Asthma experts - does this sound like asthma?

[HairyMaclary]

DS who has just turned 7 has had a cough now for over 3 months, he has had two lots of antibiotics, erythomycin and clarithromycin (he has a possible allergy to penicillin) although each time we were given them the Dr's said it didn;t sound like a chest infection. The cough has improved with the anitbiotics but then got worse again a within a week of finishing the course.

Yesterday we went for a bike ride and the minute he got off his bike he started coughing, it's worse than ever so I'm back to the Dr's today. Two Mum's at school this morning asked if he had asthma, it hadn't occurred to me - he's never had anything like this before and is generally healthy.

Does it sound familiar to you? Should I ask the Dr anything specifically? I will bring up the question of asthma but not sure if there's anything I should ask for etc... The really tricky bit is that he's due a major operation that's already had to be cancelled once at the last minute due to his cough and we are expecting a new date any day now - I really need him to get better so if anyone has any other ideas I'd be really pleased to hear them!

Thanks

Back from the Dr's. She said no to asthma but only asked what he was like before he was ill, ie was his breathing ever laboured when exercising? But she only wanted to know prior to this bout of illness, surely if it is asthma it wouldn't necessarily have shown before now, all the things she asked he hasn't done before but does do now.

Her consensus is that it's a viral infection and the cough is exacerbated by a post nasal drip. After reading what you have said liger I'm now not so sure. He does seem to have developed a cold over the course of this morning so I will watch and wait for the time being.

I will look into the flu jab too for next winter. I think both he and I are eligible.

Flu jabs are only given to asthmatics if they are on steroid inhalers.

If your not happy then ask for a second opinion, or keep a diary of any problems he has so you can go back with it if it continue to be a problem.

Interesting different approaches from GPs. I am sure there is reasoning behind it, but our GP, when presented with DS, basically said that we could spend forever trying to recreate breathing difficulties to prove asthma, or he could try a reliever (salbutamol) and see if it made a difference. It did, and she was satisfied with that as "proof" of mild, exercise-induced asthma.

Ooo that does surprise me a bit. What tests did the GP do to rule it out?

I'm not an expert, as I say Ds1 was only diagnosed 18 months ago, but I have learnt a lot in that time. Check out the Asthma UK website too for symptoms, I remember finding that useful.

Yes Stealth, our GPs diagnosis of asthma was based as much on the inhaler working to ease Ds1's symptoms as much as the symptoms themselves.

Also, perhaps your surgery has an 'asthma nurse' or more specialist GP for Asthma. Ask specifically who is more experienced. All Gp's are not equal.

A cough alone can be a sign of asthma but in a 7 year old I'd also expect to see some chest tightness, shortness of breath, and/or wheeze as well.

I'd make an appointment with the asthma nurse also and ask about the possibility of doing daily peak flow readings - if it is asthma you should see some significant variability over the course of a couple of weeks between morning and evening readings.