Why would an asthmatic need a blood test?

[KatyMac]

Please?

Do you need more info.....I have lots

Is it a blood gases type one?

Do they take theophyllines?

Is there anything else eg anaemia?

Potassium levels if on oral steroids?

Difficult to know without a lot more detail....

I don't know DH went to the appt

The report I have is that "DD (13) has grown 6cms since March which the asthma nurse says is a lot & her peak flow hasn't gone up at all so she needs a blood test"

More info please. Treatment required, where on height charts, whose managing asthma etc. do you know what blood tests. Highly unlikely to be a blood gas only done in very serious acute situations.

I get them often. The last one was something to do with white cell count.

I have brittle asthma.
Yy to gasses only done in serious situations. I hate those ones.

Umm

OK never again will I let DH do the asthma nurse trip but,

she is 157cms and was 151 in March, during the same time she has put on about 17-20lbs

She rarely if ever has 'asthma attacks' just problems when she has a cold/chest infection

The asthma nurse watches her reasonably carefully was on 6 weekly appt but on 3 monthly since Mar as everything has been so good, she sees the hospital about 12 monthly but 2 yrs ago was going 3 monthly

She takes singulair, purple one (forget it's name) & ventolin and sometimes a beconase spray

Her peak flow is approx 240 with a low of 210 and a high of 280 over the last month

She recently started massive amounts of exercise/training which the AN is really pleased about

2 yrs ago (as of now) she was in the middle of a very bad patch and she had oral steroids 3 times with one prescription lasting nearly 3 weeks

Is that enough background? I'm going to have to wait until Friday aren't I? & I won't be able to google then.

My son is on exactly the same treatment he takes two puffs of seratide 125 (purple inhaler) twice a day, one singulair, brycanyl (equivalent to ventolin) before all exercise and them two to three times a week because his chest gets tight. Like your DD in between colds/flu etc he is well. When he has a cold he drops like a stone peak flow falling by 40% immediately and takes about 6 weeks to come back to normal. He is currently on the maximum dose of seratide without causing serious side effects but as he gets bigger this becomes less of a problem. He is currently 160 cm and has a peak flow of 450 this is better than many non asthmatics.
IMHO and I thought this was NICE guidelines (I'm might be wrong) all children with this level of asthma should be monitored by a paediatrician particularly if you are not getting good under control. They are certainly meant to be seen at least twice a year because of the side effects of the medication; primarily its effect on growth and to monitor symptoms poor control also effects growth. There are a variety of blood tests that could be being ordered by your nurse. !. a normal full blood count looking for signs of anaemia, infection and also blood chemistry. 2. A test for allergies this is called a RAS test but is usually done after a consultation with a paediatrician that specialises in allergies. If you are failing to get good control of symptoms then this test can tell if you are allergic to the pet dog for example and is different and more accurate than a a skin test. Thirdly seretide can suppress the amount to natural steroid produced by the adrenal glands but this test takes all morning and is usually done in a children's day ward/clinic. Generally health care professionals don't order blood tests unnecessarily on children. But before going ahead with this test if I was you I would find out what its for, exactly what they are looking for and most importantly will it make any difference to how your child's asthma is managed. Finally if your are not getting good control on the level of treatment you are using then I would suggest that you request a referral to your local paediatrician you are entitled to this, boys often get a significant improvement in their symptoms as they go through puberty but girls can often get worse. Remember GP's get paid for those asthmatics they manage themselves. Hope this helps.

Thanks HappyGardening

She does go to the hospital, but they seemed to think a level peak flow was OK so reduced visits

I've been unhappy for a while but I'll get it sorted on Friday

DD is an severe asthmatic. She has regular blood tests, the last lot were to look to see if she's allergic to cats, dogs or trees; to look at the immunity to HiB and tetanus, a full blood count and something else that escapes me right now. Blood tests are pretty much a part of her hospital clinic appointments. She has had ABG taken but only in A&E when she's had a big flare up (and once or twice on the ward when she's been admitted after a big attack).

Thanks for the info

It was a genetic test she had.

But I can't remember the name