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How do you know if a cough is asthmatic or just a cough?

10 replies

lukewarmcupoftea · 19/11/2010 14:02

Dd1 is on a preventer inhaler twice a day, quite a low dose, since she was hospitalised last year with a 'probable' asthma attack (probable because she's only 3 so they can't formally diagnose yet). Her trigger seems to be having a cold, and especially bad at this time of year like so many others. Before the hospitalisation, we had a couple of other a&e trips, and she spend most of last winter coughing (she seems to cough and then when it gets really out of control, on z downwards wheezy path, ie a cough is her main symptom).

She's got a cold now, and has been coughing most of the day. She's meant to be napping and I can just hear her coughing on and off. I've given her 6x blue puffs this morning, but it's not made any difference to her cough. So I'm guessing that she's actually got a cough, rather than it being asthmatic. But how do I tell? Can u tell?!

OP posts:
lukewarmcupoftea · 19/11/2010 14:12

Just gave her 2 more puffs, still coughing Sad

OP posts:
lukewarmcupoftea · 19/11/2010 14:20

.

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oldenoughtowearpurple · 19/11/2010 14:22

Definitely one for NHS direct or for your doctor. Much easier to tell with adults, i believe, so you have my sympathies.

Is she inhaling properly? do you have a spacer?

Goingspare · 19/11/2010 14:23

Does the inhaler usually make a difference? If you're concerned, ring the doctor. If she probably has asthma, they might want to check her out - they won't think you're fussing unduly. What's the maximum no. of puffs on the blue inhaler you can give her?

Pluto · 19/11/2010 14:28

yy what Goingspare and oldenough said

Goingspare · 19/11/2010 14:29

It's the dreaded Friday pm 'should I phone the doctor' zone. I should do it now, before you get into out-of-hours territory.

lukewarmcupoftea · 19/11/2010 14:35

I was just thinking I should probably ring the doc! Will do, thanks.

Ps yes the inhaler usually works a treat (unless we're destined for a real a&e incident), maximum is 10 puffs in 4 hours I think, so nowhere near that, I just didn't want to keep giving it to her for no reason if I could tell somehow that it was just a normal cough.

Bugger, meant to be going away tomorrow night for our wedding anniversary and first ever night away without the kids, going to have to cancel.

OP posts:
Goingspare · 19/11/2010 14:50
Sad
lukewarmcupoftea · 19/11/2010 21:08

The receptionist eventually let the doctor ring me, and the lovely doc let us pop in for a listen to dd's chest. She's fine, probably just a cough (for now), so that'll be why the puffer wasn't helping. Thanks all.

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Goingspare · 19/11/2010 22:13
Smile
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