my 2 year old

[mysmile*]

My two year old began developing breathing problems last year, when he started with a runny nose and then within hours he was admitted to the hospital where they expressed that he had phneumonia.  the next day after resp. therapy and anti biotics. he was discharged and feeling fine... the same scenario has happened six times since then, it makes me feel like a terrible mother.  His dr. put him on pulmicort, and xeopenex. in a nebulizer at home...as needed.  the problem that i have is by the time that he shows signs of needing it, they do not relieve his wheezing.  also when this happens he gets a fever. They say that he has asthma triggered by colds. He was born six weeks early though.  there are a few questions i have 1. could this be something more seriouse? 2. why does he get a fever with his asthma attacks? and 3. might he grow out of this if it is asthma?

[National Jewish]

Since your son was born 6 weeks early, he is more likely to develop asthma.  However what you have described could be asthma or reactive airways disease (RAD).

Infections like a cold or pneumonia can cause inflammation of the airways of the lungs.  Usually when this occurs, your son may cough when he is active or laughs.  This inflammation can cause wheezing.  After the infection is gone, it is possible for the inflammation to linger.  This inflammation can last for several weeks.  Sometimes this inflammation may linger for 3 to 6 months.  Eventually the inflammation will go away, and then the wheezing will stop.  This is called RAD and behaves a lot like asthma.  This inflammation often clears more quickly when it is treated with an inhaled steroid, like the Pulmicort Respules

[mysmile*]

Sorry about the double post