'We came close to losing our son'

By Matthew Hill
BBC News health reporter

Charlie is now a healthy four-year-old boy

Children's hospitals across England are to be sent information about the symptoms of a potentially fatal lung infection after a baby boy who was sent home with bronchiolitis nearly died.

The parents of four-year-old Charlie Calcutt, from Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, have set up the first charity of its kind to raise awareness of the common viral condition, so that other families may be spared their traumatic experience.

Bronchiolitis is caused by an airborne virus - known as respiratory syncytial virus - which can make the tiniest air passages in a baby's lungs become swollen, causing breathing difficulties.

AMBER FLAG SYMPTOMS Seek medical advice Temperature over 38C Noisy or bubbly breathing Pale or mottled skin Cold hands and feet More sleepy than usual Not responding as normal Not feeding adequately Sucking ribs in

It is very common, affecting nearly every child before the age of five years.

Charlie Calcutt was just eight days old when he developed a chest infection.

His parents took him to Weston Hospital, but he was sent home as his condition was put down to a cold.

His mother, Louise Bishop, thinks there were warning signs that were missed.
She said: "The symptoms are very similar to a cold.

"Looking at it now, I know that he was probably not having his chest checked properly.

"Possibly the blood gas reading, which was showing his oxygen levels were very low, should have been a big alert."

Charlie was eight days old when he developed a chest infection

After returning home, Ms Bishop was so concerned that Charlie's breathing was becoming more laboured, that she took him back to the hospital a few hours later, where doctors this time decided to transfer him to intensive care.

Just as he was arriving at the hospital, his mother says, Charlie stopped breathing and he had to be resuscitated.

She said: "When you can't wake your own child it's absolutely frightening.

"I did what any mum would have done, I persevered with it, and luckily he is still here."

RED FLAG SYMPTOMS Call an ambulance Baby going blue Increased breathing rate more than one per second Pauses in breathing Head bobbing with breathing Struggling to feed on two occasions Non responsive Grunting at end of each breath

Charlie's parents have set up the first charity to raise awareness of bronchiolitis, called Breathtaking.

With the help of the Weston Hospital, they have produced an information leaflet which has been sent to every children's hospital in England.

It is estimated that a third of infants in the UK develop bronchiolitis in their first year of life, and 90% of those who do are less than nine months old.

There is no medicine that can kill the virus, but the infection usually clears up on its own.

However, serious symptoms can include the baby going blue, head bobbing when breathing and struggling to feed.

A tiny fraction of children require hospital treatment for the condition, and of those 5% will need ventilation, and one in 100 will die.

Philip Smith, a consultant paediatrician from Weston Hospital, who was not involved in Charlie's case, said the leaflet could save lives, particularly as the condition was under-recognised.

He said: "A lot of children have fairly mild symptoms, but for those who have severe symptoms it can be quite upsetting for their parents and worrying when they have to come to hospital and see their child on a ventilator."