Possible Asthma Diagnosis - Need Advice from Parents who know more!

Hello

About three weeks ago my 'almost' three year old Son had the start of a bad cold. He was snotty and obviously off colour. His breathing was very laboured during the night and the next day he was prescribed antibiotics by the Doctor. His symptoms disappeared over the next few days and he didn't suffer any more interrupted nights.

Yesterday he started to cough a bit and through the night his breathing was extremely laboured again. I took him back to a different Doctor and he was admitted to Hospital today. He was monitored all day and they have said it is possible he has Asthma but can't say for sure either way.

I have had Asthma since I was a baby and I am sure I would have noticed a wheezy chest before now and can't believe it can just 'appear' like this almost over night, especially as I am aware of the warning signs. I feel that - somewhat understandably - they have made this diagnosis because of my history and because he has eczema.

His chest x-ray showed a small amount of infection and he has been given a low dosage of penicillin plus three days worth of steroids and a becotide inhaler. Initially, at the Doctor's surgery, he was given a very small blast of Ventolin through a nebuliser and he did appear a bit happier after this. However, when he was given the 'puffer' during the day today it didn't appear to make much difference and although you could see he was struggling a little breathing in and out at times you couldn't hear a wheeze.

Does anyone else think this could be linked to a cold going to his chest rather than Asthma or am I clasping at straws?

He constantly runs around like a mad thing and I have never heard a 'wheeze'. Now at home and in bed his breathing is a little laboured again but I cannot hear any wheezy'ness.

Any ideas or thoughts? I would be really pleased to hear anyone right now as my mind is racing! Thanks. xx

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Hi Mumoftwo

My little girl has been diagnosed asthmatic three months ago. She started like your son, cold symptoms, laboured breathing, couging. She had several admissions before being given a diagnosis. We were told it could just be recurrent viral infections and not asthma. She then started to wheeze and the cough got worse, every night. She now has ventolin inh, becotide 100 2 puffs twice a day and singulair 4mg at night. Since starting this she has only had two attacks in three months.

I think you need to keep a diary writing your sons symptoms and activity. Ask if you can see a peadiatric asthma nurse for advice.

Good Luck

Truly x

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Have you tried asking the advice of the asthma professionals on this site? THey are very experienced and may be able to help you.

I was told my son was asthmatic because he had a night cough. He was 6 at the time. He had coughed regularly at night since he was 6 months old. Both myself and my daughter were asthmatic and I knew what we were both like when having a flare up. However my son ran around everywhere. He would never walk if he could run and that incuded a 3/4 mile run to school (well probably over a mile by the time he had done most of it twice waiting for us to catch up) which included an extrememly steep hill and he never got breathless unless he had an infection. I gradually became aware that the night coughs appeared every time his tonsilitis flared up and the prescribed ventolin inhaler never made any difference. Once he grew out of tonsilitis at the age of 11 the night cough stopped too. So there may be another cause for it. Even so he could still be developing asthma symptoms which may just be triggered by infections rather than allergy.

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my son was the same when he was about two and a half.i was told he had asthma,as he has got older ,it has got alot better.he only has to have his reliver now and again,i hope that things work out ok for your son

take care from d58