My 8 mth old baby not responding to any asthma meds.

[kimbeef]

Hi, My baby is now 8 months old and suffers every day. He has been on diferent med's and nothing seems to work. We were at the hospital w/ him 2 days ago because he has a fevor and was retracting, he also was very wet when he breathed. the doctors took his oxygen level and it was between 87% to 94%. so they gave him albuterol sulfate  and also prednisolone. His x-rays reveled he has bronkitus right now. But we have been going threw this now for 2 mth, 1st they put him on zopinix, then pulmicort, then AccuNeb 0.63mg, then on albuterol solution 0.083% and also prednisolone 15mg twice a day. everything the doctors have done for him just don't seem to work. We took him to a pulmatologist and he thought it was asthma said to continue w/ pulmicort and accuneb but that still dont work. He was tested for systic fibrocis and that was negitave(thank god). his doctor does not know why he does not respond w/ these meds. he wheezes every day and coughs every day, and retracts every day. i dont know what else to do. he was born at 37 weeks and weighed 5 lbs. when he came home from the hospital i noticed he was retracting when he breathed he was about 4 weeks then. and when he breathed he made a funny noise the doctors said that it was his cartlege in his throught well that lasted until he was about 4 months old and that noise went away. but now is the retracting and wheening and wet breathing. can you help me out please. thank you and my baby thanks you... kim..

[National Jewish]

This is obviously a very difficult problem for you and your doctors.  It is very important to identify the problem.  Only then can the best treatment be determined.  It is impossible for us to figure out the problem just from your description.  There are several different problems that can cause the types of symptoms you describe.  I would suggest working with a pediatric pulmonologist.  You might see if it is possible for you to bring your baby to National Jewish Medical and Research Center for an evaluation if this continues.  I know this must be frightening for you.  You need answers and relief soon.

[ozark]

do you think he could have aspirated on something?  this is a possibility since no meds have helped that should have...maybe an ent evaluation would help or some one to look closely at his chest xray to see if there's anything foreign in his lungs like a piece of food or a small piece of a toy or anything.good luck

[Concerned lady]

You can call the LUNG LINE nurses, at 1-800-222-LUNG(5864), and ask for advice. The LUNG LINE nurses may know of a good doctor in your area, who has studied & worked at Nat'l Jewish. If you are anywhere near Denver, Colorado, you could take your baby to be seen at Nat'l Jewish Medical & Research Center, in Denver.

It sounds like you need a second opinion by another pediatric pulmonologist (lung doc), soon, because he's not getting better, with the present treatments.

Also, ask about possible pediatric gastric reflux, in case your baby is maybe choking on "refluxed" stomach liquid. Have you tilted the baby's mattress (higher at the head end), so that his head is higher than his feet? Has the baby been seen by a pediatric gastroenterologist (stomach & digestive specialist)?

I wish you the best of luck, helping your baby to get better. You should take him to your ER (emergency room), whenever he has breathing problems, or, call for an ambulance, if necessary.

Concerned lady
http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com

[Auntie Lulu]

Have you had him checked for acid reflux? I had the same symptoms and the doctors kept giving me inhalers, they did not help at all...after 10 years I found out it was acid reflux.