CAN A VIRAL INFECTION START ASTHMA?

[WK51FOD]

Is it Asthma i have?

I started with a viral infrection 2 months ago it was then diagnosed as Bronchitis a few weeks later. My GP put me on antibiotics for 7 days which didn't help. I was then put on oral prednisolone for 2 doses which again did nothing.

I then was sent to an asthma nurse last Friday who put me on a pink steroid inhaler which made me v shaky and made my cough way worse. I stopped using it last grid evening and although my chest x rays are clear my cough is still bad and my chest is still wheezy. My husb has taken in to the surgery a sputum specimen this morn which my GP hopes will be back by Thursday when he is coming to listen to my chest and discuss whether i should re start the steroid inhaler if it is asthma i have, Can asthma start after a viral infection as i have never had asthma before? Thanks WK51 FOD

[risabel59]

Yes a viral infection can trigger Asthma, my sister got asthma for the first time after she got swine flu. However, a diagnosis of asthma is not always straight forward, and it may be you have an underlying infection causing the symptoms. Also it can take a long time to recover from chest infections. Up to 3 months for your lungs to properly heal.

If you keep having symptoms you need to keep on going back to the doctor.

Best

R

[QuietChest]

Agree it can be triggered by virus. It takes ages for our lungs asthmatic or not to recover when they have been pushed like yours