Toddlers with potential asthma and coughs

[MeadowHay]

Does anyone have a toddler who may be asthmatic (as they can't do the diagnostic tests to confirm with them being so little), who has a permanent cough as a symptom of the suspected asthma? My DD is 21 months and has been coughing since she got bronchiolitis when she was 6 months old. She is finally on a trial of a preventor inhaler which does seem to be helping a lot and she takes Ventolin when needed. How am I supposed to know when her coughing is bad enough to isolate? Today it is a bit worse than usual but she doesn't have a temp and is her normal self, and her coughing varies day by day, so this isn't unusual for her either. It's not the worst it can get when she's poorly, for example. She has a snotty nose but she frequently has a snotty nose. I can't be the only parent in this situation? How am I meant to make a call about when isolation is required?

Also I've genuinely got anxiety about being out with her and people being rude or aggressive if she coughs, or being kicked out of a shop or something if she coughs, but she coughs every day multiple times a day even at her best.

Is anyone else in a similar boat?

Same situation here. No asthma diagnosis, but sufferers from bad night coughs. Has coughed throughout the winter and I honestly didn't think I would be able to identify a new cough in him and keep him isolated. However 2 days ago his cough definitely changed and was obvious to me it was a new dry, hacking cough. Worst cough he's ever had. Also has a high temp, controlled by Calpol.

When she's poorly she coughs a lot when she is trying to nap or in the night. So I agree that would be a marker for us. However she didn't cough in the night last night. Also of course temperature requires isolation but she doesn't have a temperature. Her cough today is worse than most days, but she often has the odd bad day and then is back to normal again the next day.

Does your DC have inhalers? Hope they're soon feeling better.

Why can’t they diagnose asthma? My two that have it were diagnosed at 6mos and 13mos respectively. They were put on montelukast tablets. Then around age 3 they added inhalers. When they were 5 they had breathing tests which confirmed the diagnosis. Doctors CAN treat a child under 5 for asthma based on clinical observations.

They tend not to diagnose that young as asthma by nature is a chronic condition and it can't be chronic if they are that young. That being said my four year old has been treated like he is asthmatic since 18months. I think you are in a difficult position OP. I hope you would know if it was a different cough but maybe not. Regarding going out, you'll just have to brave it. However, if the cough is that bad you should be checking with your healthcare provider anyway. Your child's inhaler dosage may need increasing. Difficult times ahead.

I didn't say she wasnt being treated for asthma - she is, I did write in my post that she is on a trial of preventator inhalers and also takes Ventolin when needed. Just that it's not possible to formally diagnose as obviously they can't do peak flow tests or anything at this age for a definitive diagnosis.

Yes we could try and increase her preventor inhaler dose, they said we could do one or two puffs twice a day and we've only been doing 1 which has helped loads apart from odd days here and there or when she was ill with HFM. She is meant to back to the GP for a review in a few weeks but doubt that will happen given all this going on.

She has coughed a lot less this PM so far. Which makes me think more likely asthma related rather than illness. Will see how she is over night and I guess make a decision based on that.

If she’s on preventers then you’d treat as if she has asthma, and if she’s still coughing despite the preventer then you need to speak to your gp could be higher dose is needed or another preventer. If she can have up to 2 puffs of preventer do that see if the cough settles?....If she’s running around & it’s causing some coughing follow plan for ventolin usually 5 puffs prior to play/exercise but hopefully that will settle with preventer.
I’m a paeds nurse and I have an 8 year old with asthma he’s pretty well controlled unless he gets a cold it doesn’t always set him off but need to be vigilant

We've just been prescribed an inhaler to try to see if this helps DD's night time coughs. I'm due next week so we're not going out but I'm worried on the very off chance she did catch the virus would it make her more vulnerable because her chest isn't great at the moment anyway? Also finding it tricky to get her to take it in the first place and have to hold her down. We keep the mask on for a little while to ensure she's taking it in, not sure how else you can make sure an 18 month old is taking a breath in?!

Just put mask on her face press inhaler count to ten slowly then it’s done were you shown how to use the spacer and inhaler? Is it blue or do you have a preventer as well? @frillseeking? You can’t tell In that age group but usually they don’t like it and cry asthma uk have really good info on techniques for kids but usually hospital staff or gp/nurse should check you can use the spacer inhaler Prior to sending you home with it

No kaykay we weren't shown how to use it. I don't think the doctor really wanted us there so it was a very quick appointment! Thanks for the advice

Asthma UK helpline are great

How strange that your U.K. doctors can’t diagnose because of lack of blowing into a peak flow tube despite numerous other symptoms. Must be a difference between health systems.

My son still doesn’t do peak flow at 8
They don’t diagnose till 3/4 usually but doesn’t mean treatment is different my sons treatment didn’t change between 3 &6 and diagnosed as asthma.