Smal Child With Asthma

[DecAngel1205]

My 22mo daughter was born at 31 weeks and has been diagnosed with asthma since the age of 9mo.  Her Ped put her on Albuterol liquid-to be given as needed for symtoms.  her symptoms are more signifigant and frequent in the winter/cold weather months.  I have been wondering, should she be on a preventive medication? Why might he be reluctant to put her on one and be telling me to use the liquid steroids?  Can these(steroids) cause growth problems after a certin amount of use?

[DecAngel1205]

Wow good to know.  I was always confused about that.  I think she might get the chewables easier than something that she has to inhale.  Lately we have been using the albuterol every day 3x a day cause she just can breathe.  I have noticed that she seems more irritable when we use it more often...is this a common side effect?  I want to thank everyone for their comments and help..:) That is great to have this so I know what to ask my daughters ped when we go in december.  Thanks again, and please-keep em comin if anyone has any other comments or ideas.

[National Jewish Health]

Albuterol is not a steroid.  It is a short acting bronchodilator that relaxes tightness of the airways of the lungs for 3 to 4 hours.  Consideration of additional medications is based on the severity of asthma and the frequency of symptoms.  There are national guidelines for dose and frequency of these medications.

Singulair® (montelukast sodium) and Pulmicort Respules™ (budesonide inhalation suspension) are 2 long acting preventive medications, frequently used to treat asthma in children.  Pulmicort Respules™ (budesonide inhalation suspension) is an inhaled steroid administered by nebulizer with a face mask to decrease the inflammation in the airways of the lungs due to asthma.  Inhaled steroids can reduce the velocity of growth, but only when used in high doses.  This class of medications has an insignificant effect on final height, accomplished by a "catch-up" growth period.  Singulair® (montelukast sodium) is a chewable medication and not a steroid.  Its safety has been confirmed for people 1 year of age and older.

[tiff78g]

My son who is almost 18 months has asthma and is on Flovent this winter as a preventative medicine.  He used it at the end of last winter and it helped soooo much.  He also uses Albuterol breathing treatments and inhaler when needed, but hopefuly with the Flovent started already, we wont need many of those.

Tiffiny