PLS HELP - HOW D I KNOW IF MY SON IS HAVING AN ASTHMA ATTACK?

[shoneshine]

DS1 aged 4 has been asthmatic since he was 2, was diagnosed this time of year. He was hospitalised when it first developed and hada terrible wheeze, needed the nebuliser and oxygen for days. Since then hes had a few occasions where hes been coughing alot or chesty, Ive taken him to the out of hours drs (after ringing nhs)and they send me away feeling like a paranoid mum! Its so hard to know how your child is feeling. Im worried right now as he usually hardly needs blue inhaler (ventolin) but has had a bad honking cough, was coughing literally every 5 seconds last nite b4 bed and inhaler made no difference. He isnt coughing much now but was asking for inhaler thru the night. Now hes just been lieing asleep on the chair all day, waking to just throw up yellow phlegm. He feels hot and clammy and is only drinking water. Thought he may have had an asthma attack last night but Im not sure. we also dont drive so dont want to bother someone to get us to the A and E if Im over reacting again!What would you do? Please help! Xx

Do you have a brown (preventer) inhaler you can give him? We give our DD1 her brown one whenever she has a cold and were told to give it regularly everytime we found ourselves giving her the blue one more than twice a day for more than 2 days. If the blue inhaler doesn't work when he's breathless/coughing, then get him to A&E. And see your GP as soon as you can to get a review of his status and some advise from an asthma nurse for future reference.

FWIW, IME an asthma cough sounds very different to a cough cough IYSWIM - it's at the end of the out breath and isn't phlegmy - more like someone clearing their throat quietly.

my dd7 has same. was diagnosed like your son at about2.

there are lots of horrible croupy sounding coughs, dry ones, barking ones doing the rounds. I think it's the pollen, or apparently it's fungi atm. If your ds has a tendency to asthma, he may well react more to a common couhg, or to allergens.

dd has had many many nights like you havedescribed over the past few yrs. it IS hard to tell, but unless he was struggling to breathe, i would think he'd be okay and this will pass. Check his tummy.chest is going in and out during the breaths, not just going in iyswim.
If it's a virus, the inhalers won't touch it ime. Sometimes they need a steroid tablet, sometimes not. Nighttime is the worst, and it is a total nightmare. EVERY breath is a couhg sometimes with my dd. It shatters them and your nerves. i do hope he has a better night. Raise the pillows, put vicks on the chest maybe?

If you are very concerned, perhaps ring nhs direct.

I have a brown one myself, would it be foolish to let him have a puff? Hes thrown up phlegm again but is talking in sentences now.

I would say if has a fever he may have achest infection which - given that he is asthmatic should be treated/seen sooner rather than later.

FWIW I think that the brown inhaler takes a couple of weeks regu;ar use to work as it is a long term therapy - not a quick relief - that is what the blue one is for. On that basis (and the fact that it hasn't been prescribed for him) I wouldn't give it to him.

I think - from what you have said I would be taking him to walk in center/ringing NHS direct for advise.

Just an update, he seems to have fully recovered! Such a relief! Think all the sleeping must of played a part. Then he ate some tea and didnt cough it up, once he realised it had stayed down he was asking for all sorts (kept suggesting food that we could see on river cottage,lol well that makes me hungry too!) Thanku so much for all your advice, hope ur lil uns are well Xxx

brown takes a couple of days to kick in, which is why you're encouraged to start giving it as soon as you notice you're needing the blue inhaler more, or if you notice that every cold/cough means that the blue inhaler is needed then to start it as soon as a cough/cold starts.