Advice

[EmmaF1988]

Mum with a newly diagnosed asthmatic 3 year old. Seems worse at night time. Using a dehumidifier has seemed to help a little. Any other advice/tips welcome 😊

[Sparkywoo]

Hi, I’ve had asthma all my life and remember really struggling as a child in the 1960s.

Do you know what is triggering the asthma? Is it allergies? I am definitely better since removing all carpets and curtains, anything that harbours dust mites and other allergens. Make sure soft toys are cleaned regularly - putting them in a freezer kills most things.

Dehumidifiers work for some not others, I’ve always been better for inhaling steam - not practical with a 3 year old but drier air irritates me more. It’s really trial and error. Sometimes at night I use 3 pillows to prop me up, again caution needed with a 3 year old.

Look at any cleaning products or home fragrances you are using, even perfumes and aftershaves can be a challenge to some asthmatics.

Has your GP suggested medication? Please don’t be afraid of it. I see so many parents balk at the idea of inhaled steroids if needed but remember asthma can be fatal if not managed properly.

Good luck x

[EmmaF1988 in reply to Sparkywoo]

Thank you for you the reply!! Yes we have removed carpet from her room and she now has hard flooring down. We have propped her mattress up with pillows so there is a slight incline for her when lying down. We think the main trigger is the damp weather. Not so much when it's raining but more so when the air is damp and its misty rain. We had previously used a cool mist humidifier but found no luck so now find the dehumidifier works well. Yes she has a blue inhaler pump for as and when. Steriods have also been used aswell. It's hard as it's still so new we are learning things all the time. And my gosh there's so much to look into and possibilities!!!

[peege]

Hi Emma, I do sympathise, my son was diagnosed with asthma at 3 (a long time ago pre nice little silicone masks attached to spacers for administrating inhalers). More recently knowledgeable members will be along soon I hope.

I can only suggest raising his/ her top half on pillows or raise the head end of bed, change all bedding to hypoallergenic, use biological washing stuff if you don't already, damp dust his bedroom regularly - incase s/he'sallergic to dust mites, ensure s/he's using inhalers correctly (videos online). Dont hesitate to contact doc if you think your child may have an infection or 111/999 if necessary, finding out what are her/his triggers if there are allergies would be useful- may have to pay privately to get tests asap - always helps to know. When I was officially diagnosed in my 40s I got rid of all my goosedown bedding only to find later my main allergy is mould with a low allergy to aspergillus - which is to be avoided at all costs. It's found in fallen leaves, farmyards, compost heaps. I believe all asthmatic kids should avoid those as getting aspergillosis is very very unpleasant.

Hope I haven't alarmed you but I so wish I knew then what I know now for both my son, myself & grandchildren. Good luck and best wishes. P

[runcyclexcski]

Was she tested for dust mite allergies? Pillows, bedding, and the mattress are the main reservoirs. Dehumidifying helps, but in the winter the inside air is dry anyway. The humidity and the warmth of the human body keeps the conditions in the reservoirs good for dust mites regardless of the overall humidity. The impact of dust mite on sleep can be experimentally tested -- one removes everything from the bedroom (including the bed, the pilllows, cuddly toys, everything fluffy etc) and tries sleeping on a basic air bed and an air pillow which can be wiped daily. Covers washed daily on a hot cycle. One might feel the relief within 2 nights. But sleeping like this (w/o being surrounded by fluffiness) takes getting used to.

Do not know about damp weather. The weather has been cold and damp for the last 1.5 months, and the humidity in the warm indoors w/o any special measures is 30% anyway. Cold outside air holds less moisture than warm inside air. So even though the outside cold air relative humidity is high, the inside warm air relative humidity is much lower in the winter.