asthma and ibuprofen and chicken pox

[pantshavenames]

DS has chicken pox fairly badly and spent all yesterday with a temperature which we were dosing with alternate calpol and ibuprofen when Dh noticed the instructions said that you should consult your doctor about giving ibuprofen to asthmatic children. DS has a inhaler and has had a couple of asthma attacks in the last year but I would imagine that they would be classed as mild. Last night though he woke up every hour complaining of breathlessness and sounded really wheezy so used his inhaler quite a lot. He still had a temperature but we only gave him calpol and now he's really itchy and I've just looked at the instructions on the piriton syrup and that says the same.
so... should I not give him either the ibuprofen or the piriton, and should I get the doctor to have a look at him and what can I give him for the itching in the meantime?
help.....

itching is normal with chicken pox. calamine lotion/tepid baths with oatmeal/porridge oats in muslin/old tights helps.

it sounds like his asthma flares with ibuprofen so you're right to with-hold it.

I have an allergic (asthmatic) reaction to aspirin and ibuprofen, and because our dds have asthma I have been told not to give it to them either.

It does sound as though your ds has had a reaction to it. I would mention it next time he sees dr or asthma nurse.

I didn't know that about Piriton, in fact I have to carry it around because dd2 has random allergic reactions, and dd1 was prescribed it by a paediatrician for her asthma when she was younger.

The fever might help him get better to be honest. Ceryainly should help to fight infections. Good advice re bath bicarb also i think oats in the bath help?

Ibuprofen can trigger attacks in some susceptible people with asthma, but certainly not all. It depends entirely if it has done so in the past, but if it seems to be aggravating the asthma then he may be one. I agree that you need to be aware that pnuemonia is a complication of c.p. so any cough, breathing difficulties etc needs immediate attention. Piriton is not known to aggravate asthma specifically.

Thanks for all your advice. I rang NHS direct who told me to stop giving him the ibuprofen and to see if he improved, If he doesn't then I should take him to the GP. Alarmingly she tried to find me a walk-in centre as she said that the GP may refuse to see him . he seems better than in the night so I'll just see. She didn't seem to know anything about piriton but at the moment I'm slathering him in calamile cream and that seems to be working.
beammeupscotty I hardly ever use ibuprofen on him as he doesn't like the taste and normally calpol works on it's own so I'm not sure whether he's had reactions to it in the past. Interestingly, she said she didn't advise giving calpol and ibuprofen together anyway because if the fever doesn't come down after one, it's a serious enough fever to take the Gp's anyway.
It's just a shame- I have a week off work and we had lots of fun stuff planned and now he's on the sofa watching power rangers and looking all floppy and my god he's got spots on spots.

This is the info on Piriton :-

www.medicines.org.uk/EMC/medicine/16105/SPC/Piriton+Syrup/

this is what is says specifically regarding asthma:

Chlorphenamine, in common with other drugs having anticholinergic effects, should be used with caution in epilepsy; raised intra-ocular pressure including glaucoma; prostatic hypertrophy; severe hypertension or cardiovascular disease; bronchitis, bronchiectasis or asthma; hepatic impairment. Children and the elderly are more likely to experience the neurological anticholinergic effects and paradoxical excitation (eg. Increased energy, restlessness, nervousness).

To interpret all that stuff above - it just says use with caution as it may cause them to have the jitters, it wont cause asthmatic attacks. Have a word with your GP though its really the ibuprofen which is actually dangerous in some people. Most people don't have a problem with piriton short term and it is very good for itching.