in his car seat or swing. It seemed to help sleeping upright. You might see if the Vicks on his chest would help also. I know it does wonders for my kids and myself when we are sick. I feel for you and know it will be a long week....

along with several of the other wonderful suggestions given to you. If you get vicks either regular or baby kind rub it in on the bottom of babies feet and either put socks or a all in one piece pjs at bedtime. It works great and you dont have to worry bout them getting it all over the clothes and everywhere else.
it has worked well on my baby who is almost 3 months.