Seeking Advice About an Ongoing Problem with Croup

I am echoing the other moms here when I say, take him to a pediatric pulmonologist. My son is 8 now but he was diagnosed with asthma when he was 2.5yo. As you probably know, asthma means "wheezing" and it doesn't mean he will have it forever - but he should be seen because every wheezing episode will diminish the lung capacity a little more. We see Dr. Hadi Jabbar who is the head of pediatric pulmonology at New York Hosptial of Queens (off Main St near 46th, the old Booth Memorial Hospital). He is terrific, very smart and great with kids. By the way, when my son was 4, he kept getting throat infections - he would take an antibiotic and then a week later, be sick again. Finally they took his tonsils out (Dr. Jerry Huo, also with NYHQ). Since then, he has been much healthier and his asthma symptoms have diminished as well. Good luck, I know it is scary!

It sounds like what happen to me with my older son. The pediatrician would always tell me that it was the croup. I finally took the advice of a family friend and went to a pediatric allergy/lung specialist and found out that my son had asthma and allergic to several things that my pediatrician never told me. Fifteen years later.. my son is healthy and doing great. His asthma is completely under control and still sees the same doctor.

sounds like RSV which would be a simple swab test up the nose. My daughter had it a few weeks ago and need steriods, antibiotics and a nebulizer to finally get over it. She had a croup like cough and a running nose plus a fever. The fever only lasted a couple of days but the cough stayed around for weeks. The doctor explained to me that the cough wasn't really a cough it was a wheeze. We also noticed that she was panting. I would demand the test for RSV as it can be very dangerous especially in children under 2. For older kids it presents as a head cold with a croup cough. It is worth the quick test to know one way or another. Hope this helps a little bit.

Follow your gut instincts. A mother always knows their child best. Get a second opinion. Surely another pediatrician would agree that finding your child blue in the middle of the night warrents more attention medically. Certainly a well rested mother is also important and I'm guessing you're not getting much sleep lately!
--- mia mother of two. 6 and 13

My 19 month old has Asthma, and although we have never found her blue, she has been unable to breath a couple of times which is sooo scary. My thought is to get a second opinion, I can't hurt. THe more information is really sometimes the better. I have wonderful pedicatricians in the Bethpage area. Feel free to e-mail me ____@____.com luck.

I have a 5 year old little boy that got the croup very badly from the age of about 18mo on. I actually keep the liquid steroid on hand because I have needed it a few times I have really needed it for him in the middle of the night. They do say that the droup sounds worse than it really is but the sound is horrifying I know. My son was thought to have "cold-induced asthma" and because every single cold turned into a respitory nightmare he finally was given singulair 4mg once a day and it has done wonders for him. I also think he is outgrowing it which many kids do they younger they have symptoms. Everyone in my family that has been diagnosed with asthma have all outgrown it. I have taken him to a pulmonolgist and I would suggest that you do the same. I did the way of the allergy specialist and the pulmonogist I felt helped me nuch more.

All in all I would take him to a pediatric pulomonogist.

Good Luck.
Vicky

I would take him to pediatric pulmonologist right away. Do it on your own. If your insurance (if you have insurance) requires a referral, then you'll have to speak to your doctor about your concerns and that you would like to see a specialist. He/She shouldn't give u a hard time. I had terrible migraines for 5 years and my docs & neurologists kept misdiagnosing me and finally saying it was all just stress. I questioned the idea that maybe i have allergies to one of the docs and they laughed. So i went to an ENT on my own and didn't suggest any ideas to him. Then the ENT asked me on his own if i had ever been tested for allergies....well...you guessed it...i am allergic to everything in the environment. Still on allergy shots but off all the medicines that went a long with it. MUCH better now. MY POINT IS, TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS. IF YOU FEEL SOMETHING ELSE IS WRONG WITH YOUR CHILD, TAKE MATTERS INTO YOU OWN HANDS! GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR SON!! GET BETTER!!

FIND ANOTHER DOCTOR NOW!!!!! Finding your child blue is not ok...he is lacking oxygen. It may not be asthma, but croup is not ok either. I have a friend who's 17 month old also has croup and the doctor found a blockage in his windpipe restricting his breathing. This child required steroid shots. I don't mean to be so blunt, but croup can result in crib death. Get your doctor to do something for your child before its to late....PLEASE!!!!!!

Jennifer - follow your gut and get a second opinion - find another pediatrician that will listen to you. As a mother I knew something was wrong with my son - the ER sent me home saying that nothing was wrong, I then took him to his Ped. and he sent me back to the ER - he was extremely dehydrated, spiked fevers from 102-105.5 for 6 days straight and was diagnosed with Epsein-Barr ... he was in the hospital for 8 days and it took him 2 weeks to get healthy after his stay. If you feel there is something wrong follow your motherly instincts and do not wait for something worse to happen!

My heart aches for you. My daughter had croup a month ago and I slept with her on our guest bed every night just to make sure she was still breathing. Our pediatrician gave us a prescription, which you have probably already used if you have been in the ER. It was a syrup that relaxed her throat muscles and vocal chords so she could breath and reduce the stress on them. Honestly, it sounds like there is more to it than just croup. Please update and let us know how your little guy is doing.

H iJennifer,

I have a 3 1/2 yr daughter who has been diagnosed with asthema and allergies since she was about 2. They dont usually diagnose any earlier than that. She sees a wonderful pulminologist and is on a nebulizer with steroids (pulmicort) and for acute attacks she takes xopanex and takes singular at night. She has been so much better since they have given her all the meds. We still have times ehn the croup cough is there and she ends up getting pneumonia or bronchitus. I have a great dr that I would highly reccomend but I dont know where u are located if you are close to her. If you would like to talk or would like any info you can eamil me at ____@____.com

Good Luck
A.

Jennifer-

Sometimes as a Mama you have to follow your HEART!!!
Don't wait for your Dr. to get on board.
Set up an appointment ASAP with a pediatric pulmonologist!
If you need a referral INSIST on one being prepared ASAP
If you don't need one BETTER YET! Just go...

Croup is scary but treatable with the correct medicines. If his croup is persistent - the Dr. needs to change his treatment regimen. He was BLUE so he was not getting enough oxygen. Did they offer you a home nebulizer treatment machine? There are 2 different types of medicines that work with these machines. One is a long acting medicine that is given daily (if your child definitely has asthma) The other is a short acting medicine (like Albuterol/Proventil) that can be used when needed. Albuterol/Proventil also comes in a syrup form.
It dilates the bronchioles to help the baby's lungs "open up" (so to say!)

I - like you - have asthma. Given your medical history & your families medical history I would get your baby tested immediately.

Please keep us posted!

Call your insurance company and set a second opinion. Your son is almost 2 now and can be tested for allergies. You need to see a Pediatric Asthma Allergy Specialist. It can be something as simple as changing your laundry detergent, because it could be leaving behind a residue that he is inhaling.But since asthma is in your family you have answered your own question. Do you also have allergies? Was he born prematurely?
It happened with my son and it took a few weeks to figure out what was causing it because he was an infant he couldn't be tested for anything. I was blessed to have had a great pediatrician with my first son. I too went to the hospital with him at 2 months old because he was turning blue grasping for air, coughing like he was hanging out at the local pub:)lol. Once he was put on the nebulizer he began to get better and to do well, then I had to deal with the side affects, my sleepless nights, sleeping with him next to me in his crib, steroid, and other meds. As he got older I did breathing exercised with him, I took him walking, played basketball, ice-hockey, and most importantly swimming. All of these things helped him to build up his lung capacity and strenghten his muscles. Now at the age of 13 he has outgrown it and needs the inhaler on occasion when the neighbors are mowing the lawn and the windows are open:) lol.

you are your babys only advocate, keep going back

I also had such difficulties with my son especially from day one up to 5 months and again just recently. Because he was an infant, I immediately asked my pediatrician to refer us to an ENT (ear, nose throat) specialist. I don't remember his name but he was at Mt. Kisco Medical and specialises in childrens issues. After having a specialist look at his case I felt more comfortable with the situation. I also have asthma and it appears that my son, now 2 1/2 years also has it. I have a sister and mother who also have asthma. I did not let my son sleep more than ten feet away from me until a few weeks ago because the occurance of SIDS usually happens before the age of 3. He has woken up approx 7 times choking and flailing. He had one near miss SIDS incident on his second day outside the womb. Her turned blue and went from fetal position to a back arched position. The remedy was bouncing him and patting his back strongly. I theorize that the later choking was a replay of his birth experience where the cord was wrapped around his neck twice and they had to snip it before he was fully born and then get him out quick to start breathing. He was also quite blue at birth and did not breath immediately. I reccommend that you take him to a wholistic pediatricain. They are easier to talk with regarding all of your feelings over the situation. Mine is Dr. Cowen, very well known, specializes in learning disorders. He will take time with you to discuss everything. He is at Riverside Pediatrics in Croton on the Hudson. Dr. Baskind runs the practice. Dr. Cowen also works in Mt. Kisco. He will discuss every option with you.

I would change Doctors if they are doing nothing when you find your son blue. I lost a child to crib death aka sids. don't let them push you around with that. Get a second opinion and a third opinion if needed. It could be more and it might not. be secure to know what is going on. T.

Hi Jennifer. My little boy has asthma. I had the sneaking suspicion that he would be asthmatic when he was diagnosed with bronchitis at 9 months. Alot of doctors are hesitant to diagnose asthma until the age of 2 inspite of the ongoing systems. See if they can prescribe him a nebulizer in the meantime that will help him breathe easier until he gets a little older.

have you asked to be referred to a specialist?
if you are finding your child blue and cant breathe well would you risk it happening again and not catching it that time? better to be safe than sorry!
A.

ASAP. See a Pediatric Pulmonolgist now before it happens
again.

I have no experience with croup, but I will say, if your doctor doesn't want to run the tests or at least consider your ideas, move on, find a doc. that will. You are the only one looking out for your son and you know best. If you dont want to find another pediatrician altogether, find a specialist in that area, hopefully your son is absolutely fine and will grow out of this, but it will give you peace of mind to know. Good Luck.

Hi Jennifer

My 16 year old daughter as a small child had croup and she eventually grew out of it by the time she was 4. There wasn't really much that they could do for her. They just suggested that when she had croup to either take her outside and let her breath in the cool air or let the hot water run in the shower and keep her there for 15 minutes or so. I now have a 2 year old son and suffers from the same condition but this time my pediatrician from time to time prescribes him steroids to open up him lungs and that's if it's really bad. My pediatrican is not so quick to give my son medication she likes for him to fight it out so his antibodies get stronger on their own. If I were you I would just give it time and continue doing what you're currently doing. Just keep an eye on him. Hopefully and eventually he'll grow out of it.

This is something that I don't have personal experience with. But, I see a chiropractor - and he has often told me that respiratory difficulties are usually due to one misaligned bone (atlas) that can easily be resolved - especially in children. My husband thinks this is crazy, but was actually just speaking to my neighbor last evening who told me that her nephew had consistent respiratory infections, ear infections, neb treatments etc and nothing resolved with traditional medicine, tubes, etc. He has been completely better since seeing a chiropractor with NO other change in his life. It may be something to look into. Again, I have no personal experience with this, but don't fully trust the medical field and am often looking into things further than they do. I agree with one response though - turning blue is far from non-urgent. Good luck.

I would definitely push to have further testing done with your pediatrician. If he doesn't know what else to do I would tell him that you want to see a specialist at this point. If he doesn't think it is necessary, I would tell him you feel very strongly about it - don't back down. Get the name of top Pediatric Pulmonologist. Sometimes you have to be your own doctor and follow your instincts - something is not right and "it is just a diagnosis - we will keep watching him" is not an answer.
Good Luck.
-H. (mom of a 17 month old son as well)

you do not wait, turning blue several times is beyond dangerous,get another opinion,pediatrician right away, do not wait,if he has trouble breathing do not let him lay flat to sleep, alittle pillow that will put his head a little higher than his body is a must, just make sure it is comfortable, not too thick that would hurt his head, i would hook up a baby monitor to your'e room to hear his breathing at night! and make sure there is no smoking in the house!a mothers instinct is very important, if a doctor does not listen, get rid of him until you find someone who does,his life is the ost important thing!good luck, B..

Hi Jennifer: My youngest son, now 18 years old suffered from asthma and croup from the age of 2 until 12 and the first years I had similar problems going to the ER with him at night. Using a humidifier and a nebulizer for the asthma helped manage his condition which improved over time. What you are describing sounds more like apnea, which could be dangerous for your child as the automatic breathing process stops during the night. Have him checked for apnea and treated accordingly if confirmed. I hope you find some answers, it is very stressful to sleep at night after having gone through the experiences you are describing. I will pray for you and your son, that your problems are resolved soon. M.

Rub vicks vaporub on the bottom of his feet
at betime and cover with socks . His cough
should stop in about 5 minutes. Good luck and
god bless you both.
B.

Hi Jennifer
It sounds like you are using harsh chemicals in your home; and they are probably using them at your son's day care. You might want to check out EPA.gov for advice on asthma. You really need to get the chemicals out of your home. I refer people to a company that has safer products for your home. Check out my web page: www.LiveTotalWellness.com/L.
I wish you well.
L.

(So sorry you have to deal with this). my daughter used to cough like this all the time and her pd would not give me authorization for a nebulizer. I FINALLY got one from the allergist. does he have allergies or asthma? if he does or if u take him to a pediatric allergist, u can probably get a nebulizer which u could use so he doesnt reach that point of turning blue

My daughter is nearly 5 and has asthma. She was in the hospital for a week in september as she stopped breathing. She had had wheezyness previously with colds and had used a nebuliser for this - but was never labelled asthmatic until september. The pulmonologist said they try not to label asthmatic until the child is around five as lots of kids have these types of problems in early childhood and they don't develop into asthma. Maybe you could ask your Pediatrician if you should have a nebuliser and appropriate medication at home to be used at the onset of the croup cough to stop it becoming so serious. My daughter had allergy testing but it showed she has no allergies to any of the things they normally test for. Good luck!

Jennifer
I work with a nutritionist who is excellant when it comes to children, specifically babies and alternative ways to address the health concerns. What your baby has is a chronic chest infection. If you clear it up from the inside out the cough will disappear. Email me at: ____@____.com and I will be happy to put you in touch with him for some more details and options to try.
D. K

Jennifer-

I would not wait. I would go to another pediatrician for a second opinion and then a specialist. If you have a doctor you see for your asthma, you might ask him/her if they know a pediatric specialist. Although, it may be slightly alarmist, it is better to be safe than sorry. Best of luck!!

The situation you are describing with your son sounds eerily familiar to me. I went through similiar scenarios with my youngest daughter and was also told she had croup and would "be watched". Long story short: my daughter would also stop breathing or turn blue. After I balked at the "croup" diagnosis I was told her symptoms were the reult of severe gastroesphageal reflux disease...that her gag reflex was too inmature to adequately clear her airway when she spit up while lying down. Sounded plausible.

However, when these episodes continued despite reflux medications she was then diagnosed with asthma...like you there is a family history of asthma. However, when asthma treatements failed to rectify the problem I insisted on a sweat test. This test is most commonly used to diagnose Cystic Fibrosis. My daughter's results were "indeterminate"...she didn't test negative but also didn't test high enough for a definite positive. Here's where the hospital, Schneider Children's Hospital in NYC, dropped the ball...instead of ordering genetic testing they continued to label her as asthmatic with reflux and as she grew so did her problems. It wasn't until I took her to Boston Children's Hospital...4 states away...that they repeated the sweat test, got the same "indeterminate" test result, and then ordered genetic testing. Turns out she has a rare form of Cystic Fibrosis and is thriving under the care of Boston. Incidentally, she was misdiagnosed at several other "leading" pediatric hospitals as well and not one ordered another sweat test or even genetic blood work...amazing!!

Incidentally, my family history has been traced back hundreds of years and there are no recorded incidences of Cystic Fibrosis anywhere! Asthma yes, CF no! I actually received calls of apologies from her doctors and pediatrician...just ahead of major malpractice suits! So whenever I hear of children having chronic trouble breathing and parents being blown off with a diagnosis of "croup" I always inquire as to whether or not the child has ever had a sweat test and if so, what were the numbers? Never in a million years would I have thought my child would be in this situation...but my contention is had her doctors not been so complacent and dimissive...have you ever read the medical definition of "croup"?...she would have received proper treatment earlier in her life and would not have had to endure sufffering and lack of proper medical care she was subjected to. We now work to help educate doctors on advances in medical diagnostic tools to avoidthis happening to another family.

Good luck and God bless!

Does your son eat or drink dairy? Dr. Fuhrman can be very helpful with croup. His website is: drfuhrman.com

I was going to say that my daughter is 16 months and if she turned blue for no obvious reason (choking...) then I'd be camping out at the pedi's till I got answers. But it looks like you've got something started now. I hope you find out what is wrong soon.

You must get another opinion. Being blue generally means that your child is not having the proper oxygen flow. (I am NOT a medical professional). My friend had a child who would turn blue sometimes, she had a heart condition, where the heart wasn't pumping the oxygenated blood sufficiently.

Jennifer, i have 2 boys, the oldest is 2.5 and they both have been diagnosed with Reactive Airway Disease (RAD). it is essentially the same as Asthma, but sometimes it goes away as the child gets older so they are hesitant to make that diagnosis. if your insurance allows you to go to a specialist, then i would take him to a respiratory specialist for a second opinion. if not, then insist to your pediatrician that you want a referral, even just for a consultation. my 1st son was sick due to respiratory issues for like 3 months and then hospitalized before we started getting the needed attention and treatment from our Ped. you could also try anither Ped for a second opinion. it is very frustrating, but if something feels "off" to you, be proactive. good luck! A.

Jennifer,

I went through similar issues with my son a few times. I did change dr.s once. They all seem very hesitant to diagnose asthma. I'm not sure why. I have asthma and I know what it sounds like. I strongly felt that my son had it but he still has not been diagnosed. So, I took measures into my own hands. I met a woman at a lia sophia show who introduced me to a company that had natural solutions for health issues. She told me about how she got her son off of asthma medicine using those products. So I figures I'd give it a shot. All we had to do was to change the cleaning products we used to non-toxic ones and get an air purifier. We made those changes in November and he as not had an episode since. An added benefit, I have not needed my inhaler since either! Yay! We also started on their multi vitamins which are wonderful but I think getting the toxins and allergins out of the house was the key. Ifyou want more info I would be happy to get it for you. the cleaning products were pretty in-expensive in realtion to the ones we were using. The air purifier was pricier but it had a money back guarantee so I felt comfortable trying it out. I am SO happy that I don't have to give him the meds that I used to have to give him. The albueterol made him crazy! He barely knew who I was and seemed like he would climb up the wall if it was physically possible. Now he only takes his multi vitamin and I make sure he gets enough protein for healthy cell growth. Anyway,I could go on forever so I'll stop now. Send me a message if you want more info. I'd be happy to share.

Hello Jennifer,

I am new to this website. A friend recommended it. Also, my children are quite a bit older now. But my first child, Jessica (I call her Jesse)was very croupy as an infant. She also was rushed to the emergency ward and put on an oxygen mask when her respitory infection worsened in the middle of the night. This was when she was about six months old. It took many efforts to discover the underlying condition, which was an allergy to milk protein (not lactose intolerant, which is the sugar base of milk). This inability to break down milk protein was "irritating" her system, such that she was susceptible to other conditions, i.e. she was always croupy. Through a process of reading labels thoroughly, I discovered that many processed products have milk protein, or its derivatives (like "casseine" in margerine (I am not sure I am spelling this correctly), or whey products) that Jesse couldn't digest. It is quite possible that your child is suffering from an allergy and that is causing the surface conditions. You are right about trying to discover the underlying condition. With careful observation, you will find it.

I hope this helps.

M.

I agree with every one, move on and take him to a pediatric pulmonologist. If you don't agree with his Dr you have to take matters into your owns hands

I would be changing pediatricians or at least getting a second opinion. He is clearly susceptible to asthma as your family history indicates. If his breathing is not only audible but his upper body is straining on inhaling it points to a respiratory problem. It is extremely difficult (for whatever medical reason) for asthma to be diagnosed under two so this could be a reason for your doctor stalling to make a firmer decision on his condition. Croup isn't nice to listen to but relatively harmless if treated appropriately, but if it's not being treated and you've been to ER three times already I wouldn't be a happy mummy either. Blue babies are oxygen deprived which if bad enough can starve the brain and if undetected over a long period, surely this could be serious? I would also do some research on line, get him allergy tested and importantly monitor his energy levels during the day, especially in the morning before his day sleep to see whether there's any indications that he is not getting the oxygen levels in his blood that he needs to function. You might also like to consider having his adenoids and tonsils looked at for size as sleep apnoea might be part of the equation. (I am an Australian mother of 2 girls (20 months and 5.5 years. Hope this helps). (Just saw that you have already had feed back and acted on it, so sorry for late reply).

I know this can be a very scary thing....how is he doing now?? Croup is a very scary illness that doesn't necessarily lead to anything, but if it becomes a chronic problem then I think looking into further treatments/tests would be warranted. If he's doing much better and it's all behind him, no sense in subjecting him to tests and procedures. As difficult as it is, waiting to see what the future brings will give you an idea of what to do....hopefully he has no further problems and it was just his time to get a bad case of croup. Good Luck and lots of good health to you and your family-

Take him to a pediatric pulmonologist. It sounds very similar to what I went through with my youngest. He was diagnosed with asthma.

As his parent you can and should request additional testing treatments and second opinions whenever you feel like your not getting the answers you need. Don't let them make you feel like you're being pushy or over dramatic. This is your child and you need to keep him safe and keep your own mind at ease. My son starting having cold induced athsmatic symptoms when he was 18 mos, although we never got to the point of ER visits it was scary. Be persistent and good luck!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_baby_syndrome

Here is something to look into

I don't want to scare you, but my children or which I have 3 have all had croup at one time or another, and NONE have turned blue

He probably has Croup AND a Hole in his heart called a murmur

these are common in babies and either go away on their own or can be corrected with a simple surgery.

Good Luck

M

There are environmental conditions that can trigger asthma and croup. Is the air in your home dry? Humidifiers can help with this. Are there things that can trigger allergies in the other family memebers that could be effecting the baby?

With breathing difficulties in the family, I would start there. Don't look for bigger problems that may not be there.

Jennifer, is there a way that we can talk over the phone? I'm not a doctor but a grandmother whose grandson has lung issues and blue around the mouth means not enough oxygen.

Go with your motherly instincts and start pushing as soon as you don't think they are doing their jobs right. Get another doctor if this one isn't right for you. You can also transfer hospitals if you feel the one you're in is not meeting your needs.

If your son is still in the hospital, go to the library and look up "Croup". Read all you can about it and decide what to do next. Please don't let the doctors mislead you.

Also you can get all of your son's medical records to read what is going on.

I hope this helps. Good luck and good health.

It's time to start pushing. In fact, why not go to an allergist or a pulmonologist? I think you are adjusting to his illnesses, but 3 ER visits, one hospital admission, and 3 doctor visits are a lot for a 17 month old healthy baby. I'm an R.N. and am acutely aware of the need to advocate for yourself and your family within the health care system. And--another piece of advice--don't leave your baby alone in the hospital at night. The day shift is usually well-staffed with experienced professionals, the evening shift is less so, but the night shift is usually only a couple of people, and since senority determines who chooses which shifts to work, the nighttime is usually both understaffed and staffed by inexperienced workers. Demand to stay with him--it's not worth the risk.

Jennifer,

In the wise words of my MIL, tell them you want to be referred to a pediatric pulmonologist!! Don't play with them. My pediatrician wasn't taking my sons' constant sicknesses much more serious than that saying they have cough induced asthma and treating my middle for pneumonia without ever taking an xray. The pulmonary doctor was wonderful! Come to find out in our case, my sons suffer from allergies and asthma but now instead of 3 months of breathing treatments and antibiotics, a week of Clariton or Benadryl usually works!

Demand to see a pediatric pulmonologist. If he says don't worry, then I would relax a bit but turning blue?? Please update me. I can understand where you are coming from!

Hugs,
L.

you need to call boston children's hospital immediately and get help i remember my mother saying things about hose signs and you need to call boston children's hospital now you need to look symptoms of all on the fda website.

I would definitely get a second opinion. What type of medication is the pediatrician prescribing each time the diagnosis is "Croup" Do you use a humidifer in his room and if you do does it help?
Does he have any other symptoms? You should ask your pediatrician about dairy products during this time.
Good luck to you and your son!

If you feel that you are not comfortable with the pediatrician's answers to your questions, I think you should get another opinion from another doctor. I say go with your "mom instinct" on this one. I have 2 wonderful children myself (6 yrs. and 4 yrs.)and both have had many bouts of croup over the years. I understand how scary this is for you.

Dear J.,

I had the same problem with my 4 yr old son. At the age of 17 months. He also got croup. He turned blue on me and with a barking sound when he coughed. After that every time he got sick with a cold or the flu, he turns pail blue and weak to the knees that he drops with no control of it. We had him checked by a cardiologist,since that a symptom of heart problems, and nothing. Know he has other symptoms that are getting worst, like snoring to the point that he snorts so hard that he gasps for air during his naps and at night. He grinds his teeth. He has big tantrum and irritable when he does not sleep well. He will be taking a Sleep Study to see if it's his tonsils that are not allowing him to get enough oxigen during the time he is sick and asleep, since one of them is larger that the other according to his doctor. Hopefully we can figure out what is going on with child. Keep bugging his doctor about it. It's not fun watching your baby turning pail blue.

Don't take any chances you start pushing NOW and if he dosen't listen go find someone who will. Go to a specialist now. Some doctors think they know everything and do not want to refer you to a specialist. It took over a year going to my sons pediatrician before I went to a specialst. Than it took another year to get him the right help he needed. That was for his hearing. When he was older and we had a different pediatrician we suspected tourettes syndrome. He sent us to a specialist right away and he was getting help within 2 months. Even if your doctor is right, better safe than sorry.

Immediately.

Best of luck!

A.

I too had this problem with my now 4 1/2 year old son. After the second time of being admitted into the hospital I had it. One of the nurses gave me a name of a pulmonologist. I didn't wait for the pediatrician. I still go to see the pulmonologist 3 times a years with him.
With my son I know when the weather changes from cold to warm quickly(or vice versa), I need to start giving him nebulizer treatments for the next few days. At first I didn't like giving him the medication but It was better then him struggling to breath and he got soooooo scared. I hate haveing to bring my kids to the doctor but for peace of mind try a pediatric pulmonologist.

Sounds like your son has asthma. You need to get him to a pediatric pulmonologist ASAP. My daughter wasn't turning blue, but just before she hit 3 years old, she started getting colds that would rush into her chest, combined with wheezing and trouble breathing. After 2 or 3 episodes of this, our pediatrician (experienced with asthma) diagnosed it and recommended we see a pumonologist too. The pulmonologiist is who picked the right medicines for her and she's been well through this cold season (she's 4 now).

It's tough to get an appt with a pediatric pulmonologist, so either find another pediatrician who has experience with asthma and talk to your current ped. about your history of asthma. A child turning blue is nothing to just watch. Something has to be done to prevent this from happening over and over again.

Also, if your son does end up admitted into the hospital again, you can ask for a pulmologist to see him.

Good luck and keep us posted. BTW, I have asthma too and the pulm. told me that if there's a family history, it's a lot easier for them to diagnose it, because their genes already have that tendency.

M. in Brooklyn

Always go with your gut instinct NO Matter WHAT! Even if you dont want to be "pushy" or hurt someone's feelings or step on someone's toes, or even if you're just not sure how to explain it so you dont want to sound stupid or something, If your gut says something else is wrong and your doctor says dont worry about it we'll watch him, GET A SECOND OPINION. Get a third if you have to. But dont stop until you find a doctor who listens and shows and communicates to you that he is taking this seriously and is doing everything possible to understand what's going on with your child.

I took my son to a pediatric pulmonologist as per my pediatricians advice when he was9 mo old. He was always wheezing, coughing, bluish fingernails. He also has reflux & eczema. The pulm. said he has respiratory distress disease which could lead to asthma. She started him on pulmicort & xopenex 2x a day via nebulizer. He stopped snoring the first day we used it! He is much better now. I would definately get a referral for a ped. pulmonologist especially since asthma runs in your family. Maybe the coughing isn't croup. It could be that he cant get air into or out of his lungs properly or something like that. It won't hurt & will give you a peace of mind. Good Luck!
Nicole

Keep pushing! If you feel something just isn't right, then it probably isn't! I went through a medical issue when my daughter was a baby and the pediatrician thought she would outgrow the condition. I kept pushing and in the end, I was the one who discovered the true underlying problem and remedy!!! The doctor agreed with me and so did other professionals that I had been going to for help.

Listen to your gut! And if you are not getting anywhere with yoyr pediatrician, get a second opinion. Also, research your child's ailments thru a web search or magazine articles.

Good Luck!

Turning blue is not something that should be dismissed or kept an eye on. When my son was 5 1/2 weeks old, he turned blue and was rushed to the hospital where he apent several days under observation hookes up to monitors. We were sent home on an heart monitor( for sleep apnea). It only went off once during the 4 months he was on it. But this was done as a precautionary measure. i would not accept " we will keep an eye on it" as an answer. There could be more than croup going on. Get a second opinion. Doctors aren't always right. You need to be an advocate for your child!!! I don't mean to scare you but one can never be too cautious. I have had 2 more children since my son( he is the 3rd boy) then 2 girls. Both girls were put on the monitor to be on the safe side because of what happened with their brother. We went to a sleep apnea specialist out of Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, Nj I believe we saw a neonatologist. If you want me to look up the name , please let me know but do not wait on this. Take care of it now, please!!!!!!

P.S. My son']s airways were very small and that is why he would get the croup. Try the albuterol liquid.. it really helped. I didn't like the fact that the breathing machine was so long term. The albuterol liquid is for only when they get sick.