chesty toddler - try homeopathy?

BoardsMember

Hi all. I have been searching for the right forum to post this on and I think this might be it. I hope!!

We have a 20 month old who has had loads of chest infections from 3 months old. He had pneumonia at 18 months. Has been on anti biotics many times, only ever put him on them when he got very wheezy breathing while asleep and appetitie gone, i.e. as a last resort.

He has had all the tests in the world for allergies and he more serious stuff. He's got the all clear. No asthma in either family, he was an emergency section. He has had clear chest on occasion over the last 20 months, but more often than not he's coughing a lot. He's a thriving and happy child, though he was a very cross baby til about 8 months, lots of crying.

Effectively what seems to happen is that his older sibling comes home from the creche with all the nasty little bugs and our fella hasn't yet got the immune system to fight them off. He get's runny nose, and it eventually makes it's way onto his chest. Even now, he's had a pretty chesty cough for 2-3 weeks, but thankfully this time he's keeping it at bay. Our climate seems to really impact on it - we were away recently in Med. When he left he had a slight infection diagnosed by chest x-ray done as part of a followup with the specialist, but while away the chest cleared up, within days of getting back the chest came back.

Anyone got any experience of this type of thing? I know it is not unusual, and often they grow out of it, but I was hoping we could give him an extra help. Anyone got any recommendations at all? Thankfully, at the moment he's been fighting it all the way, appetitie and humour still good, but just streaming nose and very chesty, though clear at night.

Just wondering if people might have used a homeopath at all for this kind of thing. I had the name of a fella in Sandycove, but we're in the Templeogue area so it is not feasible to get out there. Any advice welcome. Thanks.

amacachi

Placebos only work when the patient think they'll work, so if you believe it enough to have the child believe it then maybe it'll work. Or you could give him some tap water, either way stick with actual doctors.

Grawns

Homeopathy is daft. I love Mitchell and Webb's take on it. What did the specialist think was the problem? My little one is being treated for asthma ( and hasn't been sick since) even though it's impossible to diagnose asthma in young children. Also my friends 2 year old is the same and he had symtoms similiar to your boy including the constant colds and pnuemonia. Since he started being treated for asthma he's been fine. Not saying either of them have asthma, just that the treatment regime works for them. Another specialist maybe?

BoardsMember

Plecebos? Seriously? The child is 20 months old. The mind boggles at some peoples' advice, moronic stuff.

The specialist said there is medically nothing wrong, no weaknesses in immune etc, just one of those things.

Re asthma, what treatment is your kid on? That info would be helpful....

amacachi

Please don't address me like that. I was trying to point out that homeopathy is merely a placebo, there's no scientific evidence that it works and scientific princples, laws and common sense show that it could only be as effective as some water.

Grawns

She's on becotide ( this is a preventer) , once a day, 2 puffs. If she coughs much during a day, she's supposed to get ventolin too. Hasn't needed the ventolin in several months. Bridgets symptoms were nothing like your boys though. She's never had a chesty cough or a runny nose or an antibiotic.

Grawns

amacachi wrote: »

Please don't address me like that. I was trying to point out that homeopathy is merely a placebo, there's no scientific evidence that it works and scientific princples, laws and common sense show that it could only be as effective as some water.

It's true, homeopathy is bunkum - proof

Owen

Homeopathy is a waste of money, and water. Please google about it, learn about it, and put your money to better use. It's a complete waste of time.

Grawns

My mother is a big fan still. I've tried to explaing the science but she's having none of it! It's expensive stuff too. She's been mad for alternative medicines for years and very conscious of her diet but she's had bowel cancer this year. WTF!

All better for now, thankfully

BoardsMember

amacachi wrote: »

Please don't address me like that. I was trying to point out that homeopathy is merely a placebo, there's no scientific evidence that it works and scientific princples, laws and common sense show that it could only be as effective as some water.

Beyond this post, I dont intend addressing you again, dont worry. I'd be delighted if you'd do the same.

To summarise:

• I have a sick 20 month old, am obviously concerned about him being sick all the time
• I did not ask for your opinion (or anyones opinion for that matter) on homeopathy
• you suggest a placebo or a glass of water

So, if people have anything helpful to post I would very much appreciate it, if you have young kids you can probably empathise with where I am coming from.

If people want to have a lenthy discussion on the merits or otherwise of homeopathy and alternative medicine, please contribute to a different post.

Moonbeam

It was suggested that homeopathy is nothing more then a placebo and a glass of water has the same effect.

Maybe it is a more holistic approach to a cure that you want?
There are lots of alternative therapies with proven results that you can try.
Maybe a cranial osteopath could help,or an allergy test..

amiable

BoardsMember wrote: »

Beyond this post, I dont intend addressing you again, dont worry. I'd be delighted if you'd do the same.

To summarise:

• I have a sick 20 month old, am obviously concerned about him being sick all the time
• I did not ask for your opinion (or anyones opinion for that matter) on homeopathy
• you suggest a placebo or a glass of water

So, if people have anything helpful to post I would very much appreciate it, if you have young kids you can probably empathise with where I am coming from.

If people want to have a lenthy discussion on the merits or otherwise of homeopathy and alternative medicine, please contribute to a different post.

I think what Boardsmember is trying to say is that they have tried everything for their child in conventional medicine and are so desperate to make their child better they are willing to look down other avenues which is understandable when you have a young child unwell as long as they have.
Sorry if i'm wrong

BoardsMember

Moonbeam wrote: »

It was suggested that homeopathy is nothing more then a placebo and a glass of water has the same effect.

No it wasn't, this is what amacachi posted:

amacachi wrote: »

Placebos only work when the patient think they'll work, so if you believe it enough to have the child believe it then maybe it'll work. Or you could give him some tap water, either way stick with actual doctors.

As you can see, it has absolutely no relevance to a 20 month old. How could a 20 month old possibly have belief or otherwise in any medicine that is being administered. They have no concept of believing in things, or healing, or medicine or anything else for that matter. It was just a nonsense post.

Thanks Ambiable for your post. you're right, I should have used hollistic or non-conventional medicine, rather than confining it to homeopathy.

I am, by nature, extremely sceptical of all things non-conventional in the medical field. But as Amiable suggests, you get to a point where you'll try anything. And when close friends of equally sceptical disposition find success in unconventional medicine you start to think about giving it a try.

We tried the cranial when he was about 3-4 months, without any results.

Grawns

I wouldn't give up on conventional medicine yet. Do talk to your doc about asthma again and trying preventitive treatments. Best of luck

28064212

BoardsMember wrote: »

As you can see, it has absolutely no relevance to a 20 month old. How could a 20 month old possibly have belief or otherwise in any medicine that is being administered. They have no concept of believing in things, or healing, or medicine or anything else for that matter. It was just a nonsense post.

Homeopathy is a placebo, which was amacachi's point. You mentioned homeopathy, amacachi said placebo's (homeopathy) won't work, because the child can't have a belief in it. You seemed to pick that up as them seriously suggesting a placebo to you, which they weren't

Ayla

As per http://dictionary.reference.com:

ho·me·op·a·thy
–noun
the method of treating disease by drugs, given in minute doses, that would produce in a healthy person symptoms similar to those of the disease ( opposed to allopathy).


pla·ce·bo
–noun
a substance having no pharmacological effect but given merely to satisfy a patient who supposes it to be a medicine.


Sorry to cut hairs, but enough already. The OP was looking for help & suggestions, not criticisms.

OP - my daughter's case is completely different, but we took her to the chiropractor with massive differences. I know that chiropractic care can help w/ asthma-like symptoms, so perhaps another venue to try?

28064212

Ayla wrote: »

pla·ce·bo
–noun
a substance having no pharmacological effect but given merely to satisfy a patient who supposes it to be a medicine.

...
...
...

Like, for example, water that 'remembers' a drug that was once in it?

The OP was looking for advice and specifically asked about homeopathy.

Ayla

BoardsMember wrote: »

Just wondering if people might have used a homeopath at all for this kind of thing.

The OP did not ask about homeopathy as a science. S/he asked if anyone had any *experience* from using one.

Enough said.

Tordelback

While sympathising with the OP's plight (who wouldn't try anything to help their kid?), and having no truck with homeopathy, I'd note that the placebo effect can work indirectly on those too young or unaware to understand that they are being 'treated'. If the parents/carers believe that they are doing something positive in administering homeopathic 'remedies', this can make for a subtly different kind of care and a less stressed environment for the patient. The health benefits of more positive, optimistic carers can (allegedly) be observed even in sick pets. So there can be some merit in trying it, even if it's just water dressed up with hokum.

However, the OP would be best advised not to abandon her efforts to find a conventional (i.e. real) medical solution. It can be very disheartening ,but don't give up pestering doctors and specialists. Any relief you get in the non-conventional field is going to be minor and short-lived, otherwise teh treatment in question would already have been co-opted into actual medicine.

Cat Melodeon

I have no interest in homeopathy. It is worth investigating alternative treatments and therapies though. They are not all hokum. Salt therapy can be particularly effective for respiratory complaints. I used it myself for an allergy in the past and got great relief from it. Germans swear by it - whole towns have grown up around areas with salt caves. There's a 'salt cave' in Maynooth and a salt spa in Malahide, don't know of anywhere southside I'm afraid.

GPs can be a bit pill-happy with antibiotics and I certainly wouldn't be happy having my young son go through repeated prescriptions without trying 'gentler' alternatives.

Nevyn

I would be looking at the 20 month olds diet and checking they are eating enough of the right things to help with thier immune system, I would also be looking at getting rid of any carpets in the house which he crawls on or which are in his room, getting rid of any soft plushie toys esp from where he sleeps and investing in an allgery cover for his mattress and making sure he gets out for walks. Make sure the room he's sleeping in doesn't have any damp or cross draughts or any mold hidden at the back of a wardrobe (it can happen).

I would never go down the homoeopathy route and that's coming from someone most people consider a bit of a hippy pagan.

I can understand the concern of having an infant on the steroid inhalers, but I would be looking at steam treatments at home and getting his immune system build up and everything which was in my power to try and change before I would even consider anything as far left field as homoeopathy.

I would also look at raising the head of his mattress a little and talking to the dr about the possibility of post nasal drip.
Just because you are on inhalers doesn't mean you have asthma, I need them on occasion as my sinus infections can
transfer to my chest and I end up wheezing. It's not something which happens that often been two years from the last time I needed one but it's something which can happen.

Work on getting your son well and building him up and hopefully he will fight of the infections and no longer need the inhalers.

If you are really concerned push to get a referral to a paediatric specialist.

lynski

I can say from experience that my son did seem to get some benefit from homeopathy - despite my lack of faith, but after 7 months of looking at my son with what seemed like chest infection after chest infection i did not want any more anti-bio.
Every time he started to cut a tooth he got chesty and coughing, runny nose, wheezy, the works. I decided to stop giving him anti-bs as he had about 7/8 different ones over a small period. I heard the phrase upper respiratory tract infection so often i wanted to hit the doc.
I saw a midwife who is qualified in homeopathy too and she prescribed something for him, given that i was giving the doc 50 quid at least once a month and anti-bs on top i thought 75 quid was not too much and there was no more chesty baby for about 6/7 months.
Edit:I am not a believer in homeopathy, and i do not feel i have t justify my experience to any of the totally unhelpful people here. if you dont have something useful to add, then stay off-topic.

BoardsMember

lynski wrote: »

I can say from experience that my son did seem to get some benefit from homeopathy - despite my lack of faith, but after 7 months of looking at my son with what seemed like chest infection after chest infection i did not want any more anti-bio.
Every time he started to cut a tooth he got chesty and coughing, runny nose, wheezy, the works. I decided to stop giving him anti-bs as he had about 7/8 different ones over a small period. I heard the phrase upper respiratory tract infection so often i wanted to hit the doc.
I saw a midwife who is qualified in homeopathy too and she prescribed something for him, given that i was giving the doc 50 quid at least once a month and anti-bs on top i thought 75 quid was not too much and there was no more chesty baby for about 6/7 months.
Edit:I am not a believer in homeopathy, and i do not feel i have t justify my experience to any of the totally unhelpful people here. if you dont have something useful to add, then stay off-topic.

Thanks lynski. Appreciate the helpful post. Any chance you could pass on the details of who or what was given by PM?

Tordelback

lynski wrote: »

I
I saw a midwife who is qualified in homeopathy too and she prescribed something for him...

I appreciate that this isn't a helpful comment for the OP, but I'm pretty shocked that a qualified midwife is prescribing homeopathy. After qualifying as a registered nurse, and at least two intensive years of the midwifery course, she still hasn't picked up enough science to dismiss homeopathy... well, it's worrying.

I'm delighted that Lynski and her baby found some relief, but this does sounds like a classic case of regression to the mean - by the time she was desperate enough to try homeopathy, the initial ailment was already passing, and child had moved into a healthier phase of their lives. I could recount similar patterns from my own kids' lives - seemingly endless months of URTI, then plain sailing. No homeopathy involved, though.

lynski

it was 3 yrs ago so i a not sure of her name, but google midwife and homeopathy and you area and i am sure you will find someone.
there seems to be quite a few qualified experienced midwives, often retired, who have found something worthwhile outside of conventional medicine.

kiwikid

have you ever had a sweat test done on your child to rule out Cystic Fibrosis. Even if there is no history of it in the family genes can be in families and unknown. Its a simple test that your GP can refer you for - and its a rare enough condition but one that should be caught early.

BoardsMember

kiwikid wrote: »

have you ever had a sweat test done on your child to rule out Cystic Fibrosis. Even if there is no history of it in the family genes can be in families and unknown. My son has this and we found out by default after our 4th antibiotic for a chest infection that would not quit. The child was 12 months at the time. Its a simple test that your GP can refer you for - and its a rare enough condition but one that should be caught early.

Yes, we got the all clear on the sweat test. Thanks for the advice though.

eightyfish

BoardsMember wrote: »

Anyone got any experience of this type of thing?

Hi OP. Just wanted to say that I was that kid and I did grow out of it. So hang in there.

As for the homeopathy, though, you'll just be wasting your money to be honest.

ebmma

Is your house a bit damp?
My nephew was a very chesty baby and toddler while he lived in a damp cold basement-type flat. Once they moved to a proper warm dry house he was immediately better.

BoardsMember

ebmma wrote: »

Is your house a bit damp?
My nephew was a very chesty baby and toddler while he lived in a damp cold basement-type flat. Once they moved to a proper warm dry house he was immediately better.

House is not damp, no. The only house related thing might be old carpets (old house), but we're not in a position to replace them, and he did not show as allergic to dust or anything. Thanks for the input though.

gogo

This might sound a bit silly, but have you tries changing doctor? My two nephews were constantly getting cheSt infectins, colds the works, for years. After exhausting all avenues, they decided to try a new doctor, not a specialist or anything, just a different gp. He prescribed a different anti-biotic to the boys and lo and behold, no more chest infections. Colds yes, but nothing more serious yet thank god. He reckoned that the old gp was just prescribing the same few antibiotics each time, which were never really working or completely clearing up the infections. Which meant that the slightest thing would result in a flare up in them.
Its a simple thing and might not be the issue at all, but worth a try.

Also agree with Thaed, allergens have a hugh effect on the lungs, I cleaned out my dusty:o hotpress today and am like a 40 a day smoker since. All caught up. I'd be the first to admit that i rarely pull out wardrobes and things to hoover behind them. Its def worth a try.

Also there is a vaporiser that was recommended on here, that i got, excellent when my lo has a cold. the one recommended was by vicks, couldnt get this one, but got one by Sudacare for only 7.99 in the chemist, included seven refills. It just releases vapours to aid breathing, cant recommend it enough.
Hope this helps. my own son just after being very sick, so I know how hard it is, you'd stand on your head and riverdance if you thought it would make a difference.
Good Luck