My 3 year old son had frequent 'viral induced wheeze' episodes in his first 18 months which resulted in hospitalisation; nebuliser and steroid.
We then saw a private consultant who advised that children with many 'chest infections' are actually asthmatic. Is this really as scientific as a diagnosis can be because I feel like he just guessed?
Anyway, he now takes 125mg flixotide and singulair granules 5mg with Salbutamol if needed. He has woken up on 3 occasions (always at night?) in the last 8 months with a barking cough where he was unable to catch is breath and said he was 'choking' and 'couldn't breathe'. The doctors said this is an asthma attack but my consultant believes it to be croup as he does not wheeze but barks?
So,
1. Is it possible to have a bark like asthma attack?
2. My doctor tells me it can not be croup as it would last for a length of time after and not just a 5-10 minute episode...Is that true?
3. Is 125mg flixotide a lot for a 3 year old to take?
4. If it is asthma and not croup, are 3 attacks in 8 months a lot-it is not being controlled well enough?
5. After each 'incident' he has had a chesty cough for a week and run down but chest is clear when listened to by the doctor. Is that what happens after an attack or could it be croup and that is part of it?
Many Thanks. Asthma is completely new to me and both my husband and myself do not have it (but my husbands brother developed it at aged 6.)