If inhaler helps, does it mean it's asthma ?

[asthmaqu]

I've tried googling, but it's a tough one to google. I know so many mums on here have expedience with asthma and inhalers, I'm a newbie.

My son is 18 months and has had pretty bad coughs since he was only 7-8 weeks old. ( think throwing up from coughing etc ).

Recently the doctor prescribed an inhaler to use when he gets a cough.

Last night he got a really really bad cough, he just did not stop coughing and was starting to gag / almost throw up from it, so I gave him the inhaler. He absolutely hates it, but that's another matter. I managed to put it over his mouth and nose for 10 seconds and he definitely got some.

After 20 minutes or so, his cough has completely stopped.

I am so grateful. He's now got a little fever too, but isn't coughing.

I also only did one dose of the inhaler because he was so distraught and about to throw up, but it's helped so much. I'm just so happy something is helping.

If the inhaler helps, does that mean asthma is more likely ? Or does an inhaler help with all coughs ?

when my DC were younger they all had blue inhalers prescribed for when they had a bad cold because the cough would stay for weeks and weeks and prevent them sleeping or even resting at times. It doesn’t mean they had asthma I don’t think, they have never been offered reviews with the asthma clinic and as they’ve grown older it’s no longer a problem.

Forgot to say that during Covid I actually purchased an inhaler from an online pharmacy just in case and have continued to do so. If anyone gets a cough/cold it just helps stop the continuous coughing and we’ve all used it when needed.

Dd was the same and the GP said that the fact the inhaler worked was diagnostic of asthma, However lots of children have asthma as young children but grow out of it. DD only needed the inhaler in the winter and by the time she was 7 she didn’t need it any more.

No, doesn't mean he necessarily has asthma. If he has a viral infection (likely as he now has a temp) then his airways can become irritated and inflammed. The inhaler works to dilate and open the airways to ease the irritation and allow more air in.

Young children can present with wheeze due to viral infections due to their airways being so narrow. Asthma is not generally diagnosed until age 5 as it isn't easy to tell if a child is actually asthmatic or prone to viral induced wheeze. If he is generally well in between bouts of viral illness then he will likely grow out of it. However if he is frequently struggling with coughing fits when not unwell then it is possible. Worth talking to your GP about but it is likely they will say that he is too young to tell. I know it is nerve wracking worrying about their breathing, my older DD was the same as a toddler and was admitted to hospital a few times with viral induced wheeze. She is now nearly 6 and had no issues since she was 3. And she still catches plenty of coughs and colds!

Not necessarily. My Dd had an inhaler from around 10 months to 3 years old. She caught virus after virus from nursery and would cough constantly.

She’s 10 now and doesn’t have asthma but on the rare occasion she has a bad cough I have given her a puff of my inhaler (I do have asthma) but she’d be fine without it.

A lot of my friends DC had inhalers when they were little but don’t now.

No. Children are prone to viral induced wheeze. Inhalers treat bronchospasm (narrowing of the airways), we use it for many patients that don't have asthma

The Asthma UK website has lots of great advice or you can call the helpline and talk to one of the nurses. There will be videos about using spacers / inhalers with small children.

Thanks everyone. I'm just surprised if it works so well, why they haven't prescribed it until now and why not everyone gets one for a bad cough ?

It's unbelievably effective !