My son got a stuffy nose more than 2 weeks ago. When it started, there were no other symptoms so I thought it might be teething related because that has happened in the past. As soon as the tooth pushed through the congestion went away. However, a couple of days after this particular episode he began to run a fever. Because the fever was there the next day, I took him to his pediatrician (a new doctor because my husband and I were very disatisfied with his previous doctor for various reasons). I really expected him to have a sinus infection because of the color of the mucous and my husband and I both get them frequently. So I was prepared for her to put him on antibiotics. However, she told us it was probably just a cold and sent us home with an antihistamine/decongestant. The fever broke, never to return. But the congestion won't go away. I know that colds can take a while to go away but 2 weeks later it's really not that much better. Should I take him back to the doctor or am I jumping the gun? Also, I would love to be turned on to a REALLY GREAT pediatrician - preferrably one that has Hendersonville Medical Center priviledges. Thanks, moms!
Well, a couple of days after my post Keegan began running a low grade fever. So back to the doctor we went. His "cold" has developed into a double ear infection. How fun. The doctor said she doesn't think he was misdiagnosed before but that the congestion from the cold has drained into his ears. The cold just went on for too long. I couldn't believe it. He gave no indication that his ears were bothering him whatsoever. So she put him on amoxicillin and dicel (an antihistamine and decongestant.) This is the very first time he's ever been sick and he's taking it like a champ, poor little guy. Thanks again for everyone's input. It really helped!
If you are concerned about your baby, then take him back to the doctor. It's better to be a little overprotective than to miss something important, and any good doctor would tell you that. I think that's part of a pediatrician's job....to be there for the parents as well as the tykes.
Hey C.. Been awhile since we chatted....hope you're doing well.
What pediatrician do you see in Hendersonville? We go to Tennessee Pediatrics and see Dr. Holzen. She has been really great with Emerson. We also LOVE Dr. Johnson there - we've had to see him a handful of times and sometimes he even calls us at home to check on Em which is really comforting.
Anyways, Emerson would get colds that lasted forever also - weeks even. Sometimes it would turn into ear infections and sometimes just go away eventually. Not to scare you, but it's been 100 times better since we had his tonsils and adenoids removed. Is he getting ear infections at all? If he's acting OK, it's probably just a cold but it wouldn't hurt to call the doctor's office and see what they say. Good luck!
S.
Hi. I had the same problem with my 6 month old and I also thought it was a sinus infection being that I always get them this time of year. Have you taken him to an allergist? If not I would recommend doing so because my son started out with a cold and had to take an antihistamine/ decongestant that worked only he was allergic to some of the baby foods i continued to feed him. You might have to get a referral but it is well worth the try.
It sounds like it cold be allergies to me. Take advantage of your pediatrician, that's what you are paying them to do.
My kids see Dr. Mishu at Goodlettsville Pediatrics. She is wonderful and the whole staff there, including the other doctors, are amazing. Their number is 851-RUOK.
Take Heed. My youngest child had a 'cold' for 18 months. I took her to the pediatricians office constantly. She was congested, appeared to make it hard for her to breathe, stuffy nose (with yellow/green mucus), and had recurrent bouts with the croup and all this could be with or without fever. During this time she would also get ear infections because of the congestion. She eventually had tubes put in her ears. That solved that problem, but not the congestion, wheezing, stuffy nose..etc. There are four doctors in our pediatrician's office. I made my rounds. Finally, I told the last doctor in the group, "Do not tell me my daughter has a cold. No one will have what she has had for 18 months." He looked back in her file and noticed all the symptoms she had in the past. He told me I think she has RAD (Reactive Airway Disease). This is another name for asthma. They do not like to diagnose children that young with asthma. He immediately put her on Singular chewables 1 daily and Zrytec elixer twice a day. He put her on a nebulizer to be used twice a day (am/pm) with pulmucort respules. Within 3-4 weeks she was better. Her congestion was almost gone, the runny stuffy nose gone. She still had some bouts with the croup and getting stuffy and congested during the season changes, but overall a lot better. When she had these bouts with the croup he put her on oral liquid Albuterol. Later, when she was about 2 1/2 he started her on Albuterol respules to use through the nebulizer as needed. She is 5 years old now and still takes Singular daily and Zrytec as needed. She hasn't used the nebulizer for about 9 months. The doctor and I seem to think she is outgrowing the asthma part. She may always have allergy's as it relates to the season's, but that is manageable. TRUST your instincts. Doctors are not God! If you think it is something that needs to be checked, pester them until they run tests or listen to you. Take note of when the worst time is (season changes) or if it is all the time. You might want to suggest they prescribe him Singular. It might be just allergies. Be persistant, you are your child's spokesperson and essentially the only person he has to speak for him. Hope this helps.
This sounds exactly what my friend went through with her oldest, when he was a baby. She took him to two different pediatricians and they both told her that he had a cold. She ended up taking him to another pediatrician because no one has a cold for two months. She walked out of there with a list of things that he was allergic to! As soon as she stopped giving him/exposing him to these things, he was fine!
