Asthma in a child

[Angelbaby101]

Hi everyone I'm in need of some advice and see what others think or what advice you have to help me. My dd nearly 6 came home from school feeling sick, wouldn't eat her tea and fell asleep on and off. She had a cough all week and was snotty so I assumed it was that. I put her to bed and checked on her half an hour later and noticed she was rapidly breathing but was awake and talking so I rang 111 for advice and they told me to get her checked at a&e. She had bursts of being ok and chatting away then would rapidly breathe again. So the doctor checked her oxygen and it was really low and she started to work really hard to breathe so she was put on nebulisers. Everytime the nebuliser was removed her oxygen levels went down again. They kept her in and put her on steroids. she stayed in a couple of nights and i was told different things by different doctors and the last one said she had an infection which has spread but they dont know what infection and possible asthma. Another doctor agreed with the infection as shes wheezy, crackling etc but said shes not got asthma. Anyway before she was discharged they told me asthma cant be tested properly until a child is 7 and the readings can be inaccurate but treat it as asthma. She was given 2 inhalers and i have to do so many puffs in so many hours each day. She's never had this before. Does this sound like asthma to anyone? I just really want an answer. They've not told me if she'll need inhalers at school or anything like that. I've brought a oximeter so I can check that at home too. She's currently on 4 puffs every 8 hours now but does need it in-between. I know if she struggles to breathe to go straight to a&e or ambulance but when she was sick on Monday it was literally the breathing that made me get help otherwise I'd have assumed a cold as she get be quite poorly with colds at times. So im scared ill miss somwthing vital. I've no experience with asthma, don't know what to look for or when to seek help other than the breathing. Anyone else use the oximeter? Are they accurate? I'm sorry for all the questions I've just had so little information. Tia

I’d call your GP and ask for an asthma review with a nurse given you have been instructed by A&E to treat her “as if” she has asthma and you have asthma inhalers. The nurse can give you a crash course in what to look for and also ensure your DD is taking the inhalers properly.

The infection is probably a chest infection and will clear up. It’s a common trigger for asthma.

Thankyou for your reply. I did have a gp review who gave more antibiotics and told me continue with the inhaler as I've been instructed and has her down as probable asthma and to go back if her breathing doesn't improve but that was it. It's really nerved me because it was so scary watching her breathe like that and I'm scared that I might miss a sign that she needs go back.

Does the pulse oximeter have an adapter for children? If not, it won't be accurate and you might get really low readings.

I didn't realise this so was unnecessarily really worried about my DC's oxygen levels.

It doesn't have an adaptor but says on the box as long as the child's finger goes all the way it should be accurate so I'm not sure if what the box says is right. I actually never thought of that I thought they all read the same for everyone. Her oxygen levels hit 88 just now I gave her 4 puffs of the inhaler and the levels went up slowly to 95. She's OK in herself just slightly out of breath

Hi, I have been reading about asthma just recently as I was wondering about my own child, and something I read was that it is very common after one attack to have another. So I would not be shy about going back to A&E again if you are at all concerned. I would say 'slightly out of breath' is an OK reason to at least phone 111 because you are worried.

You will get better at managing any condition, it is difficult when it is new.

Thankyou. I gave her some extra puffs on the inhaler and the levels went back up as that's what they were doing in the hospital with the oxygen. I've been giving her the amount of puffs they asked and lowered it each day and stretching the hours. I've tried read as much as I can and it's alot to take in as I don't want to get it wrong. If she went how she was Monday night I'd definitely be going to a&e. The oximeter has helped abit because I can tell when she's slightly out of breath and she'll say she's OK but once I do the oximeter and it's low I guve her the inhaler and it goes up but she's very good at masking it a little bit.