DS has pneumonia!!- UPDATE

I took my 11 year old DS to the urgent care place today because he's been complaining about "junk in his throat" and has had a fever since Thursday. I thought he had strep. The doctor came in, did the strep test, and then asked if he had been coughing. Nick told him, "My throat tickles at night and I've been coughing a bit." Dr listened to him, then had him stand up and listened to him, and said we needed to do a chest X-ray. They did it and they said his whole right lung is pneumonia

They have him on an antibiotic, and we have to go to his ped, and have a repeat chest Xray in a few days to make sure the area is shrinking. I'm totally shocked!

None of my kids have ever had pneumonia. Anything I should know? The dr said just fluids, rest, etc. After we left I realized they never did an O2 test... is that something I should ask for?




UPDATE- We followed up with the ped today. They changed his antibiotic because he wasn't keeping the other antibiotic down. The ped felt it was too irritating to his stomach. We have to come back in a few days for a followup and a chest xray.

Not five minutes after we got home, the urgent care place called to tell me that his throat cuture came back positive. So he DOES have strep, as well as pneumonia. I'm so freaked out, because this child is SO healthy normally. It's bizarre that he is so sick, so suddenly!

I'm a little unsettled by my pediatrician's office, whom I normally love. They are acting like this is all no big deal, and told me he can resume his normal activities in a day or two. I'm like, "Are you seeing this kid?? He's collapsed on the exam table, saying he needs to go home and sleep!" I also told them that he was having a lot of trouble catching his breath and is very winded going up or down stairs and they brushed that off too. Maybe I'm just a paranoid mom but I've never done pneumonia with any of my kids and in my mind this is a big serious thing.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Message edited 7/9/2012 11:49:47 AM.

Re: DS has pneumonia!!

I hope he feels better!!!

Not sure why they didn't take his O2, guess his breathing seems good.

Re: DS has pneumonia!!

hope he feels better soon

Re: DS has pneumonia!!

Hope he feels better soon!

Re: DS has pneumonia!!- UPDATE

bump with update

Re: DS has pneumonia!!- UPDATE

I know many friends who dc has pne. They all had restricted activity for approx 2 weeks. I had pne and was not allowed to any activity for 2 weeks either. I do know lots of fluid and rest rest rest. I hope he feels better. If you feel better seek a second opinion. Good luck!!

Re: DS has pneumonia!!- UPDATE

I had that last Oct. and it was bad. I was so sick. They should have taken the 02 test. I was sick for weeks. If it makes you feel any better my dr. didn't think it was a big deal at first either, they gave me the same 2 day line. I would take him back again for the 02 test. Maybe he needs a breathing treatment or some type of inhaler.

The good thing is that he's young and healthy so he will recover quickly. Hope he feels better soon!

Re: DS has pneumonia!!- UPDATE

Posted by OffWithHerHead23

I took my 11 year old DS to the urgent care place today because he's been complaining about "junk in his throat" and has had a fever since Thursday. I thought he had strep. The doctor came in, did the strep test, and then asked if he had been coughing. Nick told him, "My throat tickles at night and I've been coughing a bit." Dr listened to him, then had him stand up and listened to him, and said we needed to do a chest X-ray. They did it and they said his whole right lung is pneumonia

They have him on an antibiotic, and we have to go to his ped, and have a repeat chest Xray in a few days to make sure the area is shrinking. I'm totally shocked!

None of my kids have ever had pneumonia. Anything I should know? The dr said just fluids, rest, etc. After we left I realized they never did an O2 test... is that something I should ask for?




UPDATE- We followed up with the ped today. They changed his antibiotic because he wasn't keeping the other antibiotic down. The ped felt it was too irritating to his stomach. We have to come back in a few days for a followup and a chest xray.

Not five minutes after we got home, the urgent care place called to tell me that his throat cuture came back positive. So he DOES have strep, as well as pneumonia. I'm so freaked out, because this child is SO healthy normally. It's bizarre that he is so sick, so suddenly!

I'm a little unsettled by my pediatrician's office, whom I normally love. They are acting like this is all no big deal, and told me he can resume his normal activities in a day or two. I'm like, "Are you seeing this kid?? He's collapsed on the exam table, saying he needs to go home and sleep!" I also told them that he was having a lot of trouble catching his breath and is very winded going up or down stairs and they brushed that off too. Maybe I'm just a paranoid mom but I've never done pneumonia with any of my kids and in my mind this is a big serious thing.

Thanks for letting me vent.

DS has pneumonia!!- UPDATE

My DD had pneumonia and strep at age 2. As mommies it freaks us out, but the MDs know when it's actually time for that. Hang in there. Keep him hydrated, and comfortable and he'll be up and around in no time at all!

Re: DS has pneumonia!!- UPDATE

My 3 yo DD just had pneumonia. I was SHOCKED. She has a tendency to get wet, chesty coughs even with simple colds, so I wasn't even planning to take her to the ped originally. She had no fever! But she kept complaining she was tired, was falling asleep in the car at odd times, so I took her. The ped gave her an antibiotic (zithromax) and liquid albuterol (the ingredient in inhalers that opens the airways).

I really recommend you go back to the ped or urgent care and discuss the possibility of an inhaler. I saw for a fact that my DD's tiredness was clearly from having to work harder to breathe--- I started the antibiotic and the albuterol at the same time, and in less than 24 hrs, her energy level was almost back to normal. One dose of an antibiotic doesn't work THAT quickly! I attribute it to the albuterol keeping her airways open and making it easier to breathe.

Incidentally they placed no restriction on her activity, both at the initial visit, and when we went for a recheck 5 days later.