Can anyone help me with some advice on childhood asthma? My DS has just been diagnosed with asthma. The dr has started him on a trial of Singulair but it doesn't seem to have had any effect. He has a chronic cough (been there for over 8 weeks now) that has been treated with 2 different types of antiobiotic also without success. I am getting really worried now that it's something else more sinister. Any ideas?
asthma is horrible my DS has it, he was on flixetide(sp?) and ventolin, Have you got a good spacer? we use one with a infants mask attatchment because in the middle of an attack its hard to get them to take meds.
With DS I just learnt to avoid his triggers where possible DS is 10 now and hardly gets it at all mainly just when he gets a cold or flu
Yes we have a spacer but we've been told not to use the ventolin at the moment. The Dr just wants us to go with the preventer (Singulair) instead. I'm really worried about it.
It's scary isn't it . DD9 has asthma but was a lot worse when she was little. She is also on Flixotide and has ventolin. Just keep an eye on his breathing, if you think he is struggling take him back to the doctor.
my ds was diagnosed at 1 after a case of acute bronciolitis, and is also on childrens flixotide & ventolin. I too have broncial asthma, so I kinda know how he feels.
I noticed that everyone in this thread has mentioned the same medications, yet don't stree that your child is on something else, as there are about 20+ different asthma treatments & preventors out there. When I was a kid I was on atravent & ventolin, and then brichnael & pulmacourt.
Hang in there, it can be hard, I would recomend finding the best mask for you & your son, one with a valve is great, because then you know he is taking breaths. We count when we have puffers, you can count for each breath, or what we do is count to eight, to ensure the 4 breaths are taken.
Talk to your doc, ask if there is any harm in having ventolin on hand in case of an attack, and discuss an asthma action plan with them. You can obtain assistance & support from asthma australia, (you can download a plan template from them) and your local council/mchn should be able to point you in the right direction also.
If you are not happy with your doc, and think the current management isn't working, find another doc to review your son, trust your gut. You know your son better than your doctor does.
Try using a vaporizer at night time and making sure the room is warm, both my girls are the same and this seems to help although they won't really get better until the weather warms up again. They get the cough which triggers the attacks. They are on seratide which is used as a preventor and for an attack.
Thanks ladies. We are now trialling a Seratide puffer with spacer, started yesterday. The Singulair did absolutely nothing for his cough and it's going on for over 2 months that he's been coughing now. I didn't realise it gets worse during the cold months - the Dr hasn't told me that, seem pretty obvious, I feel a bit silly that I didn't put the 2 together now! That's just another reason I'd love to move back home to Newcastle or even lovely warm QLD....
Hey Kris, my DS2 was diagnosed with asthma at 6 months. It was so scarey at times because he used to get asthma and croup together and I can't count the ambo trips to hospy but he is now 9 and has pretty much out grown it (thank goodness). When he was a baby they had him on a liquid (can't remember name now sorry) as well as the ventolin. The singulair was when he was older and is a preventor. When they get the cough you are supposed to use the ventolin as well so your dr gave you the wrong advise there!!! I started off with a nebuliser to give them the ventolin and then progressed to a spacer. I still have the neb tho as sometimes it is easier to use. I would make sure that your dr is very up to date with asthma control and if he/she is not then do as others have suggested and get a new one that does or try the hospital. They will be able to tell you who is excellent. Good luck with this and if you have any questions feel free to pm me
DD has chronic mild asthma and issues with her right lung (in sufficient surfactant when she was born or damage form one of the respiratory infections she had last year). She was diagnosed at about 15 months of age, but for her Venotlin only works to a point then she needs O2.
We had to call the locum out Tuesday night and were back at the GP's on Wednesday, with nasty cough and traecheal tug both times (not significant enough to me take her to the ER and Dr's agreed).Her GP has started her up with Flixotide (preventer) morning and night, Prednisolone (steroids) for three days and if she goes down again another 3 day dose each time, and ventolin 6 puffs (equivalent of a Neb) 2-4 hourly if we can stretch it. If she hasn't improved by tomorrow we have to take her back tot he GP, she still has rapid and shallow breaths, and a traecheal tug, but hopefully the second dose or Pred will help. DD uses a spacer and has from the start.
She has a detailed asthma plan which I have just had updated for Daycare. It is definitely worth having a Dr who is proactive, we areally happy with ours the the Private and Public Paeds she has had have all been brilliant, she had 5 trips to the ER last year and two long stays, but we found things got signifcantly worse September/October, the early winter months were mostly Croup, ad Bronchiolitis, then later she had Bronchiolitis and Pneumonitis (parent of Pneumonia) and her last admission for her breathing issues was due to the common cold!
I hope the Seratide makes a difference It is horrible seeing our little one's suffer
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Asthma
asthma is horrible my DS has it, he was on flixetide(sp?) and ventolin, Have you got a good spacer? we use one with a infants mask attatchment because in the middle of an attack its hard to get them to take meds.
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