Please Help

have a 8 year old female. she is a Asthmatic and has horrible allergies. She has had constant chest pain and headaches for over a month since she had mono. She cries it hurts so bad says it feels like someone is punching her in her chest and pushing hard. It's worse at nighttime She cries it gets so bad. One Dr said it is just spasms from coughing so much but she really does not cough that much. She does have a lot of drainage and he put her on a noise spray with steroids. It's been going on to long and we do have a family hx of heart disease.

[dinu686]

better try to put her away from dust,pollution ,it may create more problem.in such age its not good to use inhaler so better consult with a good doctor(paedriatic) .Even good to consult with ayurvedic or homeopathy.

[jemma116]

I'd be inclined to take her back to the doctor for further investigation.  Chest xrays for a start.  If she is bringing up rubbish she could have that analysed for any infections as well as a blood test.

She probably won't feel like eating much, but make sure she gets plenty of drinks.

[courtney48]

Because you say it is worse at night, I would wonder if she has silent aspiration that is burning her esophagus.  Has she had an upper GI to look at her esophagus or a bronch to see if she has any erosion in her airway?  Also, are you seeing a pedi pulmonologist (and if appropriate a pedi GI) or just a family doc or pediatrician?  If one of the latter two, I'd switch to a pulmonologist, not even an allergist since asthma is an airway/lung issue.  Good luck.

[caregiver222]

Let's not be "recommending x-rays" for an eight year old. You might want to get a consult with an allergy specialist. Be very careful of long-term steroid use, unless they are of the low-dose inhaled kind. I would not recommend anything specifically for an eight year old, however an extra effort to make the house allergin free, as well as an electrostatic dust precipitator may help.

[jemma116]

I was diagnosed as having asthma by the hospital some years ago, when I was in my 40s.  I refuse to believe that I have asthma and because of that do not take my inhalers as prescribed.  When I get a bacterial or viral upper respitory infection I cannot get to sleep because of the coughing and have been know to stay awake sitting up downstairs so as not to disturb my sleeping husband.

I have also found that I also have allergic reactions which I didn't know about.  If I go into a room where a dog has been, even if I didn't know that t a dog has been there, I get problems with my breathing.  

I also have found that changes in temperature, too hot and also the cold weather will set my asthma attacks off with dreadful coughing bouts and not being able to get any oxygen.  Sometimes there is no cough at all, but a heavyness in the chest and not being able to get enough air.

I do find that coughing is always worst at night and I wake up congested every morning.  I am allergic to the steriod inhaler - that was giving me really bad thrush in the mouth.  So the doctor prescribed me with Atrovent.  I usually suffer because I do not accept the fact that I am asthmatic, but as I have been wheezy and gasping for air, I found my Atrovent that I had not used for a while, so much so, that I had to phone the surgery to remind me the how many puffs and how many times during the day I should take it.

I trust that there are no feather items in her bedroom as well as any woollen items (my daughter is allergic to wool).  Keep any books and toys away from her bedroom too as they gather dust.  If she has any soft toys that you cannot wash regularly, you can place these in a plastic bag and put them into the freezer for a few hours, I believe this kills off any dust mites.

When she goes to bed, get her to be propped up rather than lying down.  Sometimes I find a very dry atmosphere is aggravating.  You could try putting a bowl of hot water with some Vick or Olbass oil in her room.  The vapours will help with any congestion.

It has also been known for a child to have swallowed a small item that might have got lodged in the lungs.  My friend's young daughter swallowed a tiddlywink when they were playing that game and it when down into the lungs.  It took them 3 years before they found out what the problem was with her coughing.  Don't want to scare you.  

I know if it were my daughter I would go back to the doc, even to a different doctor at your surgery for a second opinion or even referred to a specialist.

With best wishes, please let me know how you get on.  Having had children and now young grandchildren I am fully aware of your worries.  

[caregiver222]

If she has soft toys that she doesn't want to part with, take them to a cleaner that uses super-critical carbon dioxide. There are a few of them around. The process was developed in Germany and is non-toxic and will remove dust-mites from the toys.

[caregiver222]

You might try some berberine, which is available without prescription in health food stores. It is an anti-inflammatory that has been used to treat asthmatics for a thousand years.

[jemma116]

I have never heard of berberine and have checked this out on the web.
There is no mention on the sites that I have visited that it has been used to treat asthmatics.  But it does give warnings as to its use and for certain groups of people not to take it at all.

Because Maddie0726's daughter is 8 and is already experiencing a lot of allergies, I personally would not recommend her taking any over the counter remedies without her doctor's approval.  

Some people are allergic to berberine and there also may be an adverse reaction with the medication the child may already be taking.

It is also not recommend for pregnant or breasfeeding mothers.
Allergic reactions have been reported, with symptoms of vomiting, itching, and a feeling of faintness.  There are other reported side effects and interactions with other supplements and the like.

Personally, I would not take the risk of trying anything on my young daughter.  

What I would recommend is keeping the child away from polluted atmospheres (people smoking) and any other irritants (hair sprays, perfumes).  If there is any mould in the house - that would need to be dealt with because the spores in moulds can cause respiratory problems. Also any chemicals that are being used to keep the house clean. (I am allergic to bleach and sprays).  I have an allergic reaction to latex and plasters and I cannot use soap or bubble baths and wash my clothes with a non-biological detergent and softener recommend for babies.

[caregiver222]

I concur. Do not take anything without a physician's approval.