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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
son needs help
Answered by
This forum is for questions and support regarding lung and respiratory issues such as: Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, Colds - Flu, Chronic Cough, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema, Fibrosis, Lung Abscess, Nasal Polyps, Pleurisy, Pneumonia, Sarcoidosis, Sinusitis, Tuberculosis.
son needs help
by sarah and eric, Nov 02, 2004 12:00AM
not too sure what my sone has. i also do not trust our doc- shes actually a nurse practioner.
can a nurse practioner diagnose asthma? can she refuse referalls to a pulmonologist? at what age can my son have testing for athma done? and what are the tests?
so far ive been told my 5 yr old is too young for tests, so now hes a guinea pig.
is there a difference between RAD and asthma? is there a way to tell the difference between asthma and pneumonia? the np said you cant. will inhalers actually keep him from contractin viral infections? (colds,pneumonia?) the promblem im having is that my son doesnt have a problem with exercise and running around. thinking it might be the dog. the only thing he has is when he gets sick, he has a cough that goes with it and last for while. hes had pneumonia 3 times- 9mos,2yrs, 4yrs old. when hes not sick or getting over a cold, hes fine. he runs like a horse. sometimes with his cough, its so hard that he throws up. anyone have any suggestions?
can a nurse practioner diagnose asthma? can she refuse referalls to a pulmonologist? at what age can my son have testing for athma done? and what are the tests?
so far ive been told my 5 yr old is too young for tests, so now hes a guinea pig.
is there a difference between RAD and asthma? is there a way to tell the difference between asthma and pneumonia? the np said you cant. will inhalers actually keep him from contractin viral infections? (colds,pneumonia?) the promblem im having is that my son doesnt have a problem with exercise and running around. thinking it might be the dog. the only thing he has is when he gets sick, he has a cough that goes with it and last for while. hes had pneumonia 3 times- 9mos,2yrs, 4yrs old. when hes not sick or getting over a cold, hes fine. he runs like a horse. sometimes with his cough, its so hard that he throws up. anyone have any suggestions?
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Nov 03, 2004 12:00AM
, Nov 03, 2004 12:00AM
Viral infections, like a cold, or pneumonia can cause inflammation of the airways of the lungs. When this happens, there may be coughing with activity or laughing. This inflammation can cause coughing so hard that the person throws up. If a virus were the cause antibiotics would not help to get rid of the infection. Over time the body's natural defenses clear a viral infection.
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 coughing will stop. This is called reactive airways disease (RAD) and behaves a lot like asthma. On a simple breathing test, called spirometry, this may not show up. This inflammation often clears more quickly when it is treated with an inhaled steroid medicine, which is given to treat asthma. Usually this medicine does not help after just one use. It may need to be used every day for several weeks to months for it to help. Your son’s doctor is the best judge of this.
Asthma is a chronic form of RAD. So when this continues, it is generally considered to be asthma. Asthma tends to run in families. However some people start to have problems with asthma only after having a severe respiratory infection, like pneumonia. Once you have asthma, you will always have asthma. It does vary from person to person. For some people the symptoms will come and go. For others the symptoms are constant. 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.
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. Infections, like a cold or pneumonia, may be the only thing that triggers a person’s asthma. For some people exercise triggers their asthma. For other people exercise does not trigger their asthma at all. The same is true for allergies. There is no cure at this time, but asthma can be controlled with inhaled medicine.
Testing can be helpful to show if your son’s symptoms are due to asthma or RAD. Generally testing starts with a simple breathing test called spirometry. This test provides detailed information about how his lungs are working. It will show if there is obstruction in his airways.
For spirometry to be helpful in determining if a cough is due to asthma or RAD, children need to be able to follow directions well. Generally children need to be at least school age to do this. Until children are old enough to do this testing, they are commonly treated with asthma medicines by inhaler or nebulizer to control the symptoms such as cough. Then they may be less likely to contract an infection.
Pneumonia is inflammation of the lung. This is most commonly due to an infection. Inhaling bacteria or viruses is usually the way pneumonia is spread. Generally bacterial pneumonia will come on very suddenly while viral pneumonia will develop more slowly. Symptoms may include cough, chest pain, rapid breathing, shortness of breath, fever, chills, sweats, headache, weakness, tiredness, and a general feeling of discomfort and body aches. It is generally best diagnosed by chest x-ray in addition to a thorough examination. Treatment is based on the severity of the symptoms and the type of germ causing the infection. Antibiotics will help a bacterial infection, but will not help a viral or fungal infection. Over time your body's natural defenses will clear a viral infection. An antifungal is needed for the uncommon fungal infection.
Generally it is recommend that a specialist be seen when any one of the following occur:
· Allergies are being considered
· Asthma seems to be getting worse
· Conditions that complicate asthma such as chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps or vocal cord dysfunction
· Confusion with the diagnosis
· Frequent treatment with steroid tablets or syrup
· Several visits to the hospital or emergency room in the last year
· Severe asthma episode
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 coughing will stop. This is called reactive airways disease (RAD) and behaves a lot like asthma. On a simple breathing test, called spirometry, this may not show up. This inflammation often clears more quickly when it is treated with an inhaled steroid medicine, which is given to treat asthma. Usually this medicine does not help after just one use. It may need to be used every day for several weeks to months for it to help. Your son’s doctor is the best judge of this.
Asthma is a chronic form of RAD. So when this continues, it is generally considered to be asthma. Asthma tends to run in families. However some people start to have problems with asthma only after having a severe respiratory infection, like pneumonia. Once you have asthma, you will always have asthma. It does vary from person to person. For some people the symptoms will come and go. For others the symptoms are constant. 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.
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. Infections, like a cold or pneumonia, may be the only thing that triggers a person’s asthma. For some people exercise triggers their asthma. For other people exercise does not trigger their asthma at all. The same is true for allergies. There is no cure at this time, but asthma can be controlled with inhaled medicine.
Testing can be helpful to show if your son’s symptoms are due to asthma or RAD. Generally testing starts with a simple breathing test called spirometry. This test provides detailed information about how his lungs are working. It will show if there is obstruction in his airways.
For spirometry to be helpful in determining if a cough is due to asthma or RAD, children need to be able to follow directions well. Generally children need to be at least school age to do this. Until children are old enough to do this testing, they are commonly treated with asthma medicines by inhaler or nebulizer to control the symptoms such as cough. Then they may be less likely to contract an infection.
Pneumonia is inflammation of the lung. This is most commonly due to an infection. Inhaling bacteria or viruses is usually the way pneumonia is spread. Generally bacterial pneumonia will come on very suddenly while viral pneumonia will develop more slowly. Symptoms may include cough, chest pain, rapid breathing, shortness of breath, fever, chills, sweats, headache, weakness, tiredness, and a general feeling of discomfort and body aches. It is generally best diagnosed by chest x-ray in addition to a thorough examination. Treatment is based on the severity of the symptoms and the type of germ causing the infection. Antibiotics will help a bacterial infection, but will not help a viral or fungal infection. Over time your body's natural defenses will clear a viral infection. An antifungal is needed for the uncommon fungal infection.
Generally it is recommend that a specialist be seen when any one of the following occur:
· Allergies are being considered
· Asthma seems to be getting worse
· Conditions that complicate asthma such as chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps or vocal cord dysfunction
· Confusion with the diagnosis
· Frequent treatment with steroid tablets or syrup
· Several visits to the hospital or emergency room in the last year
· Severe asthma episode
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I have two children and they both have R.A.D.
My son was diagnosed at 2but had it for much longer. His doctor kept telling me he was to young to diagnose and that he could grow out of it. Meanwhile we were up in th night with coughing spells(so hard I thought he was going to throw up)and having to be on breathing treatments only when he coughed because cough medicine was not enough.Frustrated and tired I changed doctors and on the first visit was properly diagnosed as rad. This is a form of asthma only it is environmental. Just as you suspected dog dander, dust , perfume or cologne, anything can set it off.
My daughter is 8 months old and was diagnosed at 2 months and is getting the proper treat.
They are both on an inhaled steroid daily called pulmicort that is to keep the lungs open and prevent attacks. then if they have attacks they have albuterol or xpopenex (pronounced
zop-en-ex). My son has been on the steroid a year and has had two attacks. There are low side effects to the drug but my son and daughter have exp. none.
This is a frustrating dis. but it can be controlled. I but the best furnace filters, sweep everyday, we got rid of our carpet,and we are very concious of smoke, candles and anything with odors.It takes alot but anything is better than watching an attack and feeling helpless.My advice get a second opinion.
I hope I have answered some questions.
hang in there,
nicole
My son was 2 months old and diagnosed with Asthma by a pediatrician in the hospital. He had asthma so bad that he could not sleep on his back for 14 months and vommitted severely because of his asthma for the entire 14 months of his life.
He is now 6 and we monitor his asthma with Ventolin and FloVent 125. A chamber to give the puffers has made ER trips few.
God Bless.
Judy