A mother has told of her alarm when her three-week-old baby contracted a contagious respiratory virus. Lara Bowen's son Billy spent three days in hospital hooked up to oxygen and antibiotics as he fought the infection, which can lead to severe lung problems. Lara was afraid he would suffer long-term issues and was anxious about him picking up other illnesses.
But Billy is now a healthy 11-year-old - and his mother has spoken out about that frightening time ahead of a new vaccine roll-out Lara Bowen, who lives in Brighton , gave birth to Billy in 2012. She noticed her newborn was unwell. She said: “He was a bit snuffly and sleepy.
He wasn’t waking to feed as normal and I noticed his little chest was heaving.” Lara took him to the GP, who told her to take Billy straight to A&E. Billy when he was unwell (Image: UK Health Security Agency) She said: “It all felt a bit surreal.
They put him in a little bed and hooked him up to oxygen and IV antibiotics as a precaution in case he developed a bacterial infection. “He slept for almost the entire time because he seemed to have little energy for anything else. “Luckily, I was still able to feed him.
I know of babies who get even more unwell with bronchiolitis and their mothers have trouble holding and feeding their babies because of all the extra wires, monitors and tubes.” READ MORE: Sussex woman with brain injury as a teen to do charity swim Billy remained in hospital for three nights with bronchiolitis, which is caused .