10 Year Old with Uncontrolled Asthma

[Potato40]

My 10 year old doesn't seem to be able to catch a break.

Currently on 3rd dose of steriods in a short space of time, along with antibiotics now as there is a crackle/squeak in the bottom of the lung.

She's already on seretide, has anyone else had experience of this, and how did they finally get it under control?

My oldest also has asthma, and has very few problems

[Patk1]

Does she have salbutamol/ventolin? Also has she an ashma plan? My 5 yr old grandsons salbutamol is increased,as per his asthma plan, as soon as he starts,and it does help to get it under control quickly.he also has a steroid inhalers.montelukast has been a game changer4 him. His asthma starts with every sniffle,cold and cough but increased ventolin quickly has helped reduce infections as the mucous is able to come up,instead of dropping into lungs x

[My_fairy]

Hi

Yes it can happen. My daughter was continuously on steroid along with that the reliever daily because she keeps getting random attacks and an exacerbation can last several days or weeks. Also, it happens when asthma isn’t well controlled. Make sure you get him checked properly if he doesn’t get better with antibiotics. Get X-ray done and review asthma plan if he’s under GP get him referred to a secondary care doctor. My daughter has severe persistent asthma and it has become therapy resistant so very hard to manage.

Her hormones are making her asthma worse so be extra cautious as he’s in the same age range. Good luck

[peege]

6I can only commiserate having been mother to a child & grandchild in very similar ways.Unfortunately the brilliant helpline is closed now until 9am on 2nd January, they're very knowledgeable so please do give them a call on 2nd, they're professionals.

With my son having him sleep as upright as possible helped - when small I held him all night, it was always at night when the non stop coughing was worse. We lived in a very dry climate in N. Africa. At times I boiled a kettle for steam in his room - this helps some but not everyone , washed floor & damp dusted daily as well as changing sheets. From 3 he was using a steroid inhaler plus ventolin, no silicone masks or tge helpful medication Montelukast then. Granddaughter was similar but in UK she didn't get diagnosed until 5 although she was px ventolin with a baby sized mask from babyhood. Both took ventolin before their preventer inhaler and also before exercise & playmates because exertion woukd bring on incessant coughing.

It's horrible, exhausting and stressful to witness I know. Read all the inhaler leaflets thoroughly to ensure inhaling technique is correct, there are also videos on the manufacturer's websites your son could watch.

On return to UK I took my son to Alexander Technique class 1 - 1 to learn to open his chest & breathe with posture, really helped & he still does it to this day. He more or less grew out of it at 14 although asthma returns when he catches a cold or cough. G'daughter is much better at 12. I taught her to hide a ventolin in her school sports bag, schools have been very poor in allowing her to use it before sports, running etc. (😡)

I buy vitamins for all my grandchildren to boost their immune systems to fight off the flipping bugs everywhere. Kiwis & citrus for vit C.

Paramedics and A&E are always more than pleased to help out a suffering asthmatic child when needed so don't hesitate if he needs it over hols. Many larger A&E departments have separate fast access route for children.

Wishing you all the best......and please call helpline on 2nd. P

PS check out 'bubble breathing' on Youtube, as adults we call it deep diaphragm breathing. It can help a lot.

[Potato40]

Thank you all, She is seeing her asthma consultant on 2nd, and the GP has prescribed antibiotics due to the holidays, as she heard a few crackles at the bottom of her lung.

My daughter was diagnosed at 10 months, after contracting Hib(she hadn't yet had her final booster-which was due at a year), and was extremely unwell(we saw the consultant 4 times in 1 day), we have never been able to get on top of the asthma since then.

When she gets unwell, she drops like a stone, health wise.

[peege in reply to Potato40]

Here's hoping your Christmas will be as happy as can be ×× good luck on 2nd January