Need some advice about my daughter who’s 2.

[Mel_v]

I don’t have asthma but my daughter who is 2 has been diagnosed with asthma.

At the moment she is having 4 puffs of clenil modulite ( brown inhaler) every morning and night. She is also taking Montelukast. She is also having 6 puffs of salamol a day. She also has amoxicillin once or twice a month.

I really don’t understand asthma, I thought by her having the brown inhaler and the Montelukast it would prevent her from needing the blue inhaler.

She gets worse in the cold weather, could anyone give me some advice on ways to help her asthma without medication.

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

Hi

A controlled asthmatic shouldn’t have to take salbutamol everyday, however because of her age I’m guessing that a lot of drug options aren’t open to her, or the side effects are considered more severe so they don’t like to give if they can help it.

I’m assuming she’s under a consultant so it’s worth bringing up with them any concerns you have or alternatively speak to asthma UK - their nursss are very nice and very informative!

Scarves for cold weather, wrapped around her mouth (and nose if she can stand it), as it warms the air as she breathes in.

Inside play areas if you can get to any as they’ll let her run about and let off steam, without the cold air element.

Some people find manual therapy helps (esp cranial osteopath for kids!) whilst they can’t help the asthma, they can help with the side effects of having asthma/the drugs - muscle soreness from over-use during attacks, headaches (tho she may be complaining of a belly ache as kids can identify location of pain well), anxiety etc etc etc which some say helps with reduce asthma flare ups anecdotally - so if you can afford it it may be worth a try!

I hope that helps and that things start to calm down for her soon! X

[Shekaida]

Dear Mel, having suffered as an asthmatic since birth, there are a great many things you can do as a mum to help your daughter, other than the drugs. The main thing is to begin to teach her how not to panic and relax. As she is very little this should start with you sitting her down at the first sight of breathless symptoms. She needs to sit in a straight backed chair so her diaphragm is relaxed and directly under her lungs, at which point you sit beside her and using the palm of your hand massage her back with large flat circles all around her back, firm but soothing. This helps relax the muscles in her back and in turn will help her to breathe. When she is actually unwell this can be very helpful as is creating an armchair in her bed using pillows to keep her upright so she breathes more easily and when she becomes distressed using these techniques will help the medication alleviate her distress. Panic is the worst enemy of asthmatics and the earlier you can begin to teach her to deal with it the better. I recall my parents soothing, calming techniques, which throughout my life have stood me in good stead.

More techniques for older children if anyone needs the. The greatest pity is that these techniques are no longer taught by GPs, hospitals or clinics but I have always felt that they are an essential part of dealing with the condition

[Tugun]

Hi Mel_v,

I think you have done the most sensible thing ever - which is to ask those who have asthma. Keep asking as there are many people here who are able to give you ideas which may help. One reason why she is on salbutamol could be to control her asthma while the preventers kick in. Sometimes it takes weeks before the full effect of the preventers occur. It is also wise to always have the blue inhaler (salbutamol) handy as it is a quick reliever for when the condition gets worse. For example with a chest infection or with allergies your daughter may need more. Your doctor or the asthma nurse will be able to talk to you about this. I also get worse with cold air. Wearing a scarf is a great idea and I found this winter (in Australia) a scarf really helped. Unfortunately there is no "one size fits all" with asthma. Everyone is different, with different triggers and most of us have learnt over the years what works and doesn't work for us.This makes it very difficult when you are dealing with someone else. The only thing I can suggest is to keep a watchful eye on her - Are her hands cold? Is she too hot? Does her breathing get worse if she eats certain foods or at different times of the day? I reluctantly tell you this next one because I know how easy it is to overheat and at 2 years of age she is not able to help herself but I discovered that I did better when I slept in a warmish room. Maybe an air conditioner that could just take the bite out of the cold of the night air. Once again be very careful that she doesn't overheat or throw the blankets off and then get cold. Also, if she is having difficulty, then most asthmatics prefer to sleep on a wedge that lifts their upper body up at an angle. "The inclination of the upper body is recommended by health professionals to facilitate breathing. For example, when a child is congested and has breathing difficulties, sleeping in an inclined position is a proven solution. " (from a pillow website but also corroborated by other websites). Looking at ways that may improve her immune system is also something that you can look into. NB Most importantly never be afraid to ring the ambulance. Usually we don't like to bother them but ambulances do understand that, when it comes to asthma and children, they are more than happy to come and help. Also, if you ever do end up in hospital - it's cold there - so bring a blanket or warm clothes. Wishing you and your daughter all the best!

[Hidden]

6 puffs of salamol a day does sound a lot, normally the symptoms should be controlled by the clenil or preventer inhaler.

You need to ask your doctor why this is and possibly push to see a specialist if you havent already.

The only sensible way to reduce the medication is by avoiding the triggers, I would get some blood test done for igE response and then you will probably have a better idea of the triggers.

You say she gets worse in the winter so probably house dust mite allergy will be a trigger and is one of the most common, In the winter windows get shut and the heating goes on this is a perfect for dust mites to multiply.

[Nanny1086]

I’m so sorry to hear that your daughter has been diagnosed with Asthma ,I real,y wouldn’t like to offer advice on this as my Asthma didn’t develop until I was age 45 , as for Montelukast, I was told I could take mine in a morning as I had terrible side effects taking it at night ,,,ie: nightmares and insomnia ,

I hope your daughter gets the best care and health practitioners possible.best wishes

[Benboon]

Try cutting dairy from her diet. Also gluten helped me no end. Takes a few weeks for it all to get out of body. My eczema went also