why does my son keep getting chest infections?

Question

my son is four years old .....he keeps gettin chest infections...hes just started to come down with his fourth in as many weeks...he has already been on three antibiotics, but after five days its back again....my son is also asthmatic, he usually gets very wheezy when he has a chest infection which is why i go to the doc for an antibiotic as he does be hard of breathing....

although this time he is not wheezy at all....i know he has an infection as he has a terrible chesty cough and he coughed up alot of green mucus this morning...but he is eating sleeping well and has energy, so is it ok to hold off on the medicine.... i believe he is becoming immune to the antibiotics!!!!!

so any ideas on why he keeps gettin chest infections ...is it linked to asthma?? or just a poor immune system....and how do i build that up!!!!

thank you all in advance for ur awnsers!!!!1

Answer 1

Good, I see you have been taking him to a Doctor, which would be my first answer.

And a second opinion may be in order, has he seen a allergy specialist?

Also, yes, anti biotics can lose their effectiveness. And there may be something in the environment that he is particularly sensitive too.

So book an appointment with an allergist first!! And then take necessary steps to "clean" the environment. You can't get rid of it if you don't know what it is, which is why I suggest the Doctor FIRST.

Good luck.

Peace.

Answer 2

He may need steroids to rid of this infection once and for all. It doesn't just stop there I'm afraid.

Cigarette smoke
Dust
Per hair
Stress, (its not uncommon in a 4 yr old)

These are factors and have to be ruled out.

Also no feather pillows and or/quilts on the bed. Hoover once every 3 days to keep the bugs at bay, and if possible buy some hypo-allergenic sheet covers and pillow cases.

After doing all that if it doesn't improve, I dont know. Maybe a referral to an Asthma clinic might help.

Answer 3

Germs are around us all the time, but some things make us more vulnerable to infection than others.

Do you or anyone in the household smoke?

Do people in the household observe good hygiene ie wash hands after toilet and being outdoors, wash hands before preparing or eating food? and always use hankie when coughing or sneezing?

Does he get regular fresh air and exercise/play without getting overheated or chilled?

Does he eat and sleep enough? Enough sleep and good food is the best way to stay healthy including a healthy immune system.

Have a look at the British Lung Foundation http://www.lunguk.org/
and National Asthma Campaign http://www.asthma.org.uk/
websites.

I would also check with your doctor what you can do to help your son avoid chest infections.

Answer 4

RE:
why does my son keep getting chest infections?
my son is four years old .....he keeps gettin chest infections...hes just started to come down with his fourth in as many weeks...he has already been on three antibiotics, but after five days its back again....my son is also asthmatic, he usually gets very wheezy when he has a chest infection which...

Answer 5

my son was exactly the same when he was 4, he had chest infections all the time he had a really bad one and couldn't breath so the doctor sent him to hospital and was diagnosed as being asthmatic, he was then put on a nebuliser which helped him immediately, then was prescribed ventolin and becotide, which keeps it at bay and with regular use eventually we could manage the asthma, he still has it now at 24 years old but it's no where near as bad as it was when he was little. go back to your doctor, it may be that he needs to take ventolin regularly, hope he soon gets sorted good luck

Answer 6

I had asthma so bad when I was a kid that my family moved to Florida hoping I would get better. I got worse and we moved back to Virginia thinking I would die. Then my parents both quit smoking, and I started getting better. I also had several lung infections, and didn't respond to antibiotics very well. My mom did a lot of praying, and that may have helped too. When I had trouble breathing it helped for me to kneel on the floor. That way I could cough up the stuff that built up in my lungs.
NEVER give up!!! I'm 43 years old now and in great shape, thank God, my mom, and good doctors...Thank you for being a goood mom.

Answer 7

My daughter is asthmatic also and it's the asthma..you may need a action plan by a allergist and he may need to be on something...claratin or some sort of anti histamin like singulair every day just to prevent getting a cold which will end up in a terrible infection of the chest...like pnemonia.

Take him to a allergist and get an action plan....

Answer 8

Sounds like your son never really recovers from the first infection. Be sure to use all of the antibiotics as directed. They only work well if used completely. Along with antibiotics, Mucinex for kids works well too. Its a good additon. And its great to keep using after the cold is gone for a few days to be sure the child is well again.

Answer 9

One of the first things you need to do is get rid of all your toxic cleaning products and toxic laundry products etc and switch to all natural ones to help ease or get rid of his asthma. A lot is caused by having to breathe in all those toxic chemicals. Second his immune system is probably low. Since he is only 4 be sure he takes a good multivitamin and try to find some good sources of antioxidants in foods and encourage him to eat those foods to build up his immune system. Normally I recommend a good antioxidant supplement but at 4 they don't always swallow pills well. Since the cough and green mucous is in his chest you need to take him in for a chest x-ray to find out what is going on. If you use a vaporizor or humidifier in your home or his room try adding a couple of drops of tea tree oil to the water and you may want to add a couple drops to his bath water to help ease the congestion. If you live some place where you can get to the store though get rid of your toxic cleaning products and replace those with all natural ones to really help him out the best.

Answer 10

I have asthma and also used to get terrible chest infections that would turn into bronchitis.I had the pnuemonia vaccination that lasts 10years and I have the flu vaccination every year.I've hardly suffered at all ever since.
Speak to your GP about this.As your son has asthma he should be entitled to these vaccinations,assuming that you are in the UK.