So worried about poor ds

[lurcherlover]

ds is 18mo and 2 months ago had a chest infection, and was prescribed antibiotics. The dr also gave us ventolin but said to only use it if he was wheezing at night. He wasn't, so we didn't. He's had a cough ever since - I took him back but was told it was normal for a cough to linger after a chest infection. Today he had signs of an ear infection so we went back and saw a different gp, and while there I mentioned his cough. The gp examined him and said he was concerned he had untreated asthma which was quite severe and that we should be using the ventolin daily. He told us to use it 4 times a day and has also prescribed steroids. The worst is, he said ds' ribs have a deformity as they are being pulled in by the extra effort he's making to breathe. I did notice his ribs looked a bit sunken, but o have a depressed sternum myself and my own ribs are an odd shape, so I had just assumed he'd inherited that from me. Now I feel so guilty that I should have been using this inhaler two months ago. Does anyone know if this deformity is likely to be permanent or if it might get better in time if the asthma is controlled?

How's his breathing? Is he breathing fast? Does the inhalour make it better?
The sunken in rib thing is usually when they re working hard to get air in there're are videos on u tube with examples.
Has the gp referred your son to anyone?

Did the gp check his oxygen saturation today?

His breathing is a bit fast but not excessive or laboured. The deformity isn't just on breathing, it's there all the time. It's the actual shape of his ribs that's changed.

DS had a long spell of poorly controlled asthma and his ribs flared as a result, he's now 20 and although I haven't seen his bare chest recently I don't think the deformity shows any more.

If the shape is there all the time I would suspect this is more of a congenital thing. Prob the shape of his chest since birth. It prob not caused by the asthma but more likely that the shape of his chest is not helping his asthma. Dont beat yourself up about it. Hope he has a settled night for you. If you are still concerned about it go back to speak with your own gp after the weekend.

I'm pretty sure his chest hasn't always had this shape - from a bit of googling it sounds like a harrison's groove, if anyone has experience of this?

Dr wants to see him again on Monday.

If your worried would ask for a referral, my DTs have both had hospital admissions for persistent coughs that have gone on to pneomonia infection so I'm a bit paranoid.
The things that the told me to look for was,
Fast breathing
Grunting
Nasel flaring
Ribs and neck pulling in.
Hopefully the inhalour will start working but please take him back if it doesn't.

sorry never heard of that. Hope someone else can advise x

do you mean his chest dips inwards? if so my ds3 has this i think its called pigeon chest or something, anyway i do know that in america they are a bit mad about it and operate, in the uk they only treat it if its very bad and a health risk but in the us they operate for cosmetic reasons!!

my ds3 is 7 and his was checked out and they decide he is fine, its very noticeable when he doesnt have a top on, more so as he has got taller and skinnier, but it doesnt cause him any problems.

To me it sounds like you have seen two gps who gave advice at the opposite ends of the scale.

Ventolin shouldn't be used as a regular treatment, just as an "as and when" thing when he is struggling (could be wheezing, coughing, breathless etc) the steroid inhaler is the one to use regulary.

I do think you need a referral for a proper diagnosis and treatment/management plan......

My 18mo was diagnosed with asthma at 15 months after 7 hospital admissions with bronchiolitis and chest infections, as far as I can see he has no problems with his ribs so I wouldn't beat yourself up about it, he has probably always been like this but as you are now aware of it, and if anything like me constantly paranoid about his breathing you are looking for new this that otherwise you would not be concerned about!
If you are concerned about his breathing then count the amount of breaths per minute, for his age if it's anything over 30 breaths per minute then get him on the inhaler 4 puffs every 4 hours, if it's anything over 50 And he is is struggling, like tugging in the throat or ribs then he need attention
My DS now has a consultant and on a daily steroid inhaler and he has massively improved and not needed and oxygen or nebulisers or the ventolin for over 12 weeks!! Xxx

hi there my daughter (5) has a Harrison's groove after numerous chest infections during the first 3 years including a pneumonia all due to being born with a congenital birth defect (www.tofs.org.uk) which along with problems swallowing can also mean they are very likely to suffer with their chest. Her respiratory consultant examines her chest every time we see him and he says it is improving as her chest problems are now controlled much better - although for several years they weren't. My experience of GPs and chest things is that it can be incredibly hard for the GP to hear whether there is indeed an infection. It took us until DD was 3.5 to get a referral to a respiratory consultant and the change in these last few years has been amazing. Everything is so much better controlled now. After DD had her pneumonia we were advised to take her back if any cough persisted after 4 weeks and regardless of what the GP heard she was to have a chest xray. Obviously you don't want your DS to have unnecessary xrays BUT if you think his breathing is not quite right still and he is coughing and/or he has any sort of temperature I would be asking for him to be sent for an xray to put your mind at rest. If they think he has asthma pretty seriously which seems to be what they are suggesting then I would definitely be pushing for a respiratory referral.