My baby girl has been going to daycare for 4 months and is constantly sick all the time.
Now she has a runny nose, severe cough and mucusy stools.
The doctors can't find anything wrong with her.
Every thing is clear, ears, nose, throat and chest are all clear and normal, yet she is still coughing all the time and her nose will not stop running. And she has had 2 huge explosions of mucusy stools.
Does anyone have any idea or advice on what it is and what I can do to help her feel better?
Thank you all so much for your advice, I am looking into the food allergies thing, as I have been suggested to try switching her to soy products and see if it helps. i can olny try, I hope it makes a difference. I will keep you updated.
Thanks
It could be an allergy to whatever she is eating and/or drinking? Does she drink cow's milk? It's a huge allergen that usually creates excess mucus.
I second the advice to explore the issue of food allergies. Mucous in her stools could be a sign of something that she's eating that irritates her bowel. This is one of the big signs that my daughter has accidentally ingested dairy products (including whey and casein), which she is severely sensitive to.
I'm also thinking mold allergy...my son went through this for a whole year then during a remodel we found mold over this bedroom ceiling where the roof had a small leak. Could be the daycare has some hidden mold issue.
Her immune system is weak because of her age... are you breastfeeding? If not then expect her to continue to get sick. Do not give her any medication; over the counter or prescription... this will make her immune system alot worse and she will grow up being sick all the time. Take her to a chiropractor to get her immune system stronger and look to change her formula. Try making natural formula at home if you aren't breastfeeding.
Wonder if it could be allergies ? The mucusy stools could be from the runny nose and drainage to her tummy. The cough also from the runny nose. I know it's winter but my allergies have gone nuts this year. Just an idea.... Hope it gets better soon.
H.,
One thing that is very common in this season is RSV - respiratory syncitial virus. For us the common cold. When little ones 2 years or younger get it they can have lots of cough, (sometimes gagging and vomiting occasionally), runny nose, red eyes, sometimes wheezing and respiratory difficulty, fever. They can show some or alot of these symptoms. As long as hey are not distressed (meaning having difficulty breathing they will get better with time. Just like a cold for us there is no magic potion. Time, supportive care, breastfeeding as often as possible OR if using formula sometimes thinning the feeds with 1/2 strengh formula or pedialyte for a short time will allow them to get through the illness. It is tough, for sure, but they do get better.
It could be allergies, or a sinus infection.
They can't spit out or blow phlegm out the nose yet, so I think the mucousy stools are a result of that...she's swallowing it.
PUSH the liquids, run a cool mist humidifier in her room at night, prop up the top legs of her crib on phone books to help her breathe easier....
Hi H., It takes forever for some viruses to completely resolve. The cough can be upsetting to hear, but most of the time it's just the mucous settling. If the doctor says her lungs sound clear then she's probably fine. My youngest always has trouble with his belly when he has a cold - the mucous can upset their stomach. He usually spits up quite a bit when he has a cold. I would just make sure you run a humidifier in her room. When my babies were sick I would put a pillow under their crib mattress on one end and it would do a great job of keeping their head elevated. You can try saline drops in her nose too.
Hope she's feeling better soon!
Looks like you already got advice about food allergies... My son had the exact same thing, only the mucousy stools also came with bouts of screaming gas. I didn't know this was the problem for MONTHS and was exhausted... I finally went to a naturopathic doctor when my reg pediatrician (whom I like very much) tried putting him on Zantac (or one of those heartburn meds). I just felt uncomfortable with this, and my mom had recommended her naturopath... I took him there and we tried an elimination diet. It worked for us, without having to do official allergy testing. We discovered the triggers and eliminated them for a time, and then over time re-introduced when his system was more mature. He is four now and eats everything just fine, thankfully. It was just an "immature system" in his little belly that was causing all of the problems. HOpe this helps!
I am sure you know that there at parents who send their kids to daycare when they are sick as they cannot miss work, so the chnaces of her being sick is just par for the course. Do you think she may have any allergies? is her pillow new? if not buy her a new one as an older pillow coudl have mold inside etc it worked for my son and it was great.
Good Luck
The doctors say she is fine, but clearly she isn't. It could be a cold that isn't resolving because of her immature immune system. It could be food allergies - but even so, what are you going to do about it? You probably don't want to give medications especially at this age, and to start eliminating a lot of things sets you up for a lifetime of monitoring every morsel. Friends of mind whose kids have these issues (including one whose child had 60 food allergies!) resolved them by using Reliv's "Now for Kids" supplement. It's delicious, you add it to water or formula or breast milk or whatever, even applesauce or yogurt, and it balances the child out. The mucous stools could be from a food reaction or they could be from what she's swallowing, but either way, the Now should resolve it. It strengthens the immune system without any drugs at all - it's all food - and it should take care of this cough/cold thing. It also has DHA which is essential for brain development. A few other companies are now adding DHA to their products, but Reliv has been doing it for years. They have a lot of patents and received the first ever patent on a food formulation, so they've been at the forefront for many years. You also get great support and help at no charge.
The bugs going around right now hang on for a couple of months. If her tests are normal and her cough isn't barky like a seal I would just let it run its course. The mucus in the stools is probably just because she was constipated and is nothing to worry about. If she become lethargic or has respiratory issues follow up with your pediatrician.
When I first started sending my duaghter to daycare she was sick constantly through the first and second winter. She had a perpetual runny nose and a cough. My husband and I called it the kennel coungh...all of the kids had it all winter long. This is her third winter and we are finally going long stretches (knock on wood) without sickness. I think it just takes their little immune systems time to rev up and become able to fight off some of the common things they come across. I would not worry too much about the cough and runny nose - it's par for the course with a child in daycare.
Have you thought of getting a second or even third opinion on your daughter's condition? Because I would. Use your motherly instincts here. You know your baby isn't her "normal" self being so congested and whatnot, urge your pediatrician to check her again....or change doctors altogether.
In the meantime, to help soothe your little one, use a hot air humidifier and take her to bed with you. She needs to be close to mommy when she isn't feeling well...also, if you cuddle her in the crook of your arm (your elbow area) it will elevate her head and that should help usher the mucus down so she isn't so congested.
One more suggestion would be to clean her face and hands with a baby wipe when you retrieve her from daycare. I'd even go as far as using Purell on her hands...apply it to her hands...wait for it to dry...then wipe her hands with a baby wipe so that it's safe in case she puts her hands to her mouth.
Good luck with everything.
Hi There!
First oiff sorry to hear your little one is struggling so badly. I agree with others about food allergies, but I also am curious if your little girls has been on any antibiotics or had recent vaccinations?
It is said that both antibiotics along with vaccinations can upset the natural flora (bateria) of the intestinal syste, Like women who get yeast infections with antibiotics, little ones may also be affected. I know that there are probiotics that can be given to infants; although I am not sure what age they need to be.
I hope this helps.
perhaps its food allergies ...dairy, soy, wheat, nuts, fish ect...are common allergens. try an elimination diet and see if her symptoms go away
If you are breastfeeding, take echinecea, vit C and 4000 units of vitamin D every day. The baby will get it through your milk. Massage her feet with a few drop of good quality eucalyptus oil a few times a day. Massage her whole body to if she lets you but not with the eucalyptus oil..it's too strong, use almond or olive or whatever baby oil you can find Look into homeopathic medecine for babies, most health food store have them. My 6months old has a cold too right now but these measures seemed to attenuate the symptoms.
Good luck!
Hi,
I highly recommend using the Shaklee children's vitamins. They made such a difference for my children. Shaklee is the number one seller of natural supplements in the US. You can check them out at http://www.shaklee.net/healthforlife
You may also want to talk to the daycare center about using nontoxic cleaners. Toxic cleanig product can cause the runny nose and many other problems.
Victoria
I would ask your md about allergies she may be allergic to formula or if you have introduce cereal she may have a wheat allergy......some mds are reluctant to diagnose allergies so young but u could try a soy base formula and see if that would help good luck K. d
