Can a 7 year old suddenly become asthmatic

[StJeanDB]

I have had asthma since I was 3 year old. My som came home from a sleepover last night with a cough and terrible wheezing. Is it possible he has developed asthma?

[caregiver222]

Asthma has a genetic componant and can be passed on to children.

The essential difference between those who develop asthma and the "normal" population is production of Immunoglobulin E (IgE). Some people have a genetically determined predisposition to produce large amounts of IgE-type antibody. This renders them more liable than others to a variety of unpleasant and even dangerous clinical expressions of large-scale release of mast cell granule contents, such as asthma, hay-fever and uticaria.

The antigens (non-self substances) that trigger these reactions are called allergens, and those with a constitutional predisposition to respond in this way are spoken of as being atopic.

IgE is only present in minute doses in the plasma of most people. It binds to receptors on tissue mast cells, these cells having from 100,000 to 500,000 Fc receptors

From a standpoint of selectivity, those with high IgE are less likely to have parasitic invasions. That is why the gene has survived over the centuries.

[ruwani]

hi  my son had a  flu,and when i visited  the  doc  he said  my has  newmoniya, and stayed in for 6 days. but know  he gets wheezing  when he shouts  with  his  sister. he is 2 years  .sister is  6 . with flue  can he get  wheezing. how can i treat  him for it


thank you
ruwani mum

[bsmsl]

Hello,
I would say that it is a definite possibility.  He could easily have been exposed to an allergen at the sleep over that he typically is not exposed to and it triggered undetected asthma.  Since it was a sleepover, his exposure would have been prolonged as well.  I think you would be wise to get him into his dr's office this week for evaluation and accurate diagnosis.  

At his age, it could also just be the size of his airways being small, but he should be getting old enough that that would not be the issue.

I pray that he feels better.