asthma questions, need answers please

[snotdroolanddirtybums]

My ds3 has asthma and is on 2 puffs twice daily of brown inhaler and blue inhaler when required (which is all the time). he gets chest infections all the time (atleast once a month) that requires steroids and antibiotics. when he was younger the antibiotics alone would clear it but now he needs steroids too. his last infection was friday 11th march he was given the steroids and the antibiotics but they didnt completely clear it this time and now the infection is back already. can antibiotics become less effective the more they are taken? what questions should i be asking the doctor? or is this normal for an asthmatic? will all these infections be doing any damage to his lungs? hes only 3.7 years old.

[Tiggles]

Have you seen an asthma nurse? Or do you just see GP/hospital consultant?
DS2 was a bit like that except he needed steroids from very early on, then we had a massive breakthrough when we saw the asthma nurse and she watched his inhaler technique. Decided he didn't have the right sort of spacer as it didn't suit him, tried him out with lots of different ones and it made a massive difference. I also found that him taking montelukast as well as the inhalers has made a big difference.
DS3 takes montelukast and that works really well for him, in fact since he has been on it he hasn't needed steroids once - he was being admitted to hospital monthly before that.

[snotdroolanddirtybums]

No havent been seen by an asthma nurse just the GP and hospital. im not really familiar with all the different meds, just the ones he gets so im not sure what way it works. the spacer he has seems to work well in that when hes having a coughing fit the blue inhaler taken through the spacer will relieve himb it can just sometimes take a lot of puffs to do so.

hes got a docs app today to confirm what i already know is another infection so will ask about maybe changing his meds and maybe a longer dosage of steroids? he was only given a 3 day last week.

feel so bloody helpless and frustrated though as i hate seeing it get to this point all the time. surely we should be trying to prevent it getting to this point rather than just throwing antibiotics and steroids at him when it does.

[Sirzy]

Ds is 16 months and asthmatic and gets a lot of chest infections, generally a cold goes onto his chest and we end up in hopsital.

When he was 12 months they increased his brown inhaler to 3 puffs 3 times a day which has made a massive difference and he coped with his cold at home this time :) as he is still needing daily ventolin even when otherwise well they have said they will probably change his drugs again next time we go but I feel like we are finally getting somewhere.

I think if the 'normal' combinations of inhalers doesn't work then it is a case of trial and error until you find the best meds.