Poorly grandson coughing.sickness and high temperature

The poor parents! How are they handling it?

They seem to be coping but baby’s grandad is also very ill in hospital and my son is self employed and working from home so they never get a break. I am worried that they don’t seem to have had a diagnosis and have had to take him to hospital quite often. We moved nearer to help but feel they need more professional help.

You don't mention his age, but he must be young. How worrying for you all. You and they have just got to hang in there and be strong. You may find if you pray and focus your mind you will discover the strength to cope is there inside you.
Nothing seems to be functioning properly during this pandemic, but if you feel the hospital is not doing enough then you must keep taking him back and asking questions. Don't ever let them fob you off. Don't accept their word as gospel. If you feel the diagnosis is wrong or insufficient then keep chasing them for more tests, more answers. But never get angry or abusive, always just gently firm and polite.

Are you in UK? How is the baby fed breast or bottle? Could it be a milk allergy? I’ve known 3 different babies who could only have goats milk. Perhaps being more proactive and asking for referral to paediatric care at a children’s specialist hospital. I know nhs is under lots of pressure currently but I would be worried. What a worry. Best wishes.

Just to add on my babies hospital notes I found “mother can be difficult” written. This was in days where parents weren’t always told things or permitted to read notes. I was always polite but insistent.

I am so sorry to read this Sara18. I can only reiterate all that has been said; keep asking for more tests/more answers until you get to the bottom of this. Love to your little one and all of you at this worrying time x

So sorry your grandson is ill Sara18 hope he gains strength and gets well soon. Your family must be glad of your support, as others said keep asking for answers and tests if appropriate. Best wishes

Our granddaughter was 10 weeks early and tiny. Didn’t leave the hospital for a couple of months. Parents had to cope with reflux, sleepless nights, vomiting after every feed, holding down difficult jobs and so on. It was their first baby which made it all the more harrowing for them. They often rang the GP or hospital for support and rightly so.

Today they have a daughter who is as healthy as her peers and can stand her own corner.

And she now has a baby sister. So like all us parents they forgot the initial struggles and went on to have another.

I wish them well and hope theirs will be a similar case. Hang in there.

This souds so much like what we went through with our youngest daughter. In and out of hospital until she was about two and diagnosed with asthma. Once this happened she was given the correct treatment and things settled down. I hope this little chap is feeling better soon and everyone's gets a rest from the worry and hard work.

Same happened with one of our granddaughters. She was 13 weeks early and in and out of hospital until she was 3 . She is now 16, top of her class and rarely sick. She is a lovely girl, very popular and very modest ( not like her nanna !!)

If he has got a persistent cough, coupled with a history of severe eczema, I'd strongly recommend that his parents consider having him investigated for asthma. About 80% of asthmatics become chronic coughers; only about 20% actually wheeze.

Thank you so much to everyone for taking the time to respond and all so helpful. I was sufficiently worried yesterday and being very out of touch with baby problems that I looked on Mumsnet only to find that their situation is far from unusual possibly because of lack of immunity in little ones. There must be so many young parents struggling with poorly babies and unable to get help because of the pandemic. I will carry on giving practical help while watching out for any possible problems. Thank you for all your advice - I expect I will be back here as it has helped so much!

Is he running a temperature now? If so, Christmas Day or not, he needs to be seen by a doctor immediately.

It may well be the cough that is making him vomit, but persistent vomitting leads to dehydration, so you need a doctor whether the child has a temperature or not.

So get on the phone to the emergency service NOW and insist that you neither can nor will take the responsibility of either trying various home remedies, or waiting to see what happens.

I am not trying to scare you - but you need to err on the side of caution here.

If you can't get a home visit from a doctor, contact the nearest hospital that has an emergency room, or simply go there with the child and remain solidly planted there until someone competent does something to stop the cough and vomitting.

Hear hear grandetante!
Err on the side of caution and politely but firmly insist on seeing someone who knows!!

Any update? Hope the poor mite is OK. ❤️