Wheeze in toddler - when to see doctor & how to get to take inhaler!

[Busby88]

My 21 month old has had a couple of incidences of wheezing at the onset of a virus. First time we panicked and took him to hospital but by the time we were there he was absolutely fine. They did prescribe us an inhaler if it happened again.

A few months ago he ended up back at A&E with it again, this time with a chest infection that took two lots of antibiotics and steroids to clear.

However aside from that it is usually just a one off wheezing episode at the start of a virus and he is otherwise well in himself, no signs of sucking in ribs or anything just a loud wheeze.

It happened again tonight so I gave him his inhaler and have put him back to bed as it seems to have passed but now just wondering if I should be contacting the doctor tomorrow regardless of how he is to let them know. Basically wondering if I’m underplaying it by not seeking medical attention each time it happens.

And then secondly how on Earth do you get them to keep the spacer on for 10 seconds as I have to pin him down and he cries hysterically and it’s still nowhere near 10 seconds!

You need a spacer for the inhaler or for them to switch to a 'tablet' form.

Adults often don't take the inhalers properly, for an adult you need to start inhaling then press the inhaler, then keep inhaling and then hold your breath as long as possible. If you can taste it or see 'smoke' then it isn't being inhaled.

Impossible for a toddler.

A spacer means you press the inhaler and the dose goes in to the spacer, it then sits there until you breath in from the inhaler. You can add a face mask too.

Sorry you have been trying without the correct equipment.

Sorry yes I do have the inhaler but can’t keep it on his face for 10 seconds

Can you bribe him with smarties or chocolate drops?

Practice blowing out birthday candle? Take a big breath and then blow out?

Does the inhaler have a valve? If it does the salbutamol (guessing that is what it is) stays in the inhaler so you could try getting him to take 5 big breaths.

Sorry I'm not helping much, as I said adults struggle.

With the spacer, we sing "12345, once I caught a fish alive ..." This distracts my DD and we can get her to do lots of nice big puffs.

I'd make a GP appointment so they can give you instructions on how to use it, how many puffs to give etc.

Practise it during moments when you don't need it. He does it on you, on teddies etc, without actually pressing the button. Big fuss after the count.