BRONCHIOLITIS - EVERY PARENT'S LIVING NIGHTMARE REVISITED... (Bronchiolitis)

Member Name: totalserenity

Product:	Bronchiolitis
Date:	17/06/09 (168 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: NONE- IT'S A HELLISH ILLNESS WITH A POSSIBLE LIFE-LONG IMPLICATIONS.

Disadvantages: EVERY CONCEIVABLE ONE YOU COULD THINK OF FOR THOSE POORLY BABES...

'Bronchiolitis' can be a quite serious illness in some babies; a third of infants in the UK are estimated to develop this common respiratory infection within the first year of life - with two out of every ten cases being admitted to hospital for specialised care.

Branching off from the common cold, this predominantly airborne virus can cause mild to severe symptoms within a young baby's lungs, causing the smallest airways of the lungs (the bronchioles) to swell - and then fill with mucus making it very difficult for the youngster to breathe comfortably.
This illness generally affects around 90% of the quoted age bracket within the first six to nine months of their lives, usually because these babies' airways, lungs, and immune systems are not fully developed by that point.

As a healthy child matures, both their body's own fighting systems - plus their lungs are able to cope more as the youngster grows - thus this variation on the common cold becomes just an upper-respiratory-tract infection, either causing a sore throat or general cough, rather than anything more ominous.

In most cases this condition manifests itself in milder forms such as a sniffling nose, a croup-type cough - or a raised temperature, in which case there are many forms of help out there from Midwives, Health Visitors to GP's to walk-in Health Centres.
However, in the unfortunate few the virus that is predominantly caused by RSV (respiratory synchytial virus), which is passed by direct contact such as coughing or sneezing containing this dangerous little infection via airborne droplets.

Because the bronchioles are so inflamed by the presence of RSV, this can create a mild to severe build up of mucus which blocks the free airflow into the lungs - which in the worse cases can led to a hospitalisation of a poorly infant if they are having problems both feeding, and breathing unaided.

The RSV virus can also trigger croup, ear infections and even Pneumonia in unlucky instances.

It must be said that the presence of RSV on its own is not cause for too much concern according to the 'Baby Centre Advisory Board', but rather becomes a problem if it develops into the more serious health condition Bronchiolitis...

More pertinent to me on writing this review is the fact that from this illness can create post-health issues after the potentially initial life -threatening complications that can arise from the presence of RSV, have been dealt with.
Such 'issues' can include longer term respiratory disorders such as Asthma, (resulting in acute recurring chest infections, colitis, and the like), with long term use of nebulisers, inhalers, and use of stronger oral steroids such as Prednisolone to try and aid the beleaguered child's lungs from these lower-respiratory-tract breathing attacks.

More at risk babies are those born under or around the 32 week gestation period, as coming into the world with such under-developed lungs increases their chances of contracting such infections. Alternatively, low birth weight babies - or those born with congenital heart disease add to any serious complications of RSV if the virus fully develops.

Indicators of problems increasing from a normal run-of-the-mill cold can be a cough turning more pronounced; or breathing becoming more laboured with the baby grunting and wheezing whilst exhaling.
In addition fingernails and the mouth area can turn blue, alongside the baby's abdominal muscles expanding more than usual under the ribcage.
As with many respiratory illnesses the poorly babe can exhibit signs of poor feeding and increased breaths per minute - a rate of 60 or above per minute being suspect in this case.

The virus can live on both hands and surfaces for up to 6 hours, and the outbreak of this nasty illness is much more common amongst the winter months of October-March.

After reading an excellent review on dooyoo regarding a mother's son being taken into hospital seriously ill with this awful infection it brought back everything my then husband and I endured at Bronchiolitis's merciless hand over sixteen years ago now.
And whilst we have enough to worry about as new parents, it does not hurt to be aware of a condition that can be so prevalent during the colder of our climate's months.

Now personally I had never even heard of this ailment until our 16 week old baby, Laura Bethany contracted Bronchiolitis suddenly out of the blue...

What started off as a little cold escalated in just over 24 hours into a life-threatening illness that ended up with our tiny baby being rushed into The Rotherham & District Hospital via emergency ambulance in my arms, with me sobbing distraught as I held her doll-like limp body...
Just the mere thought of it still takes me distressingly back as it was the first time her proud dad and I nearly lost our beloved child to a would-be deadly illness.
Special care in hospital is necessary if a baby becomes so ill so rapidly as this infection can spread like wildfire amongst the youngest, most vulnerable members of society.

Of course as I have sat here researching Bronchiolitis in-depth for this write up, I have been amazed at how many facts were pertinent to our only child, and yet we were never warned about such an illness possibly affecting our premature baby.
'Cot Death' was highly publised at the time as a daytime popular TV presenter named Anne Diamond had tragically lost her little boy to such a treacherous visitor of doom and death.
However, an airborne germ that could cause the tiny bronchioles in a baby's lung to swollenly inflame to the point of respiratory distress was unheard of by us...

Our first indicator that something was badly wrong was that Laura Beth stopped feeding, and subsequently started struggling for breath. From what seemed to be a little cold originally at the beginning of the day - turned into something far more ominous by the end - with worried me ringing our local doctor's (back in the day when you could connect with someone within two minutes rather than two hours, I might add), after my baby woke up looking quite poorly and decidedly lacklustre.
On describing my daughter's symptoms a doctor landed on our doorstep within 5 minutes, and literally two minutes after examining our child's floppy semi-conscious body (her lips frighteningly turning a light blue and her pallor grey before our very eyes), my husband and I were sat in an ambulance, sirens flashing and glaring through early evening traffic rushing us towards the aforementioned hospital.

The GP had been wonderful - prompt and professional, and so were the staff at the hospital; although to be perfectly honest I really thought our gorgeous girl was going to die in the ambulance as she was so desperately ill...

Because of the highly contagious nature of Bronchiolitis we were kept in strict isolation once admitted directly onto the ward, firstly Laura Beth was examined in a separate side room. The illness was diagnosed almost immediately, and my husband rang around our respective families to let them know as I stayed by our infant's side.

We were understandably terrified as it was explained to us that this infection was very dangerous indeed for our baby for two reasons - she had been 6 weeks premature (though thankfully not underweight at a whopping 6lb 5 ½ ozs - and had been thriving thus far) - plus she was very young, only approximately 4 months old.
Apparently the older the baby, the higher the chance of survival - due to the increase in lung capacity - therefore the higher oxygen ratio can be taken into their tiny bodies which can hopefully stave off Pneumonia from taking its wicked hold...

Arrangements were made to admit Laura Beth in to a specially designated isolation ward where there were four cots in total; two were already occupied, with a fourth very poorly tot being admitted later that night.

We were thunderstruck! How could an infection this virulent be such a secret to us?

A Consultant was on hand to insert a feeding drip up our daughter's nose - I had to leave the side room at that point - as my now awake baby started to scream in pain, and I am forever ashamed to say I could not cope with the sight of a tiny clear tube being forced up my offspring's delicate button nose, so daddy stayed instead to comfort her.

The few seconds I stood outside heartbrokenly sobbing were some of the worst in my life, and I still fill up at the very though of it to this day...

Laura Beth was mildly dehydrated by this point and the nursing staff explained she would get a lot worse before she would get better. We were warned some babies in rare cases tragically die from this condition, but that although ours was young to contract this illness - she was otherwise fit and healthy.

Five hellish days and nights then ensued, watching our tiny babe struggling to breathe - her poor little frame's muscles fighting to try and inhale as much air as her tiny body needed. Lack of oxygen was a major worry as it could result in brain damage, so Laura Beth's oxygen levels were constantly monitored to make sure she was receiving high enough amounts to help her cope with her strained lungs demands...

Our daughter luckily did well via the tube feeds. Nappies were checked regularly by the nurses for any signs of bodily distress or retention of fluids; oxygen was administered via a tiny tent (a very distressing sight indeed), and I stayed with my girl throughout - adamant that 'I' was not leaving that hospital until 'she' did.

My daughter was an Infertility baby, and I begged for her to be returned to Jessop Hospital for Women in Sheffield where she had been delivered as we hurriedly entered into the ambulance; but our address fell under Rotherham at that stage so the paramedics understandably felt it better to get her to the nearest medical point as fast as they could.
I just wanted her to go to the familiar Special Care Paediatric team that had dealt with my pregnancy and subsequent delivery, but it was not to be...

Bronchiolitis does not respond to antibiotics, but they gave Laura Beth small doses of daily Prednisolone to try and give her tiny lungs a fighting chance aided by the strong corticosteroid, and happily she stared to respond after four days of being very, very poorly indeed.

Her dad worked by day and came to be with us by evening; he wasn't allowed to stay and the rules on scrubbing up both before entry and exiting were extremely stringent as they needed to be. We were frantic as you can imagine, folks, both the Consultant and the nursing staff had to warn us of the possibility of Pneumonia and possible complications with our baby's tiny lungs if she pulled through ok...

My girl had all her favourite toys surrounding her (they had to be washed at a high temperature beforehand although I can't recall what it was now, sorry), but was a very grouchy little bunny indeed!
Always being highly intelligent by nature, this mum had her work cut out trying to entertain a poorly little mite who was restricted to a cot for those long, laborious days and nights!

Family members were not allowed to visit due to the highly contagious nature of this infection. Anyone entering/exiting the isolated bay was to scrub up on both occasions and all clothing taken home was to be washed thoroughly.
The parents/carers of these ill little tots had an allotted bathroom/toilet separate from the rest of the ward, which was meticulously disinfected on regular intervals.
Hand washing hygiene was constantly stressed in effort to contain the RSV strain from spreading apace.

Needless to say our little angel survived, and this was one mummy who walked out of that hospital a darn sight happier than when she arrived!

Mind you by the time we were through I needed 'my' mum's arms around me too for a much-needed hug!

Now as much as I would love this tale to end with a 'Happy ever after' I'm afraid this is real life and the Fates weren't that kind to my baby, sad to say.

Laura Beth's lungs were irreparably damaged, her chest weakened beyond recognition compared to the healthy, lusty-lunged babe she once was. My baby was now a severe Asthmatic and this created problems anew at such a tender age, for the very drugs prescribed to allow her to breathe easily could also be dangerous in her bodily development.

Our baby grew into a beautiful toddler plagued by brutal chest infections; her condition so far advanced it was beyond the normal realms of a GP to treat her, hence we were referred to Sheffield's Children's Hospital - luckily for us this was one of the leading medical institutions for Paediatric care in the country and, we were under an excellent Clinic run by a wonderful Consultant named Mr Primark.

Frustrated by the constraints her breathing was placing on her, our daughter wanted to be up and off exploring the world but her laboured breathing and acute Asthmatic episodes restricted her somewhat.

Prescribed with a 'Preventer' medication called 'Intal' at first to try and keep the bronchiole airways open and prevent the life-threatening Asthma attacks, and placed on a electronic nebuliser by the age of 18 months old which we had to transport everywhere to dispense our child's 'Ventolin' 'Reliever' via a mask through nebule capsules...

In the end our infant had so many chest X-rays and night-time emergency visits to The Children's Hospital we used to joke we needed a season ticket!

Much more seriously though, we had exchanged one potential killer for another, so over the years the professionals struggled to control my daughter's respiratory difficulties throughout chronic childhood Asthma to acute and frightening attacks. I can recall at least five or six occasions where I honestly believed my hubby and I were going to walk out of that hospital having to plan a funeral such were the ferocity of Laura Beth's acute attacks.

There can be few things as distressing a trying to watch your darling child struggle for life-giving breath whilst you are trying to keep calm as they focus on your every eye movement to see if you are panicking.
Oral steroids were always on hand - especially for trips abroad and the like 'just in case', and as she grown luckily these steroids don't appear to have had an adverse effect on my girl's growth and development...

Inhalers changed shape, doses were increased to help Laura Beth breath unaided, and the machine-driven nebuliser was put to one side when she was five as she was capable of using a Spacer to breathe her dosage through by that age.

Fantastically, my daughter grew out of her Asthma somewhat until recently again, so has had a good six years without many symptoms - but who would have guessed a simple-looking cold infection could have ended up so severe?

There are many worries as a parent over a child's health but like the more advertised quick attacking illnesses like Meningitis, Bronchiolitis can claim its fair share of victims - but despite being so well-known in the medical profession its existence is not so well known to ordinary parents/carers/guardians.
I would say for this reason always listen to your instincts as a parent. I have never known a member of the medical profession yet who would bemoan a genuine callout if you are worried; and I, for one, am very glad I was in tune with my lethargic baby and acted as I did at the time.

As far as I'm concerned she was in the right place for as long as it took to get her well again, and that is what the health experts are here for, bless their nursing hearts.

Please note I do not profess to have medical knowledge, I educated myself regarding Bronchiolitis after my child suffered the consequences of contracting this potentially dangerous illness.

The websites I have visited in researching the statistics for this review are:

www.patient.co.uk
www.babycentre.co.uk
www.nhs.co.uk

*And try not to worry, think of all the children who don't contract this, it just pays to be aware that's all!*

Summary: IT DOESN'T WARRANT EVEN A SINGLE STAR, THIS CAN BE A NASTY CONDITION TO CONTRACT.