breathless child

[worriedmum1]

Hi - my 7 year old son is suddenly short of breath, gulping air down in very unusual way, but there's no wheezing, he just sits on the sofa breathing heavily. No other symptoms. Is this asthma?

[Minushabens]

Hi & welcome

Possibly yes he might but don't jump too quickly to conclusions. It might be simply a chest infection for example. However, you probably should take him to see a doctor quickly if you haven't already as shortness of breath always needs attention, especially in children.

There's a long way to go though before you arrive at asthma, but the GP might try him on various medications to look at their impact & see if it's a possibility. Many areas won't give formal diagnosis of asthma in young children but may administer asthma medication all the same.

Once you've seen the GP if there's any more questions or concerns let us know. There's lots of people on here who had asthma as children, brought up or are currently bringing up children with asthma so you'll get plenty of support & advice.

I hope he soon feels better anyway.

[worriedmum1 in reply to Minushabens]

Thanks. Yes the GP was fairly confusing saying she didn't know what it was and giving us an inhaler, anti-hystamine, and a chest x-ray appointment later today. In the meantime my son has woken up coughing. We will see. Thanks for the kind advice.

[Pooka in reply to worriedmum1]

hope your son feels better soon. One thing to note is that you don't need to wheeze to have asthma. I have cough variant and very rarely wheeze. Unfortunately not all medical folks seem to recognise asthma without the wheeze. All the best x

[Minushabens in reply to worriedmum1]

It's really good news that he's got an inhaler as that will be your first big clue as to whether or not it's asthma (if his breathing improves significantly after taking it). It does sound as if your GP is taking the right approach though, which is to protect him in case it is asthma whilst trying to eliminate or confirm other possibilities.

[mason]

is your son taking any medication alergic reaction is he alergic to anythig get him to a doctors or hospital now ,

[Coastwalker]

Idea only.

Check out your boy's iron and ferritin (stored iron) levels worriedmum1, my husband's breathlessness was down to having low iron. We had to find it out ourselves. Our Doctor thought his breathlessness was down to his asthma and unfortunately doubled his asthma inhaler dose, then later thought it angina. We did a home blood test and found his iron was under range. Once he supplemented with iron his breathlessness went.

Low iron = Low Oxygen = Breathlessness.

Not saying this is what your Boy has, but just an idea to rule it out.

Also look into taking some vitamin D3, it is known to help asthma and lung conditions.

85% of us here in Uk are low or deficient in vitamin D (the sunshine vitamin.)

vitamindcouncil.com - for safe up to date doses, also for children and the illnesses affected by having low vit D or vitamin D deficiency.