DD 2.5 - asthmatic and on an inhaler. Cold has gone to her chest. Do we need to see GP tonight?

[suiledonn]

Hi, dd is 2.5. She had a bad winter last year with numerous chest infections/wheeziness. It peaked around this time last year and she ended up in hospital, diagnosed with asthma and put on a preventer inhaler. Since then she has done really well with only one attack around 7 months ago. She now has a cold which has gone to her chest. She is asleep now but breathing quite quickly. If this was last year I would definitely have called the doctor by now but she is a lot bigger and stronger now so don't know if we should try to manage with her blue inhaler and just monitor her for the night or do we need to see the doctor. She hates going to the doctor and gets really upset and it is a really stormy night out so I would hate to have to take her out in it. Sorry for long post. Anyone have any advice?

Make sure she is sleeping slightly elevated. This will help. Do you have a steamer (not sure what they are called in the UK, the thing that you put in a room that gives of steam and can put olbas oil in), put that in her room. I would just keep an eye on her, give her regular puffs with her inhaler and keep and eye out. If you went to the hospital now she will get cranky if she had no trouble breathing then she would not get seen very quickly. Just words from an long term asthmatic...winter is so much fun...(she wheezes as she fumbles around for her inhalers)

how quickly? try measure breaths per minute. Also, is she working hard?

agree with Aussielou - keep an eye on her and give blue inhaler regularly (dd1 was diagnosed at 18m, now 6yo, still get this every winter!)

If you notice her breathing getting worse or sounding grunty you can give up to 10 puffs of the blue inhaler in one go - it sounds a lot but can halt a full-blown attack.

if this doesn't work, go straight down to A&E for her to be nebulised.

Take care

around 30 respirations per minute. i checked online and this is the highest considered normal for dd's age. Have 3 week old baby feeding non stop tonight so totally stressed by it all.

I would stay home at 30 as long as her breathing wasnt really wheezy or coughing lots. Obviously you know her best. I always try 10 at home. If it doesnt relieve symptoms then off to a/e, or if she needed 10 again same. Would try for a docs appt in the morning though, may need some oral steroids.
Does she have a fever? sometimes that can increase breathing rate.

no fever. will try increasing the inhaler. only gave her 2 puffs before she went to bed. it always seems to happen at night and puts me in a dilemma about calling emergency doctor. based on previous she will probably need steroids so will see gp tomorrow. thanks everyone