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Original poster

Asthma or a cough ?

19 replies

Frankie473 · 19/02/2023 17:29

my son is 17 and been given a blue and brown inhaler as suspected asthma. No peak flow tests done yet. He’s started coughing after a bonfire on Friday and not sure if this is asthma or not. Coughing for 3 days and breathless but not really bad and no wheezing. Chest tight in morning but improves with inhaler. Oxygen fine and pulse rate high at around 100-110. Using both inhalers for the last few days but feeling exhausted from coughing. Not sure what I’m meant to do. Any advice and experience with this?

OP posts:

aibutohavethisusername · 19/02/2023 17:33

Has he done a Covid test?

Original poster

Frankie473 · 19/02/2023 17:34

Yes it’ not Covid. It’s a different sort of cough that he had last month which triggered being given the inhalers

OP posts:

Original poster

Frankie473 · 19/02/2023 17:37

I’m just not sure at what point you need medical help if this is asthma and inhalers aren’t getting cough under control

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AnnieSnap · 19/02/2023 17:59

I have asthma. As a child I used to wheeze. As an adult, mine manifests itself as a cough, no wheezing. It’s not uncommon for it to be that way. If as you say, your son’s cough is relieved with the inhaler, it is asthma. They don’t relieve tiger types of cough. Sounds like his doctor is on it!

Original poster

Frankie473 · 19/02/2023 18:02

Thanks. Haven’t seen a GP about it yet. Gave inhalers without looking anymore into it. I will get back onto them but just not sure if this is like an asthma attack since cough isn’t stopping. Tightness in chest is helped by inhaler but doesn’t stop cough yet.

OP posts:

Beachhutnut · 19/02/2023 18:25

My DD has asthma and it presents as a cough.

Beachhutnut · 19/02/2023 18:25

If the cough isn't going he may need to he brown inhaler morning and night.

Original poster

Frankie473 · 19/02/2023 18:37

He’s been using the brown inhaler twice a day for the last 3 days. It’s helped a little but being slower to stop it this time than when he had same cough last time.

OP posts:

bellac11 · 19/02/2023 18:40

You can have a cough as asthma and there are lots of different types of inhalers and delivery systems for the various medications you can try. Its trial and error

But you can also have chronic cough for a number of reasons which are nothing to do with asthma, Ive had this on and off for decades.

Cotswoldmama · 19/02/2023 19:00

The brown inhaler is the preventer inhaler so you need to take it for a while to see any effect. The blue one is a treatment inhaler and should give fairly instant relief. Did they not got through anything with you? My son has asthma it started at about age 4 he ended up in hospital 3 times with a viral wheeze before being diagnosed.
We were always told that if he was having a flare up to do up to 4 puffs of the blue inhaler in one go then another 4 in 30mins to an hour if needed. If he felt he needed more than 10 within an hour then to take him to hospital, thankful after being prescribed the inhalers that's never happened. It's really well managed now and he rarely needs his blue inhaler hopefully he's growing out of it.
Our doctors surgery has a specific asthma nurse. I recommend calling your surgery and asking to book him in for a review.

timetorefresh · 19/02/2023 19:03

Is it worse at night? When I have an asthma flare up it's always much worse at night: same with my kids

Cotswoldmama · 19/02/2023 19:05

Also inhalers are much more effective when used with a spacer, you might be able to get one from a pharmacy or ask the doctor to prescribe one if he hasn't. I've just remembered with the flare ups he was given a really disgusting steroid liquid to take, which tasted vile but meant he recovered really quickly, they probably have a tablet version, which wouldn't be so bad.
If he's not improving definitely make a follow up appointment.

HundredMilesAnHour · 19/02/2023 19:07

Frankie473 · 19/02/2023 18:02

If he hasn't seen a GP, who gave him the inhalers? And why didn't they do a peak flow?

cptartapp · 19/02/2023 19:29

It can take up to a month for a preventer inhaler to be working at maximum effect.

Original poster

Frankie473 · 19/02/2023 19:45

GP have him inhalers but no other tests yet. I just wasn’t sure if this was more like an asthma attack or if this sort of breathless cough is normal with asthma .

OP posts:

AnnieSnap · 19/02/2023 22:37

Frankie473 · 19/02/2023 18:37

He’s been using the brown inhaler twice a day for the last 3 days. It’s helped a little but being slower to stop it this time than when he had same cough last time.

The brown inhaler contains a steroid to settle the lungs. It takes about 3 weeks of twice a day use to be properly effective. The blue inhaler is a reliever. It contains Salbutamol, which opens-up the airways. That is what gives instant relief. Once asthma is clearly established as the condition, it’s 2 puffs, repeated up to 9 times in an asthma attack. If there is no relief the next step is A&E. So your son needs the blue inhaler to get relief, repeated ad advised. If you are not clear on the advice for him and can’t get information from the GP straight away, ring 111 and they will advise you/him.

ConfusedNT · 19/02/2023 22:45

Sometimes my inhaler alone isn't enough to clear a cough and I need steroids as well

I can always tell when it's gone from a cough cough to an asthma issue because my lungs feel itchy

Have they given him a peak flow monitor? if not it might be useful to see of you can get hold of one to keep measuring and monitoring his peak flow

Plus you might be worth booking an appointment with the asthma nurse. they can check he's using his inhaler correctly, because it makes a massive difference, give him a spacer if he needs it, check his peak flow and write out an asthma plan so you both know exactly what to do if it gets worse and at what point you seek medical help etc e.g. I know exactly when I need to call for an ambulance, I've never needed to but its reassuring to know when I should

SgtBilko · 19/02/2023 22:46

He might have an exacerbation of his asthma. Happened to me once. My pharmacist picked it up. I ended up in A&E and then in hospital for a week. I would definitely get some advice via GP tomorrow or 111 tonight if you are worried.

WhatsitWiggle · 19/02/2023 22:51

Call your GP and ask if they have an asthma clinic / specialist nurse. They'll give you both a full lesson in asthma. My DD was the same, no wheezing but cough that didn't go away and was worse at night. Coughing means the asthma is not under control - when his asthma is controlled, he won't cough.

The brown is a preventer. Should be taken morning and night EVERY DAY. Don't stop, even when the cough goes away. It takes a 3-4 weeks to have an impact, if it's not improving after that, the dose may need to be increased. (DD needed 3 puffs twice a day to get hers under control).

The blue is more topical, so use before exercise or exertion, ideally 10-15 minutes to give it a chance to open the airways, or in the event of an attack. If he's coughing over and over and not getting.relief from the blue inhaler, go to A&E.

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