Asthma

[SimplyMum]

Also posted this in another section but thought maybe this was more the place

Ok, can anyone tell me a little about Asthma.

People have said that my DS might have asthma as he is constantly rattly and coughing. He gets croup relatively easy (seems every Autumn and Spring). The dr said it's just a matter of labelling it either Mild Asthma or a reaccurring cold (I don't think it's this as he has this rattly cest and cough 90% of the year and it's never accompanied by runny nose or any other cold symptoms).
First of all, if your child has Asthma of any degree can you tell me what symptoms you child had? How hard it was to be diagnosed? What medications are available for under 2yr olds and do you see an improvement?

[JesLiz]

try using rosemary. a sprig of it in a pilllow slip or in warm bath water or as a steam (hot water and rosemary with a towel over ur head)
it opens the air ways

[sam's mum]

My daughter wasn't diagnosed until older, so I can't help with the medications.

Her symptoms are generally coughing. I used to get caught all the time because I would just think she had a bit of a cold, and so I wouldn't step up her meds. After a couple of days I would go to the doctor and get told that she had asthma and needed the more heavy duty meds to get it back under control.

Now I make sure that we have an asthma action plan and we monitor her peak flows (how hard she can blow) and give medication based on that.

I hope that you get it sorted out soon.

[SimplyMum]

My daughter wasn't diagnosed until older, so I can't help with the medications.

Her symptoms are generally coughing. I used to get caught all the time because I would just think she had a bit of a cold, and so I wouldn't step up her meds. After a couple of days I would go to the doctor and get told that she had asthma and needed the more heavy duty meds to get it back under control.

Now I make sure that we have an asthma action plan and we monitor her peak flows (how hard she can blow) and give medication based on that.

I hope that you get it sorted out soon.

Well, I went and got a 2nd opinion today. We were prescribed ventolin to trial for 2 weeks and then we go back.

Just for curosity, how do you monitor her peak flows? Do you go to a dr for that, or do you have some special machine?

[sam's mum]

you can get a peak flow meter from the chemist. it is like a really big plastic straw and it has an obstruction inside. You blow in it, the obstruction moves. A needle moves along a ruler marker thing on the outside to show how hard they blew. There is a kids one and an adults one (higher numbers on the adult)

To do an asthma action plan they will measure the peak flow when your kid is well and then take percentages of their best measure to let you know when to get help. It is like - 80-90% increase medication. 70-80% start taking heavy duty meds and see doctor within 24 hours. 60-70% go to hospital. those aren't the actual percentages, but that is how it works.

At the start we were measuring her peak flows every day to build up a picture of whether she was improving with the meds. Same when we change meds. There will be a chart in with the peak flow meter to keep track of all the readings on.

[sam's mum]

http://www.flowmeterdirectory.com/flowmeter_peak.html

this isn't the brand that we have, but it was the first site that had a picture. :D

[SimplyMum]

Thanks for that. I will have to keep that in mind.

I think the ventolin has worked. It's early days but he's definatley not as wheezy.
Tell me, do you HAVE to use the spacer. I've found that it's easier to use the face mask straight on and only puff once instead of two. Can I do that?

[punkbaby]

The face mask or spacer as long as bubs is getting some in thats all that matters :) ds preferred the spacer we would pretend we were blowing up a big balloon he didnt really like the face mask

[sam's mum]

as long as they aren't sucking straight on the puffer. Even for adults just using the puffer is much less efficient than using the puffer with a spacer. for kids they don't end up getting a very useful dose if they just use the puffer.

[bronysjezza]

My son who is now 3 has always had breathing problems. because he is so young they will not diagnose it as "Asthma" we have had many trips to the hospital, where they put him on redipred, its a type of steriod that opens his breathing tubes. it its very effective and he remains on that for 3 days. they also put him on an Asthma plan. he has a puffer every day that is called a preventer. (To prevent the attacks) and if he does have attacks we use the ventolin puffer. the hospital made a plan for us and since we have stuck to the plan he rarely has attacks. He use to have attacks at least once a fortnite. It can be easily managed if you have the right advise and the right plan. Also young children can grow out of this as well. Hope everything goes well for your little one.

[kymmy]

My big boy was diagnosed at 3 after being hospitalised with pneumonia. When he gets asthma, I know it because I can see his whole body move when he breathes in his sleep. That is when we know we have to go to the hospital. He becomes very lethargic.
He has ventolin through a spacer. He wont take it without the spacer.