Anyone's DC have asthma? How did you know?

[infocrazy]

DS2 is just over 2. For the past couple months, he has had a cough that doesn't sound good but he only coughs a few times a day. I kept waiting for it to develop into a cold but it never did. About a week ago, he started coughing a lot...particularly at night. At times, it is bad enough that it is hard for him to catch his breath. We have given him nebulizer treatments (he had some wheezing a year ago during a bad cold and we've done them a few times since) at that point and it seems to make his cough more sporadic again. I noticed also that while he is sleeping, he takes a breath, holds it, then releases...is that normal? He doesn't hold it long, but enough for me to notice it.

I called the ped and the first question they asked was if he had ever been treated for asthma. He hasn't, but we do have a family history. I googled and the main symptom for toddlers was a chronic cough, which is what I assume he had. DH took DS2 to the ped and they didn't hear any wheezing but told us to keep a log of when/why we did the treatments. It mostly seems like after his nap and overnight. Our reg ped is back from vacation on Thu so I am going to schedule an appt with her then.

So, long story short, does this sound like how your DC developed asthma? What should I be looking for? What should I ask the ped? After you do a breathing treatment, what is different? DS2 still coughs, but not as bad. Is that right?

Thanks!

[Fairy]

Night coughs are classic ashtma symptoms. It sounds like asthma to me.

You say you're giving him nebulizer treatments, but he's never been treated for asthma? I'm confused. Why do you have a neb if he hasn't been dx'd with asthma? The ped actually prescribed a neb with only a bad cold? I'm surprised if that's the case. Also, you say you've given him some neb treatments now that he's coughing again. What are you giving him? Pulmicourt? Albuterol? I assume it's prescribed by the ped, but just wondering.

It sounds to me like asthma. My DS has been on neb treatments since he was 16mo or so. It started wtih him not being able to get a deep breath, severe night coughs. Every time we try to stop, he gets asthma symptoms again. They tend not to dx real live asthma that young, but right around age 5 or 6, they might officially label an asthma sufferer. I'm a little confused about what that means longer term, but that's my problem; for your DS, it sounds that way to me, but get wtih the ped, of course.

[egoldber]

I agree it sounds like asthma. My older DD has asthma and her primary symptom is nighttime cough.


The ped actually prescribed a neb with only a bad cold?

This isn't unusual. :) Many respiratory diseases (RSV, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, etc.) are treated symptomatically with a bronchial dilator (albuterol, Xopenex, etc.) or a short term dose of steroids like Pulmicort.

But I agree that I would want to see an ped asthma specialist for this.

[mamicka]

I agree it sounds like asthma. My older DD has asthma and her primary symptom is nighttime cough.



This isn't unusual. :) Many respiratory diseases (RSV, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, etc.) are treated symptomatically with a bronchial dilator (albuterol, Xopenex, etc.) or a short term dose of steroids like Pulmicort.

But I agree that I would want to see an ped asthma specialist for this.

:yeahthat: Nobody here has asthma but between the three of them, the nebulizer gets used a few times every winter.

[HIU8]

DS doesn't have asthma either,but has been on liquid albuterol a couple of times for illnesses.

[infocrazy]

This isn't unusual. :) Many respiratory diseases (RSV, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, etc.) are treated symptomatically with a bronchial dilator (albuterol, Xopenex, etc.) or a short term dose of steroids like Pulmicort.

Yes, he had what they thought was the beginning of bronchitis when he was about 11 months old. They heard wheezing and gave him a treatment in the office. Since it was going into the weekend, they prescribed a nebulizer and albuteral. Up to this week, we have only had to give him a treatment maybe 6 times in the year since, but this week, we've done just about every night.

I guess I'll start looking for a ped specialist. I know the ped will refer but I like to do my research too. Any suggestions for NW suburbs of DTW?

Thanks.

[Fairy]

This isn't unusual. :) Many respiratory diseases (RSV, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, etc.) are treated symptomatically with a bronchial dilator (albuterol, Xopenex, etc.) or a short term dose of steroids like Pulmicort.


Ah, gotcha!

[DrSally]

DS had a lingering cough (esp. at night) and clear runny nose and eyes for what seemed like forever. I took him in when he also happened to have a fever b/c I thought it was a cold. The ped prescribed 2 weeks of abx for sinus infection eventhough he had no facial tenderness or headache. Looking back, after reading some more here, I think it was seasonal allergies! Lots of sneezing, coughing, watery eyes and nose, etc. I've read that kids can get temporary respiratory problems with seasonal allergies. He's back to normal now.

I agree with pp's that it does sound like asthma.

[infocrazy]

DS had a lingering cough (esp. at night) and clear runny nose and eyes for what seemed like forever. I took him in when he also happened to have a fever b/c I thought it was a cold. The ped prescribed 2 weeks of abx for sinus infection eventhough he had no facial tenderness or headache. Looking back, after reading some more here, I think it was seasonal allergies! Lots of sneezing, coughing, watery eyes and nose, etc. I've read that kids can get temporary respiratory problems with seasonal allergies. He's back to normal now.

I agree with pp's that it does sound like asthma.

Hmmm...DS2 does sneeze a lot. When he does, it is like 5 or 6 times in a row! No runny nose or watery eyes though. DH gets pretty nasty seasonal allergies. I wonder if that is what it could be if it isn't asthma.

[ladysoapmaker]

my DD#1 has asthma. Now mind you they refused to call it that when she was 2. It was Reactive Airway Disorder. (Don't want to label a kid that young). She had the cough, the wheezing, we ended up in the hospital twice. After the second hospitalization I insisted her doctor refer us to my asthma specialist. She has great experience with children and explained everything clearly. The next time Ladybug had a flare up we suprized the respatory tech because at age 3 1/2 (almost 4) she could use a peak-flow meter properly. At age 5 1/2 (almost 6) Ladybug can manage her own medications (with help for the child-resistant caps).

I would reccommend the next time you child has the late at night/early morning cough, do not treat at home, go to the ER or Urgent Care and tell them you suspect asthma and they can do some tests. I would also reccomend finding a good asthma specialist who has experience with kids. Most pediatritions and family doctors don't have enough experience to treat kids with asthma properly. Namely if you are going to use abuteral constantly you need to combine it with a steriod otherwise it can make it so they have an asthma attack easier.

Good luck. It is hard, also get a good filter for the furnace and AC, also get a room filter for their bedroom and keep any animals, if you have them, out of the bedrooms.