My DD aged 12 was diagnosed with asthma aged 18 months, and from then until aged 11, we had every winter with inhalers every time she had a cold, she's had steroids on a couple of occasions for bronchialitis, but it seems like she is now growing out of it. I took DS aged 6 months to the doctor yesterday as he has had a stinking cold for a week and was really unwell. Was given an appt with a nurse practioner, who listened to his chest, and said "Yes, he has asthma" and prescribed an inhaler. Didn't look in his throat, or check his ears. This is a child that had never been to the doctor at all in the whole of his life, and the first cold he has is asthma!? Decided to get a second opinion and went to see a doctor today, and she agreed with me that it was a bit hasty handing out inhalers for his first cold, and other options of steam in his room, vapour rub on his chest and calpol for his temperature would be better. The thing that has upset me it that this nurse practioner is supposed to be for minor ailments, i wouldn't class asthma as a minor ailment, if she thought that he had asthma shouldn't i have seen a doctor rather than her handing out salbutamol like smarties?
Maybe i am over reacting, but i don't think you should be prescribing strong drugs to little bodies unless you have really good reason to??
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General health
Why do GP Surgeries hand out inhalers like smarties?
3 replies
ZacharyZoo · 01/11/2006 15:57
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