4 year-old son triggered by the air conditioner

[kelbel1517]

My son was diagnosed with asthma when he was 3. He takes singulair, flonaise, zyrtec, and pulmicort through a nebulizer  twice a day on a daily basis. He has been through so much in his last year and a half. I just put him in play school and on his first day I can tell that the air conditioner is triggering his asthma. He began wheezing that night. And now two days later he has a full blown cold and I am doing albuterol around the clock.  I hate all the meds and reading about the side effects makes me feel sick. I just don't see any way around them. I talked to his teacher about adjusting the temp on the air, but it feels like a losing battle.  I don't want to have to pull him out of school, but there is no way  I can put him in an environment that will make him sick. I don't know anybody whose kid is triggered by the ac like mine is. Can anyone else relate?

[bsmsl]

I am triggered by any change in climate - hot to cold, cold to hot, just plain cold, chang in humidity as well.  Some people's lungs are just more sensitive to these things than most people's.  

I suggest you talk to his dr about giving him a neb of albuterol before and possibly after school and seeing if that helps.  It is a lot of medicine, but the side effects from the inhaled meds are minimal as very little of the medicine (<1/100th of an oral dose) gets into the general system where it would cause side effects.  His dr might have other suggestions for tweaking his meds as well.  Home schooling is also an option and might be worth it to protect his health.  The home school community in general is much more likely to adjust to the special needs of your son for social and co-op activities if youu have a good group in your area.

Singulair is a different story though.  Watch him carefully for indications that he might be getting depressed.  Not wanting to do normal activities, or just wanting to stay home are typical indications for young kids.  

Good luck with finding a livable way to treat and educate your son.

[David S. Wilson, MD, FCCP]

This is an adult pulmonologist and your question is best directed to a pediatric specialist