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When it comes to a child's breathing I think being overly cautious is never a bad thing. The tests and treatments didn't hurt him so I don't think there is any harm in having taken him to the ER, worst case, you learned more specifically what to look for moving forward.

I think you did the right thing in following dr advice to go to the ER. It doesn't sound like a bad visit to the ER and the tests done weren't invasive or with lots of risks (snot sucking and oxygen treatment).

One time we ended up in the ER for a stomach bug (turned out to be rotavirus). They wanted to do a chest Xray as a normal standard ER procedure for babies. I declined because I knew she had no respiratory issues and I wanted them to do more stomach testing before additional X rays (she had already had one a few months prior and I didn't want her to have more/unnecessary exposure).

They didn't administer albuterol?

In general it sounds pretty standard. Whenever we've gone to the ER, we're always there for about 4 hours. Our ER doesn't have access to the pediatrician's records, so they also have to do all the same testing that the pediatrician may have already done.

ETA: Although it's generally wise to go with your gut, mommy instinct isn't always right. My son has been to the ER a number of times because of breathing issues and it was getting predictable: albuterol, monitor, go home after 4 hours. And then, one day, it wasn't. I thought it was the same-old, same-old and I only brought him to the ER out of habit, and he ended up being admitted for three days! Breathing issues are no joke and sometimes you (as a mom who's not a professional in this area) just don't know when things can take a turn for the worse. You did the right thing bringing your LO in and it sounds like the ER did everything they should've too.

@Adira: I'm not a dr but my daughter got a breathing treatment with albuterol.

When I took my daughter in 2 weeks ago (this is after the 5 day stay at the hospital) for wheezing again, the dr told me at 5 months old, some babies don't react to breathing treatment like albuterol and steroids. She was given both. She ended up going home with us and not being admitted.

When my son was taken to the hospital, he was not given albuterol because he was still getting oxygen and when they listened to his lungs, they could hear his airways were clear. I assume my daughter was in respiratory distress that first time and that albuterol was given to see if her vital got better. It did not, which is why she was transferred to another hospital.

Yep, typical! I've worked in an ER since October, and I'm always clicking the boxes for x-rays and breathing treatments on breathing problems! About a quarter of the time, pneumonia shows up. Especially this time of year...also a full panel of testing by the lab was probably done.

Seriously don't question yourself. I can honestly say that 90% of the people come to the ER for non actual emergencies. It's just the way times are going and changing. People come in to be treated *now*, and it is rarely life threatening (basically, it is common to come in and be discharged!)! I bet your LO feels better now.

@Corduroy: You said they didn't do a ton of tests, but you said "He got a chest X-ray, breathing treatments, and a respiratory technician tried to suck snot from his lungs." My son didn't get a chest x-ray when he was in the ER, so I think what the did seemed normal to me. This is coming from someone who has a husband with severe asthma and he goes to the ER a lot! He sometimes just needs oral steroids, sometimes he needs IV steroids, sometimes he gets a chest x-ray. I personally would not know when and how bad he is from looking. After or during the visit, I'll hear things like 'his lungs are clear'... meaning usually his airways aren't restricting. That's usually a good sign.

Also, you said he has RSV so I'm assuming that they tested him and that's how you knew he has RSV.

I would touch base with your pediatrician and tell her your concerns, though.

@bluestriped bee: Interesting that your son didn't get albuterol at all. Xander's always received it when we've gone to the ER for breathing issues. And when he was admitted, he was receiving oxygen as well as albuterol around the clock. I didn't know that sometimes they don't administer it!

I would think that since you went to the ER over the weekend and you were discharged, they would want you to follow up with your pediatrician today or tomorrow. All of your questions are valid and should be answered by your regular pediatrician.

2 weeks ago we were in the ER with my 2 1/2 year old and she had croup. Even though it was a very textbook case, I'm glad we went in and they gave her a dose of steroids. They had us follow up with our Dr the next day. Both the ER ped and our ped, reassured us that we did the right thing by bringing her in.

@Corduroy: Ooops, I missed the part of your post where you said he got breathing treatments. With kids, and especially with breathing issues, it's always better to play it safe and bring them into the ER, so don't question yourself there! Whenever I've brought Xander, they see that he's a toddler with breathing issues and they immediately bring him back to examine him, because stuff like that can go from bad to worse quickly. Glad your LO is okay!

My DD1 was also admitted to the ER for RSV. But she is 3, so her treatment might have been different. She was rushed back into a room because her oxygen levels were at 86. She was on the verge of unconsciousness! For her case, they gave her albuterol, oxygen, chest x-rays, IV fluids, IV medication, did a blood draw, and administered a steroid. She stayed on the oxygen and albuterol off and on for 8 hours.

All I can say is that it's better to take your child to the ER even if it doesn't end up being an emergency, than to leave them at home out of fear of it "being nothing," and something terrible happening.

FWIW, we have an oximiter now, and I wouldn't take my child to the ER if they're O2 was at 94 (bu of course you had no way to know what his o2 was). Our pediatrician said that as long as they aren't laboring to breathe and in obvious respiratory distress (blue-ish lips, gray or pale skin, fast heart rate, breathing quickly, flaring nostrils, involuntary flexing muscles to try and help them get air...), that anything above 92 is good enough for them to stay home.

@Corduroy: He tried the suction machine because it might have been successful. Lots of things are tried in hospitals, even if there's a chance they won't be successful, because if they are the results can be totally worth the discomfort. If doctors/therapists/nurses just didn't do things because they might not work, no one would ever get better.

The treatment your LO got sounds like standard procedure for respiratory issues, especially in a child.

We were in the ER in November for breathing issues with my one year old. It was the Children's Hospital ER and we were there for 5 hours and discharged. We had a triple dose albuterol treatment (which can only be done under medical supervision according to our ped) and a chest x-ray. We were given additional guidance of the top amount of albuterol we could administer at home (it was more aggressive than our doctors recommendation) and if it wasn't working to return to the ER for admission.

My girls respond to albuterol, not all children do (particularly with RSV). My girl had RSV at 9 weeks and we were told to expect her to "heal" from it within about 12 months. This winter has been challenging for us and we aren't in a cold climate.

Now what sucked was that that one ER visit cost me a lot of stress and anxiety and $1500! I know it's all relative and it we came home and she was okay, but it was a really costly 5 hours where I didn't feel like much was done.

Both los (at the time 5w and 3 years) have been given chest x rays with fevers and possible respiratory infections. One just had a virus but they do those tests for newborns, and the other has pneumonia. It seems pretty typical!