House of Plague

[ailbhe]

It's a cough we were exposed to and as always happens with chest things Emer was really ill. I think she has now beaten the infection and will just be dealing with the long-term effects, which for her means coughing and shortness of breath for some time.

This cough means Emer has missed/will miss the ERAPA home ed group, two fireworks parties, Girls Brigade, a trip in the freshly repaired trike, Meeting, the model railway in the park with friends, and possibly her swimming lesson on Monday, too. It depends on how cold it is out on Monday, really (cold irritates her chest).

I'm a bit miffed.

(Also, I had no idea how ill she could be with only a low fever to show for it; she wasn't even 38.5C and she slept all day yesterday and was so ill she didn't care about the parties).

Comments

[br3nda]

Emer has my sympathies. I also have fought off a virus this week and now i have the fortnight of fighting off the asthma attacks that follow.

[ailbhe]

Thankfully she doesn't get actual asthma, just coughs. My understanding is that the more strain we put on her recovering lungs the worse it will be, though, so I'm keeping her indoors as much as possible - the contrast with the cold air (6C today) outside is too much.

Which sucks, because it means Linnea can't go out either; Rob's at work for too long to take her to her swimming lessons etc. I'm hoping that tomorrow afternoon Emer will be well enough to walk as far as the pool. Once she's in there it's all warm and steamy and should be fine.

[beckyl.livejournal.com]

Poor Emer!

[gloriap.livejournal.com]

Poor Emer. Has the doctor seen her during one of these episodes? My kids were lucky enough to avoid it, but many of their friends had asthma that presented those same symptoms and was easy to treat with very quick results.
(IANAD)

[ailbhe]

Treat as in prevent recurring next time there was a cough going around?

[gloriap.livejournal.com]

There's no way to prevent a virus but if it (or exposure to cold air, or allergies or exercise) leaves a child breathless or gasping for air there are medications (bronchodilator sprays) that relax the airway and make breathing easier. You know your child better than anyone of course, and know whether intervention is needed.

[ailbhe]

Ah, right - yes, when she gets bad enough to need treatment we get her an inhaler, but I hoped you knew of something which would prevent recurrence next time she got a virus.