Nov
11
2 Year Old With Asthma?
ByMy family Dr. believes that my 2 year old has asthma. She has had a horrible cough for about 2 months, and has been prescribed 2 different inhalers. She coughs so bad at night that neither her or I were getting much sleep. I took her to the ER a week ago, and they prescribed liquid codiene for night time. I don’t feel comfortable giving this to her long term (its already been a week) but it seems that it is the only thing that has helped. We do have a cat and a dog, which we have had since before she was born, & we are a non-smoking family. Anyone else experience this problem and what did you do?
5 Comments
November 11th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Winter months are often hellish for kids susceptible to chest complaints so I’d keep with the codiene for as long as the doctors recommend with the knowledge things will no doubt clear up as spring sets in. You’ll also find the reason your doctor is so reluctant to give a hard diagnosis is that these days, they like to wait until a child is at least of school-age before diagnosing that s/he definitely has asthma as some young children might just be wheezy kids who will out-grow it (http://www.asthma.org.uk/all_about_asthm…
The best things to do is first see if there is a trigger for the wheezing (perhaps ask for an allergin skin test and referral to the asthma clinic). Don’t feel you need to get rid of the pets. Just keep them out of the child’s room and regular vaccum carpets and brush them down. Wrap the kids’ up when going outside in winter and take proactive measures when it looks like she’s coming down with a cold/flu. Encourage your daughter to take her inhalers (get a spacer for them, if you’ve not got one already). An air filter in her room might also be a good idea as is putting down wooden flooring and hypoallergenic bedding.
Have a look at these websites for more advice:http://www.asthma.org.uk/all_about_asthm…http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/art…http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/a…
November 12th, 2009 at 2:54 am
I have 2 of 3 children with asthma, both of whom were diagnosed around 18 months of age.
If you don’t specifically have a pediatrician, I would change my child’s care from the family MD to a pediatrician and see if they have any specific insight into treating the child’s asthma. Treatment may range from adding daily medication to control the asthma, along with the short term inhalers-or referral to an asthma/allergy specialist or pulmonologist. We’ve been to both types of specialists at our pediatrician’s behest.
One child takes Singulair daily, along with a daily preventative inhaler and an antihistamine pill. He uses rescue inhalers as needed. His sister simply takes Singulair and an antihistamine to control her allergic reactions that trigger the asthma. Good luck!
November 12th, 2009 at 7:36 am
First of all, get rid of the cat and dog, immediately. The baby could have allergies already.
My daughter almost died at 3 years old because her lungs almost closed right up. We spent 5 days in hospital.
A child that is two should not be on PUFFERS but on a nebulizer. Buy one, rent one, and if they are on anything else get a different doctor because your kid is too young for puffers. Do you have an aerator if you are giving her puffers? Otherwise the stuff is just blowing off and it needs to get to the lungs. But a 2 year old cant possibly use a puffer right and should be on a nebulizer to get her medicine.
This is a machine that you put both sterile water and the medicine in (same stuff as in puffers) and it turns into steam or a mist and you put a mask over her face like they give in hospital. ONLY this way will she get the right dose and she should start coughing all that wet flem up while on that.
What kind of house do you live in? If it’s moldy, sell it and get out. That will kill your daughter.
You should move anyway because cat dander you will NEVER get rid of and having pets is a no-no with a child with asthma.
Get rid of carpeting, all stuffed toys, books, anything that can collect dust in the girls bedroom. Buy the allergy covers for her pillows and mattress and wash sheets etc each week in hot soapy water. Dust often. Don’t have the baby around when you are dusting.
DON’T allow ANYONE to smoke in your house. This is the worst thing and can trigger an attack so bad she can die. I am not kidding you. Don’t even smoke outside or in the car as you bring the allergens in on your clothing.
Have the girl tested for allergies now. They will put little pin pricks on her back and put drops of different things on there and you will see what she is allergic to.
My pediatrician kept saying my daughter was too young for allergies (which triggers asthma) and he was DEAD WRONG.
I am almost certain she is having asthma attacks due her allergies to things like dust, mold, trees, grass, ragweed, who knows really.
So rid your house of these. But please your pets must be the first to go. Clean her room spotless and vacuum out the furnace ducts and remove all drapery, carpets, and dust collecting items and if there is mold or wetness, then eliminate that or move.
Good luck…mom with 3 kids with asthma.
November 12th, 2009 at 8:11 am
I would keep with the codeine for now…. But ask for a referral to a specialist and have your two year old tested for the asthma, PLEASE. My cousin died three years ago due to a severe asthma attack, His inhalers couldn’t control it, his nebliizer all of a sudden became malfunctioning, and antihistamines did nothing. He would be eleven this year. I do know what you are going thru with the coughing though… all three of my children have had it, as well as myself. The Codeine is actually a very good cough suppressant, as well as decongestant. I only dose my children with it at bedtime. During the day, we have stuck with over the counter decongestants/cough suppressants ONLY when they have truly needed it. This stuff has been going around our area like wildfire. I would cut back the codeine and limit it for night time use only, and in the meantime get a referral to a specialist for your child just to be sure. Good luck to you!
November 12th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Cough medicine wont really help with asthma, just control one of the symptoms. Ask your family doctor for a referral to a pulmonologist who specializes in childhood breathing issues.
Asthma symptoms can be triggered by many things… allergens being one. You might also look into allergy testing.
In addition to pet allergies, there are alot of environmental allergies and food allergies (especially milk) that can trigger breathing problems.
Check out this book…. “Breaking the Viscious Cycle” by Elaine Gotschall for info on food and health connections.