A Sickly Squeaker

The first hint of a problem came last night with a slightly warm body and a light, raspy cough. It blossomed into mini-crying jags and a need to be constantly snuggled.

Late last night, she finally allowed us to put her to bed for a fitful night’s sleep.

This morning, she seemed okay and didn’t need to be constantly held. So we went about our normal day, getting ready for work and the sitter’s.

The Squeak’s condition deteriorated during the morning, so it was decided that P.Pie would take her to see the doctor. Around lunchtime, P.Pie called to say that Squeak had CRV.

“Squeak has a Cash Return Value?” I wondered if they’d pay more in California and Michigan.

But it was not CRV, rather RSV, Respiratory Syncytial Virus.

Here is the according to CDC definition –

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia among infants and children under 1 year of age. Illness begins most frequently with fever, runny nose, cough, and sometimes wheezing. During their first RSV infection, between 25% and 40% of infants and young children have signs or symptoms of bronchiolitis or pneumonia, and 0.5% to 2% require hospitalization. Most children recover from illness in 8 to 15 days.

So, the doctor prescribed a nebulizer treatment of Albuterol (which, during her first treatment at the Dr’s office, all the nurses commented how well she took to it).

Unfortunately, the order for the home nebulizer got lost in the electronic ether between the office and the medical supply company. Needless to say, P.Pie was a worried wreck by the time I got home.

After some reassuring of P.Pie and few phone calls to the on-call Dr. (who just happened to be Squeak’s Dr.), we were able to get the equipment delivered to the house.

It’s a mild case of RSV, so we should get over it pretty quickly without any lasting effects on The Squeaker.

Of course, her parents will be reduced to rubble for a while.