Asthma in 23 month old

[gingerninja85]

Our DD has been ‘diagnosed’ with suspected asthma today, she’s 23 months old. Feeling gutted but also a bit relieved that we’ve potentially got an answer for why she suffers with colds so badly. We’ve had a terrible Christmas, 11 days of tonsillitis and coughing so badly every night That’s sheS vomiting. She’s had two doses of steroids in those 11 days (and had croup about 8 times since 8 months old).

I’m a bit lost about what it all means for her and the management of it. We’ve got a brown and a blue inhaler. I think we’ve got to give the brown one twice a day (I’m assuming morning and before bed?) and the blue one as and when we need it.

Does anyone have any advice for me? how many should I have? Do I need to have the blue inhaler with us at all times? (She’s never had an ‘atttack’, how do I clean the spacer? Etc etc

I can't answer many of the questions but yes, please keep the blue one with you at all times and if anyone else looks after her, they need to know when and how to use it as well.

Have you noticed any particular triggers? My DSis had it quite bad as a child and swimming, cow's milk and dust mites seemed to make her worse.

The brown inhaler should be morning and night time yes, ideally do it before brushing teeth. You can clean the spacer just with warm soapy water, but let it air dry rather than using paper towel etc, as the static can mean fibers of the cloth can stick in the spacer. I'd advise keeping the blue inhaler and spacer with you until you understand better what her triggers etc are. It's really common for children under 5 who get wheezy when they get colds etc to grow out of it as they get bigger, or to only need the preventer inhaler in winter, but obviously be led by the drs on when to try stopping it etc.

The blue inhaler won't help with croup, so if you think she has croup again in the future, you should get her checked out again as you've been doing.

Have they shown you how to use the inhaler with the spacer? If you need a spare one you should be able to get them from the pharmacy.

My DS was diagnosed young as well. Spacer just needs washing with washing up liquid and rinse thoroughly. He coped really well and only needed steroids a couple of times when he was quite bad. When we got it under control he didn’t need the brown steroid one twice a day as much, but yes we had blue inhalers in each car, nursery office, nursery bag. We had an Automir blue inhaler which clicks shut when used and my DS is now 26 and still has the same inhaler and unfortunately he never grew out of it, but is very well managed it’s lovely not hearing them coughing at night.

Hi, just wanted to let you know that I know how you feel. My son is now 15 but still carries his ventolin (blue one) in his school bag, gym bag etc.
Every time he had a cold, it went straight onto his chest & I spent years sitting up with him when coughing at night time. Just had a few of those nights over Christmas. It's relentless & exhausting.

Try to keep them raised quite high at night( if they are using a pillow). Hot steamy showers often help my teen. He always wore a balaclava type hat when he was younger in the play ground (winter time)to prevent the cold air irritating his airways. I hope your little one stays well coming into the new year. X

My 26 month old has recently been "diagnosed" with suspected asthma as well and I have found it quite overwhelming. We do brown inhaler morning and night (originally told one puff, now he has to have 2 puffs) and blue one as and when. We only need to use the blue one when he has a cold/cough. His coughing is horrific when he has a virus - I always associated asthma with wheezing, which he doesn't seem to do thankfully. I really hope they grow out of it. I've heard of a lot of children in this age group having similar issues this autumn/winter.

Hey, it does feel daunting to start with but it’ll all soon be second nature. I echo what the posters above have said.
my son was diagnosed in the summer this year and since having the clenil inhaler (yellow/ brown) he’s barely suffered with croup (touch wood).
Our asthma nurse sent some links which were really helpful and are helpful when he’s poorly too.
www.what0-18.nhs.uk

www.gateshead.gov.uk/media/3325/The-Little-Orange-Book/pdf/Little-orange-book-NHS-March-2017.pdf

Our GP prescribed montelukast granules for our now 28 month old and it really helped whenever he started to get wheezy and unwell. Keep the blue inhaler with you at all times. Also keep a supply of a few at home