Asthma

[Oblena]

Lots of Questions ...

Does your child have asthma?

When were they diagnosed?

How were they diagnosed?

What made you get this looked into - what made you take them to the doctor for a diagnosis?

How old was your child?

Had they had respiratory infections earlier in life (needing antibiotics)?

Any other info to give?

[our little treasures]

Lots of Questions ...

Does your child have asthma? Yes my dd1 and DS both have asthma.

When were they diagnosed? Both around 2

How were they diagnosed? Well I took them to the local GP who used a peak flow test and also I was lucky enough to get them there while they were suffering an asthma attack.

What made you get this looked into - what made you take them to the doctor for a diagnosis? Both my children started with Seasonal Asthma. I ended up going to the Dr's about DD1 and telling him she is up all night coughing and we are tired:ecomcity:. Thats when the GP mentioned it. My son he always suffers from chest infections which then triggers severe asthma. To the point of hospitalisation. With DS it was a lot more obvious as his was seasonal and also always accompanied a cold.

How old was your child? Both around 2

Had they had respiratory infections earlier in life (needing antibiotics)?
Yes DS had several chest infections which irratated his pipes causing asthma attacks. DD1 she has never really suffered chest infections:no:
Any other info to give? If you have a child with asthma I suggest you invest in a nebuliser if it is seasonal. Both my children are on Steriod puffers something I debated but after last season I had no choice and after a week I could see a huge difference. I find with the nebuliser it helps get it into young children faster than the puffer and spacer especially at those times where they are really lacking oxygen

[~Candy~]

I am new to asthma.....my youngest ds who has just turned 2 has recently been diagnosed.

Does your child have asthma? yes

When were they diagnosed? 2 yrs

How were they diagnosed? I took my ds to the gp during an attack, and every time we have returned with his chesty cough and runny nose, the dr says his chest is tight and that he needs the ventalin regularly.

What made you get this looked into - what made you take them to the doctor for a diagnosis? constant chesty coughs with snotty nose, croupy cough/cry, and when it's bad...the weaze with every inhale and exhale.

How old was your child? just turned 2

Had they had respiratory infections earlier in life (needing antibiotics)? Always the chesty cough and yes...antibiotics were given

Any other info to give? Would like to know more myself as Corey is the 1st child in our family with asthma...We have CF in our family and will be speaking to a genes specialist about the connection. Thanks our little treasures for the info about the nebulizer. I give my ds the ventalin with the spacer and I don't really think it does much :confused:, I looked at a nebulizer at the chemist the other day wondering if it's something I should be using with ds...I will buy one :thumbsup:

[Grace3]

Does your child have asthma?
Yes both of my children do
When were they diagnosed?
Suggested quite young they maybe asthmatic, but confirmed age 3.
How were they diagnosed?
Was given a referral to a Respiratory Specialist at Westmead Childrens Hospital
What made you get this looked into - what made you take them to the doctor for a diagnosis?
Struggling to breath
How old was your child?
As above
Had they had respiratory infections earlier in life (needing antibiotics)?
No
Any other info to give?
My DD has a flare up atm. No cold symtpons. Just comes on. Currently on Redipred for the next 2 days and constant ventolin until it settles. Was told asthma can be family related. My DH is asthmatic and suffered terrible asthma as a child.
_________

[FishFace]

Does your child have asthma? Yes my son (6) does.

When were they diagnosed? He was diagnosed almost 2 years ago.

How were they diagnosed? We went to the doctor with an Asthma Attack that left him hardly breathing.
What made you get this looked into - what made you take them to the doctor for a diagnosis?
He was coughing alot and colds were staying around longer then they should. The cough at night was the worst. The GP just kept sayinghe had croup or a bad cold. Then he had an Attack that just came on so sudden.

How old was your child? he was 4.

Had they had respiratory infections earlier in life (needing antibiotics)?
He had quite a few infections since 2. Most needed antibiotics.

Any other info to give?He will apparently grow out of this. He doesnt get it from exercise it is only brought on by colds and flu.
As soon as he gets sick he goes on to the preventer...flixotide.If he gets wheezy he starts ventolinand if it gets worse pred mix..( which i hate to give to him!)

[missie_mack]

Does your child have asthma? Yep DS2

When were they diagnosed? 2007

How were they diagnosed? He was seriously sick at the time

What made you get this looked into - what made you take them to the doctor for a diagnosis? We knew it was inevitable. DH and I are both asthmatics with stronger genes on my side of the family. However DS had had a barking type cough for some time particularly in the morning. I had argued with a GP (not my normal one we were living in a v small town for a bit) who kept telling me it was floppy larynx However DS got a bout of bronchilitis and they gave him readypred. Whilst on this it was the only time he never had the cough. This cemented it for me. Ds got sick and the GP refused to consider it was asthma so we flew back to Sydney after speaking with my GP who got us an emergency appointment at Westmead..

How old was your child? about 6 months

Had they had respiratory infections earlier in life (needing antibiotics)? No antibiotics however he had been treated for bronchilitis about 2 months earlier however that diagnosis has since been questioned

Any other info to give? It really was a pain to have him diagnosed and I was really lucky that being a asthmatic myself I was able to identify it quickly and had a sympathetic family GP who knew I knew my stuff....

[our little treasures]

I just wanted to add that it's very hard for Asthma to be diagnosed in children under 2.

Here is a link to the Asthma foundation (http://www.asthma.org.au/) It actually has a lot of info that you can rely on!

[Oblena]

Thanks everyone so far. I have just noticed DD coughing a bit after she exercises ( she is almost 2) and sometimes when she wakes up. I was wondering if I should get her checked or wait as there are no other concerns. She has had a chest infection both years of her life requiring antibiotics. I have a health nurse visit so might mention it there.

Thanks for the link our little treasures