uncontrolled asthma in a 4 year old

[cedmonds]

HI
My son who is four has had asthma since he was tinny. Last year it was really bad this time of year and he also got swine flu which led him to get phueioma(sp).
He has not had his asthma controlled now for a month he has had so much time of school because of it at least one day a week. He went to fireworks on Friday in the rain and seemed fine and then went to a birthday party yesterday and came home a bit wheezy. He woke in the nigh which a high temp which came down with calpol. He was then really wheezy during the night and was going blue around his lips. He got better with lots of Ventolin. his morning he was still wheezy. I then took him to the out of hours doctors at our local hospital. The said his chest was very wheezy. They just said it was a virus and said to go home and bring him back is he got worse. He has just flopped all day and watched DVDS.They have given him oral steroids in the pass and have said that he could of have them again if he was wheezy which he was. I just don't understand when they said he could of had them if he was wheezy which he is so why not give them to him. Sorry for the long post just really worried about him he is not right at all cant breath properly just lying there.

Hi
Thanks watercress it helped to make my mind up to take him to a+e. He had a nebuliser and the diffence in him was amazing he has never responded that quick. He went from being grey and not abole to talk to a chatty boy again. He has got an appointment tonight to check his meds and he might be kept in over night to observe him but they had no beds for him last night.(shock)

Its happened before there my siser had fratuced her skull and they didnt pick up on it and sent her home it wasnt untill she was really ill that they realsised. It a hospital that covers a really big area and has no money.

Sorry about spelling i am really tried and dyslexic

hi hope your wee one is feeling better today. 4 years old is too young for doing peak flows - not an accurate assessment of lung function for this age group. Singulair - a chewy tablet taken at night works well for kids and adults who also have allergies as it dampens the allergic reaction( in a different way to anti histamines) , there is also some combination inhalers - symbicort and seretide - the former I think is liscensed for 4 years and above , if there is an asthma trained nurse at your surgery - ask to see her/him. The national asthma campaign also have lots of info . BTW 25 puffs of salbutamol = 1 nebulised salbutamol. Not easy to use a spacer with a wee who is breathless and knackered - do you have a mask with your spacer?

My DD1 has been doing peak flows since before her 3rd birthday quite effectively. Ditto using an inhaler and spacer without a mask. It is possible, but I think you need a good asthma nurse to demonstrate it (and my line of work means I can provide a lot of support at home, I suppose).

cedmonds glad your DS is doing better. Good luck at getting a long term management plan for him that works.

Hi
Said to GP about peak flows and they would not do them. They also will not change his medication either, they listen to his chest and said it was clear which is good but his o2 levels were a bit on the low side. One minute they are saying to give ventolin and the next sayiing not to. I have no idea which way to go with him now has anyone known of a child who is finding it very hard to breath and night and very tight chested and then there chest seems clear during the day but the child is still not well?

I called the peads and they will not see him and eariler. I have the email of the asthma nurse st the hospital so i emailed her and she has said she can not see him unless gp wirtes a letter even though she as seen him since a baby untill march this year.
Any ideas would be great really streesed about it at the mo which is not helping ds.

Thanks the GP Just made me feel like i was wasting their time. Last year i took a video of him bad at night so the believed me.
Thank God for MN at least i can get advice on here. I have raised his bed up. I have just checked him and he seems not to bad at the moment but he has got steam in there.Hows your DD pixie i read that every one elso has got a cold hope she doesnot get it.

I am so shocked at the treatment (or lack of it) for your child. (i'm an asthma nurse and mother of dd age 4 with asthma). Contact asthma uk , just type it into google. They have nurses on line who can advise you.

Hi
Tulip i tried to contact them today but the lines were busy every time i tried. I guess its a bad time of year at the mo and there is so much going on. I just seems strange that he is ony getting bad at night and seems just under the weather during the day as long as he has his vetolin. There is a part tim DR that has been really good with him so i might see him on weds as he only works one day a week.

Hi Pixie
He is a bit better he was coughing etc but did not wake up with it untill about three. He is on the list to be observed over night at the hospital so just waiting for a free bed. He has gone to school for the morning and i have asked them to contact me if he needs any meds. I have got an appointment with the nice gp tomorrow and going the be firm with them and try and get things changed.
HOws your dd