I'm not sure if I should take her to urgent care or not. Shes been wheezing since last night, coughing since today and shes had a runny nose for a few days. I've been giving her benedryl (well the generic kind) twice a day (morning and night), I put Vicks on her feet, chest and back. Shes not coughing as much, but shes wheezing pretty bad. I've put the shower on hot and have taken her in there a few times today, and she took about a 2hr nap. I also gave her a warm bath. She looks sort of pale compared to what she normally does. She has been playing with some of her toys, but she looks tired and like she feels miserable.
It just sucks because nothing is open today. So, I can't get her any other types of medicine or a vaporizer. Shes 20 months old today.
I just don't know what to do. What are your suggestions?
Thank You guys for all your responses! We went to the ER since urgent care is closed, but it was a 4hr wait. Urgent care opens at 10am tomorrow morning, so I will be taking her then. She seems to be breathing good, just wheezing/raspy. She needs to cough, but she won't, even when I do and tell her to cough, she won't. Nothing on her is grey. She ate dinner really well and shes been drinking alot. But, I can tell in her eyes shes not feeling good at all. I gave her another bath and put the bubble/menthol stuff to put in the bathtub. I also rubbed her down with vicks.
If it gets worse in the middle of the night, we will be going to the ER. But, otherwise she will be going to Urgent Care in the morning. Thankfully, shes not running a fever!
**Another Update:
I took her to Urgent Care this morning. The doctor there said she had bronchitis and gave her an antibiotic. Theres no other meds that can be given to her OTC because of her age. So, I bought some more saline drops for her nose and started her antibiotic. I also have a vaporizer going in the bedroom non-stop. If shes not better in a few days, I will take her to our doctor.
If she's really wheezing as badly as you say, and she looks pale I would probably take her. That's one of the things they will probably see you for right away if they hear she is having difficulty breathing.
My son is running a fever of 104 with a slight cough and very tired and achy. I spoke to the doctor and she said to watch out for difficulty breathing. Is your daughter running a fever? Since she is under two if if doesn't get any better I would take her to an urgent care or an emergency room. Nice Christmas, right?
Check her nail beds on fingers and toes... are they a dark pink? pale? press them and does the color come right back?
If she has pale nail beds or the color doesn't come right back after pressing them - take her to the ER. Breathing is a big deal, and the two symptoms above means she's not getting enough oxygen
Urgent care if you're close to one, ER if you're not. Wheezing would make me nervous and I would totally go. If urgent care is close, give them a call and see if you can make an "appointment" - some places will do that - you can call ahead before you come in and they consider it an appointment rather than a walk-in. Take care and good luck!
Ok I can't believe you are asking this after what I just read. 1st the weezing is a sign she's having a hard time breathing when you have a hard time breathing you get more tired because you use more energy plus the weezing if its too bad can stop her from breathing she needs to be seen to make sure she doesn't need oxygen just and inhaler or breathing machine. Second. Don't put vapor rub on children under 5 years old. They A can have an allergic reaction. In which since B you have been giving her benadryl you don't know this. That could be why her weezing got worse. C. Vapor rub is for adults not children they not only can have allaergic reaction but they also can stop breathing from the vapors its too strong. Menthol is not good for little ones at all. Take her to urgent care and quit giving her vapor rub and benedryl benedryl is allergic medicine she probably has broncitis or rsv. Its going around and so is croup. Go TO URGENT CARE!
Updated
Ok I can't believe you are asking this after what I just read. 1st the weezing is a sign she's having a hard time breathing when you have a hard time breathing you get more tired because you use more energy plus the weezing if its too bad can stop her from breathing she needs to be seen to make sure she doesn't need oxygen just and inhaler or breathing machine. Second. Don't put vapor rub on children under 5 years old. They A can have an allergic reaction. In which since B you have been giving her benadryl you don't know this. That could be why her weezing got worse. C. Vapor rub is for adults not children they not only can have allaergic reaction but they also can stop breathing from the vapors its too strong. Menthol is not good for little ones at all. Take her to urgent care and quit giving her vapor rub and benedryl benedryl is allergic medicine she probably has broncitis or rsv. Its going around and so is croup. Go TO URGENT CARE!
Updated
Ok I can't believe you are asking this after what I just read. 1st the weezing is a sign she's having a hard time breathing when you have a hard time breathing you get more tired because you use more energy plus the weezing if its too bad can stop her from breathing she needs to be seen to make sure she doesn't need oxygen just and inhaler or breathing machine. Second. Don't put vapor rub on children under 5 years old. They A can have an allergic reaction. In which since B you have been giving her benadryl you don't know this. That could be why her weezing got worse. C. Vapor rub is for adults not children they not only can have allaergic reaction but they also can stop breathing from the vapors its too strong. Menthol is not good for little ones at all. Take her to urgent care and quit giving her vapor rub and benedryl benedryl is allergic medicine she probably has broncitis or rsv. Its going around and so is croup. Go TO URGENT CARE!
Is she vaccinated against whooping cough?
I would take her to an urgent care or ER if she is having trouble breathing. Sorry, that totally sucks on Christmas =( Do you have a children's hospital near you? I would go to their ER. Only other option is if you know someone with a breathing machine that you could give her a treatment and see if she improves, but probably not the best idea if this is her first breathing episode. Could be bronchitis or pneumonia and she may be dehydrated and need an antibiotic. Just take her.
I would take her in. Wheezing scares me. It indicates that they are not getting the oxygen she needs. Do you have Eucalyptus essential oil? I would definitely rub some (a few drops mixed in a light oil, like almond oil) on her chest and back. Have her breathe it in from your hands as well (put your hands under her nose to breathe in). Rub your hands together with the oil first to warm it and your hands up. Then rub it on.
So sorry your sweet babe is struggling. Eucalyptus is excellent for breathing issues. If you don't have it today, get some as soon as you can. We use it a lot for coughs, congestion. croup, etc. My kids love it.
Benedryl can make your little one sleepy and draggy (this is why you hear the ill advice to give your child some for long plane trips etc in the hopes it makes them sleep the trip). Really it's only going to do any good if it's allergies. It's an antihistamine. I would stop giving her so much benedryl to start with. How many days have you been giving it to her?
Vicks has eucalyptus in it which is something that another poster recommended. It is an allergin. I can not use Vicks or eucalyptus because I am allergic to them and they cause asthma flareups.
A cool mist humidifier is our best friend when anyone gets a head cold. Use some saline mist (you can buy a great mist spray in the baby section that is less annoying then the drops to use on a baby) to help clear out the nasal passages. You can use a bulb syringe to suck out the gunge as well since they can't blow at 20 months.
Is she actively struggling to breath or just sounds congested? Does her chest sink in when she breathes? Does she have blue or pale tinges around her mouth?
I know it's Christmas but you may really want to consider taking her to see someone if you are truly concerned with her breathing. It's not something you wnat to let linger.
I hope she feels better soon! Best of luck!
Places like CVS or grocery stores are typically open on Christmas. They might have slightly higher prices then say a Target or Walmart but it would give you something to help her feel better.
Yes, take her in. True wheezing/having a hard time breathing is reason to get in that day. Does the Pedi not have an emergency number where you can talk to someone? Try that if you can, if not, get in somewhere.
It could be the first signs of Croup. My daugter had it last year and was hospitalized. Does she sound like a barking seal when she coughs? Check for retraction(using other muscles to breathe) does she throat sick in a little when she breathes? Does her stomach? Check her capilary refills by pinching softly on the tips of her finger or toe. Count the seconds it takes for them to refill. If it's fast (1-2) seconds she's getting enough oxygen if it's closer to 3-5 seconds or longer it's a sign she might not be getting enough oygen. If she has all these signs I've mentioned take her in. You'll be grateful later. We had een to the doctor a few times and after 5 days and 2 Instacare runs they admitted us to the hospital. Up until that point she played pretty normal just was pale and a little slower. Kids can go and go but when they rash it's quick. we had only been at the hospital 30 min when my daughter stopped breathing. It's terrifying and I'd never wish it on anyone. Keep a close watch on her. Cool humidifiers help. Or steam up the bathroom really good and sit in their with her and let her breathe it in for a while then open a window or wrap her up and take her immediately outside to breathe in the cold air. It helps open her passageways. Keep doing that as often as needed (about every hour). If you have any other questions message me privately. I hope she gets feeling better!!
get her to the urgent care sounds like asthma shes wheezing and I get real pale when mine flares up and sleep a whole lot.
If she's wheezing, she should be seen. Especially if this is the first time that's happened. Could be croup, bronchitis, or something else, but it's time for her to be seen. You can also try Robitussin for her; this an expectorant which thins mucus and can help with sinus and chest congestion.
As for the other poster who said Benadryl is drying her out, Sudafed dries you up/out too. I've used Benadryl and Sudafed with success treating colds, but you have to ask the dr for the right dose for younger ones.
The Benadryl is drying her out, it is hurting her. It is for allergic reactions not a cold. It is drying up every bit of mucus she has and it will eventually make her worse. It does not matter how much moisture you are adding to her environment she is dried up inside.
Take her to Urgent Care. With little ones it's hard to medicate since there isn't anything really on the market for the anymore. Children were dying from parents mis-medicating their little kids and that is why the drugs are gone. Only the doc can wrote the proper prescription.
My kids are 7 and just turned 4. K was sick last week and I gave her 1/2 dose of Children's Sudafed. I under-medicate when possible, that way I can always add more if it's needed. The 4 year old is getting sick. I will not give him over the counter meds, he will go to the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. I would not risk making a mistake, even as careful as I am I know that a simple mistake can cost a child his life. As muddled as my brain is right now I am even writing down everything I am taking and when so if I can't remember I can look at my paper or bathroom mirror and not worry about remembering when I took what meds.
I have been sick from this nasty virus myself and I am taking 1/2 dose of Sudafed, 4 tsp. of Wall-Mart's brand Tussin for chest congestion, and got a prescription for Albuterol for the nebulizer. I did end up in the ER yesterday from being too dry and I didn't take Benadryl.The breathing treatment loosens the mucus in my lungs, it opens the lungs to allow me better breathing, it makes me feel so much better all alone. The Sudafed opens the nasal passages and allows the pressure to be lowered. It can sometimes cause the mucus to run out but that's okay, better out than in. The Tussin makes the mucus in my lungs runnier so it be coughed up.
Take her to the doc, especially if she is running a fever.
If she`s wheezing she needs to be seen. If an Urgent care isn`t open then take her to er.
