Upper Respirtory infection or asthma?

[Jon]

My five month old appeared to have a cold and related symtoms seven days ago.  We took her to the pediatrician and he prescribed a nebulizer to administer albuterol four times each day.  My daughter does not seem to be getting any better and we are taking her back to the doctor this afternoon.  He told me over the phone we might have to try steroids.

Q:  At five months old aren't steroids a bit extreme?  The doctor told me it might be asthma and often the asthma will subside by age two.  Can you shed some light on this subject and the viability of other remedies than steroids?

History:  Father- No allergies or asthma
          Mother- Allergic to animal dander, mild asthma due to dander exposure.

         2 Year Old - No known allergies or asthma

[shelly]

My son also was given ventolin with a nebulizer and put on steroids at 5 months. He initially was thought to have asthma when he first started to wheeze but then days later he was admitted to hospital and they diagnosed Bronchiolitis due to RSV. He was hospitalized a week they kept him on the ventolin and steroids and by the time he was almost better (no wheezing) he would get Brochiolitis again. The second episode was diagnosed when he was 6 months. He is now 14 months and has had a total of 7 episodes of lower respiratory infections that cause him to have bronchospasms and wheeze. Each episode has required him to have ventolin every 4 hours, be on oral steroids (which are the steroids that cause some concern) and antibiotics. He also was on inhaled steroids (which are supposedly very safe with little to no side effects) from 6 months to 12 months. I took him off cause they did not seem to make any type of improvement on his situation. They tested him at 7 months for reflux with a barium swallow and it showed this was the case. The reason they tested him for reflux is because reflux can cause respiratory problems. He has subsequently developed Sandifer's syndrome which is abnormal head movements when eating due to reflux and they are still investigating both his reflux and respiratory problems to see if they are related which I am sure they are. I do not think that my son has asthma as he does not get triggered by anything besides infections as well he does well at night and did not respond to long course inhaled steroids. Anyway best wishes.

[Julie]

Also,
If you are on AOL- type ASTHMA and there is a site on it with a forum such as this.  Very helpful.  I would also seek advice from a specialist.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

You might try childrendoc.com.

[Jon]

Is there site that would address this issue?

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Dear Jon,

I'm sorry, I really can't comment on your son's situation. This Forum really addresses questions about child behavior, not medical conditions such as asthma.