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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
2yr old with asthma
Answered by
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2yr old with asthma
by dbactts, Oct 11, 2004 12:00AM
Hi, My 2 1/2 yr old was diagnosed with asthma @ 18months. We have had to give her pulmicort via the nebulizer, every day. She woke up yesterday with a little cough that sounds croupy. She has been dealing with a runny nose but that was it. Today her cough is worse, but she's not wheezing too bad. Is her asthma comming back full force? or does this sound more like bronkitis?
She has an appointment, but I was wondering if there is anything I could do home wise, without medications. Like herbal remedies or something we can try to help her.
She has an appointment, but I was wondering if there is anything I could do home wise, without medications. Like herbal remedies or something we can try to help her.
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Oct 20, 2004 12:00AM
, Oct 20, 2004 12:00AM
With asthma the basic problem is chronic inflammation along with tightening of the smooth muscles that surround the airways of the lungs. This inflammation is decreased and prevented with the daily use of an inhaled steroid, like the Pulmicort Respules™ (budesonide inhalation suspension) by nebulizer. Bronchospasm is the tightening of the smooth muscles that surround the airways of the lungs. A fast-acting inhaled bronchodilator medicine, like albuterol by nebulizer, reverses the bronchospasm quickly by relaxing the smooth muscles. This is commonly done at home when asthma worsens and comes back full force.
When this inflammation is not controlled, it increases the sensitivity of the airways to a variety of things that make asthma worse. These asthma triggers vary from person to person. An infection, like a cold or croup, is a common trigger. Asthma symptoms also vary from person to person. The symptoms of asthma are chest tightness, coughing, shortness of breath, and wheezing. Wheezing is the most common symptom. However some people only cough. Each person with asthma could have only one of these symptoms or a combination of any of these symptoms, including all four of them.
Even if "she's not wheezing too bad", this is most likely your daughter’s asthma coming back full force. However she will need to be thoroughly examined by her doctor. Only then can your question be answered to know if this is her asthma coming back full force or bronchitis. Please read the information on the National Jewish Medical and Research Center’s website at http://asthma.nationaljewish.org/living/tools/actionplan.php to learn more about Using an Asthma Action Plan to Manage Asthma. At your daughter’s appointment please talk with her doctor about creating an asthma action plan to help you to manage her asthma.
When this inflammation is not controlled, it increases the sensitivity of the airways to a variety of things that make asthma worse. These asthma triggers vary from person to person. An infection, like a cold or croup, is a common trigger. Asthma symptoms also vary from person to person. The symptoms of asthma are chest tightness, coughing, shortness of breath, and wheezing. Wheezing is the most common symptom. However some people only cough. Each person with asthma could have only one of these symptoms or a combination of any of these symptoms, including all four of them.
Even if "she's not wheezing too bad", this is most likely your daughter’s asthma coming back full force. However she will need to be thoroughly examined by her doctor. Only then can your question be answered to know if this is her asthma coming back full force or bronchitis. Please read the information on the National Jewish Medical and Research Center’s website at http://asthma.nationaljewish.org/living/tools/actionplan.php to learn more about Using an Asthma Action Plan to Manage Asthma. At your daughter’s appointment please talk with her doctor about creating an asthma action plan to help you to manage her asthma.
Whenever he gets a cold his asthma is worse and he needs to be monitored closely.
As his doctor said, never ignore the symptoms of Asthma. Be safe than sorry, and seek medical attention instead of guessing if it is an asthma attack.
God Bless.
Judy