Really worried about my son

[Babyg1995]

My son's 11 and has asthma im absolutely terrified he's going to get the virus we are in Scotland and all I've heard it's going to spread rapidly has anyone else got a child with asthma and are really worried I've looked on asthma UK for advice as well .
I'm also 8 months pregnant and have health anxiety so it's a really stressful time .

[carlyclock]

This is nonsense about Scotland. Why would it spread anymore rapidly in Scotland? I also live here but I'm baffled at NS speech earlier.

[Babyg1995]

I meant in general not in Scotland .

[carlyclock]

You said


we are in Scotland and all I've heard it's going to spread rapidly

On the same day that the news has been reporting that 250,000 people might get it yet you now say you didn't mean Scotland

I'm sorry, what did you mean

[SeaToSki]

The data is showing that children are at the least risk and that asthma doesn't increase the risk much at all. Heart disease high blood pressure and diabetes are the big ones for increasing risk. If he does catch it, he will probably be miserable for a couple of weeks (and drive you crazy whining) but is likely to be fine

[GrumpyHoonMain]

The risk factors are the same as for the flu - the elderly with health problems, pregnant women, premature babies, and those who are immunocompromised (and yes if your son has a steroid inhaler Asthma counts). Scotland sees a lot of deprivation and may well be more disproportionately affected than Buckinghamshire for example.

[GrumpyHoonMain]

But you can prevent this by washing hands regularly and not touching your face and whatever you do to prevent flu

[Strongmummy]

@carlyclock - why are being so aggressive 🤣🤣

Op - I get your concern for your son entirely. There’s not much you can do however other then carry on. Tell him to Keep washing his hands and avoid touching his face

[carlyclock]

why are being so aggressive 🤣🤣

I'm not being aggressive. It just irked me that OP wrote about Scotland then when I replied they quipped that they didn't mean Scotland. Weird.

Not sure what the emojis are supposed to add to your comment? Are you laughing at me? Yourself? The comment?

[Babyg1995]

Thank you for all the reassuring replys .
I didn't mean that I was just stating we are in Scotland I'm not good with writing this is why Iam always nervous to post usually my friend will help me with writing but I was just so worried for my son

[teddy50]

OP, I understand your stress, but really the only thing we can do is wash hands lots and avoid busy areas if possible. I'm in my second trimester and have a toddler, so I've been stressed too, but stressing doesn't help.

Ignore the PP who was weirdly aggressive. What a bizarre and unnecessary tone to take to someone who's clearly posting because they're worried and need reassurance.

[Babyg1995]

Thank you we are doing all the things to prevent I was just unsure about the asthma

[MajorFaffington]

I have nothing helpful to add to what PPs have said about the virus, but it was quite clear to me that the fact you’re in Scotland and the fact you’ve heard it’s going to spread rapidly were two separate points. You

[MajorFaffington]

Not sure where that extra ‘You’ came from!

[carlyclock]

Ignore the PP who was weirdly aggressive. What a bizarre and unnecessary tone to take to someone who's clearly posting because they're worried and need reassurance.

Yes, ignore me for daring to suggest that the news coverage about it spreading quickly in Scotland is bizarre.

Honestly; tone may have been off but initially I was a bit stumped as I can't understand why this fear is being put into Scottish people by the SNP.

I'm sorry OP for being snippy in my second post but I did think when you talked about Scotland in the OP that's what you were worrying about.

[carlyclock]

but it was quite clear to me that the fact you’re in Scotland and the fact you’ve heard it’s going to spread rapidly were two separate points.

I'm glad it was clear to you. Like I said it wasn't to me. Particularly given the speech by NS today regarding the potential rapid spread, in Scotland.

I didn't mean anything by it, and thinking it over it isn't unrealistic to think that's what OP meant.

[AlternativePerspective]

250000 people? Out of a UK population of 60 million?

Honestly the worst thing about this virus is the media hysteria surrounding it.

yes, some people who catch it will be at higher risk of serious complications, I am one of them, suffer from heart failure because of damage to my heart from the flu 3.5 years ago. So if I do catch it I am at very real risk.

However I am far more likely not to catch it than to catch it. I certainly don’t intend to put my life on hold or avoid public places, wear a mask or the like.

All you can do is live your life and console yourself with the likelihood that you won’t catch it.

This all started in China in January and China has now pretty much disappeared out of the news because the numbers of cases there have fallen rapidly. I suspect that the rest of the world will be similar and that by May at the latest this will be old news.

[carlyclock]

250000 people? Out of a UK population of 60 million?

No, not 60 million. 5.5 million.


Honestly the worst thing about this virus is the media hysteria surrounding it.

This is basically what I was trying to say ^

[MajorFaffington]

@carlyclock What I said wasn’t meant as a dig at you, and I appreciate your point about what Nicola Sturgeon said. I just wanted to reassure OP that her post did make sense, since she seemed worried that she hadn’t written clearly enough.

[AlternativePerspective]

NS likes to always be sure she’s seen in the spotlight. The need for her to dramatise is very evident. Just waiting for her to say that if only Scotland was independent this wouldn’t be happening there....

[GrumpyHoonMain]

My DH has Asthma too and he is taking the same precautions as flu.

[YgritteSnow]

Time you went to bed @carlyclock. Get some 💤 and try and get out of bed the right side tomorrow. You're laying into a frightened poster because you didn't like her turn of phrase? This is what people mean when they say MNetters are nasty and unsupportive. That's you.

[dumelamama]

OP, I completely understand your concern. I' m not sure if some of the posters here have ever watched their child struggling for breath and if they know how that feels. It's hard not to worry, but just make sure you have a good supply of inhalers and a plan for getting to the hospital if you need to, bag packed, just in case. The more prepared you can be the calmer you will feel.

[dumelamama]

Take care.

[WorriedMam2020]

@GrumpyHoonMain @Babyg1995 my son also has asthma. The dose from a steroid inhaler does NOT mean they are immunocompromised. It is only if they are on oral steroids for more than a week that it compromises the immune system. Brown inhalers don’t do this - they are topical (affect only the area intended = lungs).

The brownninhaler would actually help stop an asthmatic reacting badly to CV by reducing the lungs response (production of mucous etc).

So it’s really important to keep using brown inhalers :)

[carlyclock]

You're laying into a frightened poster because you didn't like her turn of phrase?

No. No no no. I'm not laying into anyone. I have apologised to OP and I did genuinely think that she was referring to the dramatic NS speech earlier, which is of course inflammatory bollocks.


NS likes to always be sure she’s seen in the spotlight. The need for her to dramatise is very evident. Just waiting for her to say that if only Scotland was independent this wouldn’t be happening there....

100% this ^


I' m not sure if some of the posters here have ever watched their child struggling for breath and if they know how that feels

Well I'm not about to play the 'my life is harder than yours' game, but I do have to clarify I wasn't meaning to suggest OP should not worry, just that the over egging of the pudding by NS was not worth paying attention to.

Again, I am sorry to the OP.