repeated upper respiratory viral infections

[R2D2starwars]

my daughter (12) has asthma and also dysfunctional breathing so it can be hard to know which one is causing her breathing difficulties at any point.

When well she has breathing episodes/ difficulties approx 3 times a week brought on by exercise or changes in the air eg smoke, dust, temperature. Sometimes we don’t know what caused it.

A bigger problem is that she keeps getting ill with viral infections - upper respiratory usually ending up in a cough. She is generally ill in bed for 3 weeks at least and is always completely exhausted during this time and usually has a headache alongside other symptoms , before recovering for a short period 1 or 2 weeks and then catching something else. She is so fed up and can see this is different to all of her friends and her sibling.

Doctors say it is normal to catch lots of infections and that her asthma might make her more susceptible. Is her asthma enough to cause this level of illness?

She takes vitamin d and c and her asthma meds. We tried homeopathy which helped in the summer but this could be coincidence due to summer as it hasn’t helped in winter.

Blood tests so far have come back normal apart from infection markers. MRI normal (done following period of headache and dizziness and low heat rate) . Most recent chest X-ray ok too.

Any suggestions as to what to try next as she just wants to be well and be at school?

She had pneumonia twice when she was younger and had glandular fever about 18 months ago if that is relevant. She had physio at the Brompton to help the dysfunctional breathing.

[Sjb10]

Sorry to hear your daughter is having a tough time, I feel for you too, it’s really hard to see them struggling. I’m not sure how helpful this is as some similarities but also differences. So my daughter (now 17) had been well controlled on Clenil til around the age of 14 then had a series of asthma attacks over a few months. Eventually after lots of oral antibiotics she was given iv antibiotics for a deep seated chest infection and Ct scan which was ok with no scarring. She was tested for cystic fibrosis and cilia lung/airways condition (sorry I’ve forgotten the name!) . Since then she’s also v prone to respiratory infections, both viral and bacterial and is on Azithromycin (antibiotic) 3 times a wk to help prevent bacterial infections. She was also moved to a Relvar inhaler which has really helped. We also saw respiratory physio who taught her to get stuff on chest when’s she’s bad which has helped too. She’s doing a lot better recently and I think they’ll stop weekly antibiotics when we see consultant next. Consultant even said on last visit that she cld still ‘grow out of it’ which cheered her up a bit. Good luck and hope she improves in warmer months.

[Sjb10]

forgot to say that my daughter also says Neilmed sinus rinse really helps with a cold (she uses it daily anyway as has rhinitis and also on Fexofenadine and Avamys)

[R2D2starwars in reply to Sjb10]

thanks for your replies. She also uses that nasal rinse and the breathing exercises do help. In the summer she has a Avamys and fexofenadine too - sounds very similar. Her allergy tests showed allergies to tree and grass pollen and mould - so pretty much something to bother her all year round. She is used to her breathing issues but can’t bear the weeks in bed due to repeated viruses. I do kee crossing my fingers that she will grow out of it.

We now both have Covid so that should be fun!

[Sjb10]

my daughter also had pneumococcal booster as blood test showed low antibodies but I’m guessing they’d have looked at that for yr daughter already

[Patk1]

Has she continued with physio for dysfunctional breathing? She really should get up+ not stay in bed.it will help her to breathe better sat up + maintain fitness walking in house.id be giving her handgel to keep in pocket and perhaps use 1 of the cold preventer sprays.

Whenever poss,I'd encourage her to drink plenty of fluids + perhaps calpol/ paracetamol when off .the less time she's off,the better

[eleanordigby]

I just don’t believe asthma would cause this number of infections, for weeks at a time. Nor dysfunctional breathing. No, to my mind something’s not right. She needs further investigation. I was like that as a child, and later found to have an immune deficiency. I’m treated at the Brompton, and am very surprised they’re letting this situation carry on in a child her age without delving deeper. It must be affecting her education, and anyway spending weeks in bed is no life for a child. The Brompton has great immunologists. Can you get in touch with her team there, tell them exactly what you’ve told us, and ask them to refer her? The blood tests are complex and results take many weeks so the sooner she’s seen the better. Poor you! Terrible when our children are ill x

[Horsemadfamily]

Hi be very careful with the mould allergy. Mould is on everything. House plants, cut flowers but mould spores unfortunately are everywhere. I have allergies to cats, middling can't breath after 30 minutes, dogs, bad can't breath after 10 minutes, horses, terrible can't breath after 1 minute but only recently I found out I'm mildly allergic to tree and grass pollen but very allergic to mould.

The mould diagnosis tied in with an experience last year. I'm a builder and built our current house. When we moved in my breathing miraculously improved but then steadily went down. Our old house definitely wasnt mouldy but you'd be surprised where mould spores grow invisibly. In our new house everything was brand new so absolutely no mould spores.

I was very much like your daughter at her age and have had to put up with and work through asthma and chronic allergies. I became a fitness fanatic but only recently finally received a medication that worked and its been miraculous.

I'm now 58 and my lung health is the best it's been in many years. Don't get to dispirited if you push there is a lot more help and understanding about allergies and asthma than there was 46 years ago when I was a 12 year old and branded as the weakling.

I very much hope your daughter improves I really know how scary it can be as a 12 year old.

Best wishes

[Meme50 in reply to Horsemadfamily]

what meditation were you given? I have meds for breathing issues but I seem very allergic to lots of things.

[Horsemadfamily in reply to Meme50]

Hi after much pressing my GP finally referred me to Immunology they put me on 180mg twice a day Fexofenadine and Montelukast I was very very sceptical but so far I seem to have had a big improvement. Tried going in my daughters stable last week and managed 30 minutes without the need for an inhaler. This is remarkable as previously I couldn't go more than a couple of minutes but then need symbicort immediately. The Immunology consultant said I was a classic case for xolair but it has to be prescribed by respiratory. They refused but touch wood Montelukast and Fexofenadine at that level have given me a great improvement. I'm considering with my GP and Immunology whether to pay private for Xolair to see if that would completely stop my breathing problems but its 12k a year and if it worked a big long term commitment. Once I pay for it no way would the NHS ever foot the bill.

[Meme50 in reply to Horsemadfamily]

Thanks for the reply. Good luck and take care.

[Horsemadfamily in reply to Meme50]

Your welcome. Best wishes