Reflux and Asthma?????

[Rell]

Can you tell me what you know about the link between reflux and asthma.
My DD is 5 and had reflux as a baby. It was controlled very well with thickned feeds and Zantac until she stopped vomiting at 11 mths when she walked. At 14mths she had her first asthma experiance (coughing continuasly at night) and was put on Seratide to prevent it. I really haddnet given it too much thought over the years as there is a strong family history of asthma. Her astma comes and goes so as soon as it flares up she is put back on her preventer. A few weeks ago she started up the coughing again and this is when it hit me that she only has problems when she is lying down. I think I always put it down to being night time and cooler but twice on the weekend she had a day sleep (very rare) and both times she started the coughing. If I don't get ventolin to her quick enough she often vomits she coughs so much. This is when I started thinking that it could be someting to do with lying down. A friend then mentioned that her father gets asthma from reflux. I am kicking myself because I took her to the Dr yesterday and forgot to ask the Dr about this.
So my question is what do you know about reflux causing asthma and if that is the problem is it posible to treat the reflux to prevent the asthma.
Oh she doesn't have a runny nose (rarely does) so i am pritty sure it isn't post nasel drip.

[RISA]

Hi Narelle,
That is such an interesting question! yes, i very firmly believe in the link between asthma and reflux, though i do believe that they can also have asthma in their own right, as well as from reflux, if that makes sense.

My children are prime examples of this, but please don't kick yourself for not realising it!! How on earth were you to know, and reflux symptoms can be so vague, and as you say, it fits the asthma pattern so perfectly. What matters is that you have made the connection now.

It may be worth talking to your doctor about trialling reflux medications- it can help sometimes, but there are also other times where it doesn't seem to help for some reason (the doctors have a lot to learn still in this area). They do know the link, just not necessarily how best to treat it.

Does she have any other signs that you would associate with reflux? Often with children that age, it is behavioural things, like being irritable, whingy, clingy, 'losing the plot' over little things, moody as well as sleep disturbances and often picky eating and that kind of thing.

Interestingly, reflux can change as they get older, and what is a really common pattern is that they stop vomiting, so we think that the reflux has gone away. Sometimes though, it is still an issue, and has just changed the way it presents. We have some more information about that on our website- go to http://www.reflux.org.au/olderchildren.php

I hope that helps, and good on you for picking up the possible connection! It isn't always easy!!

Glenda

[Rell]

Thanks for the reply
I spoke to our Dr who said her cough doesn't sound like one caused by reflux so it looks like it is just asthma.
Thanks for your help

[RISA]

Hi,
I hope you manage to get the cough under control, and that she feels better soon.

Just keep in mind the possible link with reflux, as it is still possible the asthma is being triggered by reflux. If it proves difficult to treat, it may be worth raising the idea again. (with my daughter, the doctors could never figure out why her asthma was so difficult to treat, and it wasn't until much later that we got the diagnosis of reflux, and it all started to make sense from that point)

Thanks for letting me know what the doctor said. :)

Glenda