Derry baby RSV bronchiolitis warning

A Derry mother whose nine-day-old baby daughter, Kallie, almost died from RSV Bronchiolitis has urged other parents to be aware of the symptoms of the infection.

Nadine Hamilton, who was quick to thank the “brilliant” nursing staff in Altnagelvin who cared for Kallie during her illness, told Derry Now, two weeks ago she had been completely unaware of RSV Bronchiolitis or its dangers.

“Apparently RSV Bronchiolitis is rife at this time of year. My friend’s three-month-old baby was also recently admitted to hospital with the illness,” she said.

“If my story helps to save a baby then making people aware of RSV Bronchiolitis is worth it. What should have been the happiest week of our lives turned into the worst.

“Initially I was told there was nothing they could do for newborns. They can’t be given Calpol. I was told to let it run its course.

“I dread to think what might have happened if I hadn’t taken Kallie to hospital, if I had just stayed in the house, if I had been 10 minutes later.

“The Out of Hours doctor told me she was happy with Kallie. She didn’t think there was anything wrong with her oxygen level. However, I was really worried about the blue tinge I could see on Kallie’s forehead. I kept asking about it, so the doctor rang the paediatrician for a second opinion.

“I was sent up to the ward. I lifted Kallie out of her car seat. She was in my arms in the waiting room for about 10 minutes. The doctor said, ‘I’ll be with you in a second’ and when I looked down at Kallie, she had turned grey.

“I immediately thought back to February, when my partner lost his mother. I was with her in the hospital when she died and now, here was Kallie taking breaths just like her grandmother had been taking when she died.”

Nadine recalled there were two doctors in the room when she shouted that Kallie had stopped breathing.

“They looked at me and snatched her out of my arms,” said Nadine. “It was like a scene out of a film. Doctors were running from the rooms where they had been attending to patients.

“I didn’t want to ask but I did, ‘What would have happened if I’d been in the house?’ The doctor shook his head and said ‘She was grey in your arms’. I asked, ‘Would she have died?’ and he nodded his head.

“After what Kallie has been through, after what our family has been through, I would urge people to be aware of the symptoms of RSV Bronchiolitis, and know what to look out for. Don’t take any risks. Trust your mother’s instinct. I rang the Out of Hours service and they took me straight up.

“Kallie had no fever. My son was sick at the same time and I was checking both of them every day. The only thing she had was a stuffy nose and she was sleeping a lot. I had to wake her to feed her, although she was feeding grand. I would tell people to be aware of the blue tinge, that is one of the symptoms.”

Nadine was told by Kallie’s doctor that infants only know how to breathe through their noses. 

She added: “So, with RSV Bronchiolitis their wee noses are really blocked. I used saline mist on Kallie and the nose sucker. The doctor said that was giving her an airway to breathe. 

“When they took her off me, they used their suction machine and loads of gunk came from her nose. I was advised by other parents who have been through RSV Bronchiolitis to order the electric nose sucker, which I have now, and it is far better at clearing Kallie out,” said Nadine. 

Advising other new parents, Nadine said they should not be afraid to tell people ‘No visitors’ in order to reduce the passing on of infections.

She added: “As parents, we are our baby's voices and the only ones who can protect them. Bronchiolitis is so dangerous. Although I had read up on it the day before Kallie took ill, her symptoms didn’t match what I had read about.

“A newborn should be as important if not more so than an older child because their immune systems are so weak.

“I am so, so grateful to the doctors at Ward 6 Paediatric Unit. You literally saved my baby's life and I'll never ever be able to thank you enough.

“To anyone that has been through this I'd recommend ordering the monitor sock for your baby even though the doctors or midwives don’t recommend it because you can become 'obsessed'. I’d rather be obsessed and have my baby here than in a cemetery!

“Our wee fighter is on the mend and thanks to all our close family and friends for the help and messages whilst we're in hospital.”

Dr Damien Armstrong, Consultant Paediatrician with the Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT) explained Bronchiolitis is caused by RSV is an illness like the cold which many children and adults can get each year.

Dr Armstrong added: “Most older children may not have many symptoms other than a runny nose. RSV bronchiolitis usually causes problems to babies in the first year of life when they are exposed to this for the first time. This can be very alarming for parents especially if their baby has previously been well.

“Common symptoms include a harsh cough, poor feeding and a blocked snotty nose. Some babies can have difficulty breathing and may be wheezy. Babies who were very premature or who have underlying heart or lung problems can be sicker when they present with Bronchiolitis.

“There is no specific treatment for Bronchiolitis. All that can be done by Health professionals is to treat the problems associated with the illness.

“Therefore, a small number of babies may need suction of their nose or may need additional help with their breathing. The vast majority of children recover after a few weeks.”