DS12 with asthma has virus- talk me down please

[littleblackdress04]

My 12 year old DS who has asthma & is on a seretide inhaler is showing signs of having the virus- I’m just coming out the other side of it so I am having a freak out about it. He’s pretty fit and healthy but does have pretty bad asthma - my DP is also showing signs of it. I was feeling relieved to be coming out the other side of it but now I am plunged into panic about my DS 😩

I’d call 111

Do you think I should already? He’s a bit sniffly and feeling tired at the moment

111 won’t do anything at the moment

Do you have a thermometer? - is that keep checking temp

Also do you have an Oximetre? For oxygen SATS?

Call them for advice. I would do it now rather than waiting until he is more poorly and you’re panicked. Also, if he has an asthma nurse, give them a call. Hope he has an easy time of it.

Am going to ring my GP

Given the data, I don't think you should be worried , he's still very young. Loads of asthmatic children will have had this already and clearly have been fine.

Has he got an asthma nurse or a care plan? I would call 111 and the asthma nurse whislt you wait for 111 to call back. Do you do peak flow readings and record them anyway
I just know with ds asthma, reacting quickly is what stops the asthma detioriating.

He’s got an asthma nurse - his peak flow normal at the moment but temp up a bit

I should add that asthma uk has lots of helpful information about looking after yourself.
I absolutely appreciate what midgebabe said about stats coming out and people being fine - but asthma attacks can make you feel pretty poorly even without you becoming a statistic so its worth keeping on top of the asthma.

I have just about recovered from the virus and I've got asthma. Just to reassure you, it did affect my breathing but not severely, I take budesonide twice a day and I upped that to 3 times a day when I first noticed symptoms. My husband is currently suffering quite badly from the virus, he's still at home though, and it took almost a week for the breathing issues to arrive for him after first symptoms.

@lyingwanker thanks - I’m coming out the other end too & although it was horrible, I did have a ‘mild’ dose of it - I was breathless but it was the shivers & shakes that hit me worse. Hoping it’s the same for DS

Hi @littleblackdress04 I can see why you are worried, you've been so ill with it. I'm asthmatic and 16 days in (recovering). I've had that breathlessness/weight on chest thing a few times and it was really scary (although my o2 levels and peak flow were fine throughout) but no pneumonia, which was what I was really worried about (cold virus' always go to my chest).

I suggest you find a way of monitoring your ds' o2 levels (oximeter or Roth test) for your/his peace of mind and then see how it goes. I believe the advice for asthmatics is inhalers as usual unless breathing deteriorates but your go should be able to advise. Mine prescribed me antibiotics and prednisolone (sp?) in week 2, just in case but I haven't needed the prednisolone.

Just passing on the info that you shouldn't avoid going to Paed A and E if you think it's warranted. Many children's A and E services are very empty currently and they are concerned that folks are staying away even when children should really be seen. They have plenty of capacity.

@Porcupineinwaiting thanks - colds always go to my DS chest too and that’s what i am worried about. He had a course of steroids in feb in hospital although he was out in 4 hours as the burst therapy worked. Glad you are coming through it- it’s hideous

I had it for 2 weeks and I have asthma with Seretide 250mg inhaler and also other health conditions (Addison’s, anaemia, hypothyroidism etc). Oddly enough it didn’t really affect my asthma much except to give me a bit of a tight chest which I relieved by taking my blue inhaler with a spacer two times twice a day. Try not to panic at this stage. Give regular paracetamol for pain / fever and call 111 at any sign of breathing difficulties. The GP may also be able to prescribe steroids which may help - I take them anyway for my Addison’s disease but triple dosed throughout the virus and found it really helped. Hope he is better soon.

@Bagelsandbrie hope you are feeling well now. Have given him calpol & waiting to speak to Asthma nurse

My DS (5yo) has viral asthma and just had COVID. He coughed non-stop, progressively getting worse and then better for 13 days which is much longer than his usual coughs. He had 5-6 days when he coughed day and night and as a result he didn't get much sleep so that was a bit rough. He also coughed and ran out of breath when he tried running so we had to keep him very quiet. We added ventolin to his usual inhaler and then oral steroids for three days.

He is fine now, back to normal two weeks later, so it hasn't affected him.

Best of luck.

@Booboostwo DS isn’t coughing at the mo but I didn’t get a cough either with my symptoms - glad your little boy better- it’s so stressful 🙏🏻

Not everyone seems to be coughing. I coughed non-stop for 13 days, it was exhausting, but Ex-H who has a tendency for respiratory type problems hasn't coughed at all on day 10. It's really weird. Hopefully your DS won't cough at all and he will have very mild symptoms.