E.r. Visit Today - but Symptoms Still Seem to Be There.

Updated on April 19, 2010
E.B. asks from Miami, FL
7 answers

I took my 19 month old to the e.r. This morning with heavy pulling in the chest (asthma like symptoms) but we won't call it asthma because this is the very first episode. His oldest brother had it. So we're back at home and he seems much better not pulling at all. But every time he sneezes he sounds like a kitten. You know when we sneeze we take in a lot of air first and then sneeze it all out. Well he sounds like he's taking in half the air and letting half of it out. Picture a small kitten sneezing.

Is this part of the episode he had this morning. It's been so long since his older brother had an attack that i can't relate to it. Thanks moms.

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So What Happened?

some of you mentioned Croup - he's had croup before and it's definitely not that. It almost seems like bronchilitis. He was sent home with albuterol and pulmicort which i already had at the house. we kept him indoors last night since it was raining so much and he slept with me so i can do the sleep with one eye trick. He had a lot of coughing last night but again was very uncomfortable so I had to give him the nebulizer again. They also gave him a steroid medication which he won't get another dose of it until this evening. But this morning he still sounds like he's suffering a bit when he sneezes it's very hard to explain but this might help. When you put your hand up to his mouth when he sneezes out there's not alot of air. so it might be constricted airways or it might be a buildup with mucus. I had the same symptoms last week alot alike but i thought with me it was just a sinus infection. But he almost sounds like it could be RSV. I've made the decision not to go back to that hospital and go with the one in Miami that's about 20 minutes away since they only see Children there. But definitely today I am taking him to the pediatrician for a follow up. Thanks moms for all of your input on this I appreciate it.

More Answers

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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

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2 moms found this helpful
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L.N.

answers from New York on

I hope you have the nebulizer at home. place a call to ped's and ask if he can call in rx for albuterol and pulmicort (i think those are the two medicines given through nebulizer). more so, i would think they gave you medication before they released him. if they did, you need 48 hrs to see any improvements. this is horrible from their part.

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M.R.

answers from Columbus on

Was he weezing or did his chest feel tight or heavy? I have never heard "pulling" before, so maybe they are having trouble understanding his symtoms the way you are describing them?

If he is having trouble breathing, no matter how his sneezes sound, I would take him back to the ER.

They would have checked his oxygen levels while he was there, and not sent him home if he was in any trouble, but don't mess around if you really think he is having trouble breathing. Better to be safe!

Consult your pediatrician in the morning if he does not need to go back in tonight.

M.

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N.J.

answers from Orlando on

My son had a similar incident and I thought it was maybe bronchitis so I had him get in the hot shower...it did not help as he was having an asthma attack and I did not know it. He was put on daily meds that he took for about a year. I have now been educated on the harmful chemicals in our homes and he is completely off of all medication and is breathing easily. I would be happy to share this info with you. goinggreensavingmoney.com
N.

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S.B.

answers from Tampa on

It is kind of hard to tell with the description, (& I know how difficult it can be to put how they sound into words!!) but if he sounds like a seal barking (vs a kitten sneezing), it is likely croup. For croup, going into your smallest bathroom & letting the shower run on full hot (do NOT GET IN IT!) but let it fill the room with steam & sit there with your child for about 1/2 hour & it should help. Ironically, going out into the cold air can help too (though,not helpful advice right now in FL :)

I would go with your gut. If you are concerned, I'd go back ( or somewhere else) Many Pediatric Urgent Care facilities have less of a wait & might be able to help depending on insurance. Good luck!!

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L.H.

answers from Tampa on

My 2 both have asthma and yes, it does sound like another episode. Did they give you albuterol/a nebulizer machine? If so, give him a treatment. When mine were younger (they are 5 now) they had albuterol every 4 hours as needed when they had these kind of things.
Here is a website with some good information: http://www.webmd.com/asthma/asthma-symptoms-7/slideshow-a...
Hope that helps a little.

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M.P.

answers from Portland on

Does he also have this sneezing sound when he's breathing normally? I would call it wheezing. If so I think an inhaler med would help. If the doctor didn't prescribe or give you one, I'd call the ER advice nurse and ask about it.

If this sound only occurs when he's sneezing, I'd guess that it's caused by mucous rather than restricted airways. If the mucous does not interfere with his breathing I would not be concerned. I would check with his pediatrician on Monday.

My granddaughter has asthma. This is the source of my info.

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