Wheezing 9 Month old....update

Updated on March 29, 2012
M.H. asks from Murrieta, CA
9 answers

My daughter is 9 months old. About 10 days ago 3 of my kids came down with a cold (fever, really runny nose, etc) After a few days, the older children were able to kick the cold but it hung around for my 9 month old. Not uncommon I know, but half way through this, everything seemed fine but her nose was still runny and now she has started wheezing more and more. I can feel it / hear it when she breathes. There will be a few min at a time where it will lessen but then kicks up again. She coughs but it isn't all day long or anything, just here and there. (And when she does cough, it is very wet but never seems to break anything up or help the wheezing) ... Thoughts?? Should I take her in to urgent care or just wait it out? Her regular doc doesn't have any openings for me to get her in.....She is happy and no fever, also.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

I took my daughter in to the ER last night after her wheezing sounded worse and a 24 hr nurse line suggested a visit as well. They got her in, lungs sounded 'clear' but they said that the wheezing is coming and going. They told me that she has Reactive Airway Disease and perscribed steroids as well as an inhailer and a chamber w/ mask for her to breathe through. She has had 2 albuterol treatments so far as well as her first dose of steroids and sounds a little worse than before but I am hoping that is just the stuff breaking up? Either way, I really apprecaite everyone's help!

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Take her to Urgent Care or the ER.
Again, since it is not getting better.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/reactive-airway-disease/...

I have Asthma, since childhood.
It is serious.
Wheezing and not being able to breathe, at all, can come on suddenly.
And you cannot predict, that.

Get her seen again, by a Doc, because, the meds are not working.

You also want to make sure, it is not Pneumonia or anything or Bronchitis etc. And yes, these things can all occur, at the same time, along with Asthma.
And the baby is very, young.

The "steroids" and inhalers, are to reduce the constriction of the airways. ie: the inflammation of it. When the airways are constricted, wheezing and/or difficulty in breathing can occur.

Since you said, that she "sounds" worse, have her seen by a Doctor again. At Urgent Care or the ER.

3 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.P.

answers from Portland on

These are the symptoms of asthma. My granddaughter was diagnosed with asthma around 6 months. I would take her to urgent care. Does your doctor not do same day appointments for urgent issues such as this? Did you describe your baby's symptoms to the nurse? not the clerk who makes appointments. You should be able to talk with the nurse. If she suggested urgent care, I would go as soon as possible. You don't want to mess around with asthma. My granddaughter ended up in the ER 2-3 times because the wheezing turned to her not being able to breathe much at all.

There is a form of breathing that I can't remember the name of. something like interstitial breathing, which is when the area between her ribs suck in and out. That is a medical emergency.

3 moms found this helpful

A.L.

answers from Dothan on

Sounds like she could have bronchitis. Whatever it is, babies (as you know) get sick quicker than we do. I absolutely would take her to UC, waiting it out could make her worse.

Just FYI, if you told this to your/her regular Doc & they told you they didn't have any openings I would get another Doc!

Hope all is better soon!

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.B.

answers from Austin on

We just spent many hours (hmm..... 2 hours the first time, and at least 3 hours the second time, in the SAME night) with my 4 yr old grandson because of asthma.... he wasn't responding to his inhaler or nebulizer treatments.

Anyway, wheezing, especially in a 9 month old, (Gavin's started when he was 2 months old), is nothing to fool around with. Take her in as soon as possible.

The funny breathing the other person was talking is called "retracting".... you can either see it along their ribs, or in the little hollow of their throat... it sucks in when they are struggling to breathe. His was so bad last night that the SIDE parts of his neck were sucking in......

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.D.

answers from Tampa on

I didn't really read through all your answers, but I would take her in also. My 13mo old just last week was diagnosed with Reactive Airway Disease. It's kind of like asthma, but they have to meet certain criteria to actually call it asthma. He also only had a bit of a runny nose, intermittent wheezing (heard from his upper airway when he breathed or from the lungs when listening with a stethescope). He also had a cough that hardly seemed to produce anything. I'm a pediatric nurse and have heard enough asthmatics lately and his cough sounded like an asthmatic cough. He was also working a bit to breath, but nothing major. And like your little girl, he was still happy and playful. He only had a fever cause he had his shots 2 days prior to that. This started in the evening one day and the next day I decided to call - got him in and he was actually wheezing there - they gave him an albuterol treatment and sent us home with a nebulizer. He only really needed a treatment one time a day after that for about 5 days, but hasn't needed it since. He still has a cough and a little bit of a runny nose. She said she has no idea what triggered it and he may only need treatments a couple times a year and will probably outgrow it. He was sick twice before this requiring antibiotics (within like a month or so period), but who knows. Good luck with your little girl and hope she's feeling better soon!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.

answers from Augusta on

Dr should always have sick openings.
Call them again. get them to get her in tomorrow at the latest.
This could be pneumonia or something like it.
In the mean time take her into the bathroom and run the shower super hot and let her sit in the steam . my kids have asthma and when they get bad ( a nurse taught me this trick) I put vicks on their chests then a wet as hot as they can stand it wash clothe on top of that. It helps open up their bronchial passages. And the wheezing could be an allergic reaction to the pollen. Ask about allergies. Is there an expectorant that you can give her? I am not sure on the dosages for little ones that small anymore. So much of that has changed since mine were that small.

Marda is absolutely right,
The breathing she is refering to is when the area between her ribs is rapidly going in and out that means shes working too hard to breath, that is an automatic trip to the ER.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

H.M.

answers from Dallas on

With her being so young I would take her in to get checked out. That can get bad quickly!!!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Take her to the doc to at least get a breathing treatment. She needs the meds and the moisture from the sterile water the med is mixed with to loosen the goo so she can get it up. I think if the doc can't get you in for just that then urgent care should be asked if they "can" do that. They may not have the nebulizer to do them. It may she might need to go to the ER to get one. I think it will pass once she has one, or maybe a couple, of them.

1 mom found this helpful

R.D.

answers from Richmond on

I'd call the pediatrician and set up an appointment for tomorrow. You don't want this to turn into RSV for pneumonia. 9 month olds usually pull the short stick if the other kids have simple colds, because their immune systems aren't what the older kids are. If she spikes a fever at any point, yes, go to urgent care or the ER.

Hope everyone feels better soon!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions