does anyone know much about asthma?

[NappiesGaloriaInExcelsis]

ive never had it, nor known anyone well who did, so i dont know anything much about it, how to recognise it etc.

last night angus, 3 next month, woke up crying and upset, and struggling to get his breath in. he was coughing, sounded like barking (so i assumed croup, not that i know much at all about that either).
his coughing was making him bring up yellowy gunk from his lungs and his in breaths were really dragged in iyswim. his heart was going a mile a minute and his chest pulled in with every in breath.

i just cuddled and tried to calm him, he wanted to go back to sleep once his initial panic was over and managed to once he had calmed down sufficiently.

i know about the steam thing for croup, but A, he was really upset at being held in the bathroom, which is where i took him to spit up his retchings at first, and B, ive read its a myth that it helps.

does this sound like croup to you or should i be looking into asthma?

thanks

I would phone NHS direct to be sure.

I'd phone NHS direct but sounds more like chest infection than asthma.

My husband has chronic asthma- and I thin its unlikely to just calm down etc so quickly...

i'll take him to the doc on monday rather than phone nhs direct, nowt they can do really. hes ok this morning, not about to croak or anything.

how quickly is quickly, GY? it took a fair old while for him to calm down enough to go back to sleep and he was still dragging his breath in when he was asleep...

Doctor can't diagnose asthma in someone so young but they will give you advice. Asthma is very prevalent in my family. My brother had asthma before inhalers were in common use. My mum used to massage his back then do little chopping massage on his back to move the mucus from the lungs. My Ds was like this when he was younger but it seemed to disappear maybe that was coup but I of course was worried it was asthma. Good luck hope little one feels better soon

yes starbear, thats what i was doing; cuddling and rubbing/gently hitting his back to help his move the stuff off his lungs.

i think theres little point in taking him to a doctor when the symptoms are not present so i will take him down to a&e in the night next time its bad.

thanks for all posts, all insights v welcome indeed.

Good luck

Sounds more like a chest infection than asthma - has he been off colour for a few days or had a cough or temperature?

Asthma usually causes a dry cough, wheeze and shortness of breath (not necessarily all three together). Secretions are usually clear, not yellow.

If he is unwell today, has a temp and is still coughing up yellow grot I would contact the out of hours service today rather than wait until tomorrow. He may need antibiotics which you could get cracking with asap.

Agree - sounds more like a chest infection - which can be easily treated with ABs.

I am sorry - I think that you perhaps should have sought medical attention last night if he was really pulling in between his ribs with each breath. Toddlers with a chest infection can go downhill very rapidly.

Please take him to the walk in centre/out of hours service TODAY. There is a point in takin ghim when his symptoms are not present. If it is a chest infection he NEEDS treatment and although he is obviously worse at night the Dr will listen to his chest with a stethoscope and will be able to hear if it is a chest infection - or if he is wheeing - even if you can't.

Just seen this how is he doin now?