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Asthma in 8 month old

5 replies

Vie8126 · 22/03/2022 15:13

I have a nearly 8 month old ds who had covid when 6 weeks old which resulted in him being blue lighted to hospital with breathing difficulties. Since then his been hospitalised with several breathing/coughing related incidents told its bronchiolitis, chest infection, viral etc.
He started coughing again Friday worse at night and wheezing. I managed to get him to see GP yesterday before it took too much of a hold. The gp coukd hear the wheezing before he even listened closely to his chest and said given his history and the family history in dps side he likely has asthma and prescribed reliever and preventer inhalers and a spacer. We've had the reliever and spacer for short periods before when he had bronchiolitis.

He hates the spacer like screams fights kicks hates it. Does he need to use it as he likely will take more in if puffed directly near/in his mouth if he does need the spacer how can I make it more comfortable? What does everyone else do to get a baby to take a pump?

My dm also said that I shouldn't be letting ds become reliant on these things and that he likely doesn't have asthma as it cannot be diagnosed correctly until age 4. I looked and it seems like he has the symptoms but could it potentially be wrong at his young age, should I require a second opinion?

Obviously I'll continue with the drs advice as that's the diagnosis I have but having little experience with asthma I wondered if dm was correct (not that she has any experience either!)

OP posts:
cantthinkofabetterusername · 22/03/2022 15:16

It's true that it can't be diagnosed until they're older, my 6 year old had bronchiolitis twice and suffered with her chest when she was a baby. We were given inhalers to use when she had bronchiolitis and I was convinced she'd be asthmatic as I am but she isn't. I'd continue to use them if that's what the doctor has advised

fairgame84 · 22/03/2022 15:20

You have to use the spacer as it directs the medication into the lungs. Otherwise it sits on the tongue and throat.
Little ones hate the spacer but they will get used to it and it will get easier. At least if he's screaming he's breathing in the medication.

It's very unusual to diagnose it at 8 months and especially for a gp to diagnose it so early. The youngest I've seen was 10 months but he was very severely asthmatic and under consultant care.

Your DM is correct that its not usually diagnosed in under 4s because of the prevalence of viral wheezes, however he can't become 'reliant' on inhalers. If they help then continue to use them. Regardless of whether it's asthma or viral, inhalers are used to treat wheeze.

Does your local hospital have a children's asthma or respiratory nurse that you can contact for advice? I would also ask the gp to refer your baby to a paediatrician if they are diagnosing asthma at this age.

Vie8126 · 22/03/2022 17:06

@fairgame84 @cantthinkofabetterusername thank you both. Understand now re the spacer! I just wasn't sure what it was for and in my sleepless state forgot to ask with GP. Yes I saw online it's normally older so was surprised he said it but he just read his history asked for family history I only know that my dsd has pumps and several hospitalisations for breathing issues as a youngster and that mil has said there's a 'weak chest' in there side of the family which was all I could tell him he said these combined meant asthma! I am ofc treating with the pumps as directed and will continue to do so as it does seem to improve matters considerably.

Thanks for the advice re referral not knowing until after that it was too young I wasn't sure what to ask for. It's all so tricky at the moment my childminder doesn't want his pumps going back and forth and wants a set to keep on site and the receptionists refused saying he only prescribed them yesterday he won't give you spares yet Confused

OP posts:
fairgame84 · 22/03/2022 17:18

@Vie8126
The gold standard is reliever inhaler (usually blue) at home and at school so you should be able get one for the childminder. If they say no then speak to your health visitor. I made a few phone calls to gp's about this when I was a school nurse, they said it was due to cost. Inhalers cost about £3, spacers £11 so hardly breaks the budget!

Violetmo0n · 22/03/2022 17:25

My son is older, 3, got the inhaler and spacer when he was 2. Also hated it.
I just let him play with the spacer to be honest, I'd put it to my mouth, he'd copy etc and eventually it wasn't so scary anymore.

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