What does this peak flow mean?

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Posting for traffic.

Dd 8 has been coughing constantly since October last year.

Dr has tried treating her for GERD but no improvement.

Now she's been given a peak flow, best reading 330 yesterday and tonight reading at 200.

Not sure if I should be worrying here? She's only been doing the peak flow for 4 days

She's also in pain in her tummy constantly.

We're waiting on an appointment from the hospital but getting desperate and not sure if we should be worrying as much as we are really. She had covid in October and just hasn't Been well since

I don't know much about peak flow. There's just constant coughing, no wheezing or chest tightness... help please

You need to seek medical attention. Such a drop in her peak flow combined with her other symptoms as well as the fact that you are waiting for a hospital appointment are all alerting you to the fact that she needs help.

Please get it asap xx

I agree that’s a really big drop. I’d be ringing the GP first thing and keeping an eye on her tonight as a minimum. If you’re worried ring 111 that’s what they’re there for.

If the tummy pain is new, then I’d call 111 for advice. My daughter did peak flow testing for a few weeks due to suspected asthma and her readings were all over the place so that on its own wouldn’t concern me.

Readings are normally very variable especially children. Just use it as they asked you to to create a record of her normal values. Its usually worth doing best of 3 and using the best value.

You can find her expected value on a PEF graph, if you plot her height you can see what the normal value is, Google search 'child PEF chart'. For example 138cm (average 10yr old) should normally blow around 290L/min. Just record the numbers you get against time/whether she felt well or short of breath and that's likely what may assist in a treatment plan.

For what it's worth from a stranger online, I wouldn't base a decision on getting help/calling 111 etc on any value you get at all. If she feels/looks like she is worsening with her breathing/not coping with symptoms then get help/advice, don't be reassured by a 'normal for her' reading.

Conversely if her breathing/cough seems normal for her, she's not complaining of new symptoms, then I wouldn't call 111 just because an isolated attempt was low. 111 follow a flow chart to ask about her symptoms so if the only thing new is a low PEF reading then it won't fit into their algorithm and since youre calling about a child they'll most likely tell you to attend a&e. Obviously if you do feel her breathing is suddenly worsening tonight then forget 111 and just take her to a&e!

Sorry had 10yr old in my head for some reason, 8yr old average height is 128cm, gives an expected PEF of around 240L/min.

It's normal to be worried about these persistent symptoms, calm face for your daughter and try to appear relaxed so she can tell you her concerns without worrying about worrying you if that makes sense.

Keep a record of current plan from GP/conversations I.e. Who's she been referred to, when should you expect to hear from them, are there any particular signs you should watch for. Then if something is taking longer than expected, or seems to be getting worse than back to the GP.

Has the GP run a coeliac screening? DD presented with reflux at night as did l, it stopped as soon as we went gluten free after diagnosis. DD was 8 at the time

@Tomnooktoldmeto

Has the GP run a coeliac screening? DD presented with reflux at night as did l, it stopped as soon as we went gluten free after diagnosis. DD was 8 at the time

They mentioned celiacs yes, they first wanted to rule out gerd. We've done a home test for gluten sensitivity which was negative.

Her height is 54in so peak flow should be around 293 according the calculator

@SleepyRich

It's normal to be worried about these persistent symptoms, calm face for your daughter and try to appear relaxed so she can tell you her concerns without worrying about worrying you if that makes sense.

Keep a record of current plan from GP/conversations I.e. Who's she been referred to, when should you expect to hear from them, are there any particular signs you should watch for. Then if something is taking longer than expected, or seems to be getting worse than back to the GP.

Thank you, yes it's very worrying after all this time. The tummy pain started a week and half ago.

Drs had a feel and listened to chest etc. can't find anything amiss... the only good thing is aside from the ongoing cough and the tummy ache dd is generally healthy, I was thinking the cough could be responsible for the intermittent headaches and maybe some muscle pulling. The drs mentioned trying to rule things out before going for an X-ray

Shes finally asleep now, I will call the hospital tomorrow morning and try and find out when we can expect the appointment. We're all pretty much drained after months of this, feel so awful for dd. Before this she was never ill thankfully, she's just not seemed to fully recover since having covid.