Advice re asthma. Flu jab for 8 year old DS? Help please.

[HumphreyComfreyCushion]

DS2 (aged 8) was hospitalised for four days last week, as he developed a chest infection, and subsequently had his first asthma attack in 3.5 years.

He now has to have two doses of the preventative steroid inhaler every day during the winter. Also he will need daily readings from the peak flow meter, and salbutamol according to the results.

The nurse at the Respiratory Clinic suggested we may like to let him have a flu jab, as it is obviously risky for him if he gets flu.

DS2 has various allergies - we haven't established them all, but wheat, dairy and sweeteners are definites.

Does anyone have an asthmatic child who has allergies, and who has had the flu jab without any side effects?

Advice welcomed. Thanks.

My kids aren't asthmatic, but I am. I had flu a couple of years ago and while I had it mildly it wrecked my breathing. Six months later, I was still struggling with my asthma with every slight sniffle I had - the flu just basically whacked my immune system completely out of balance and my asthma with it. It was very scary, and not something I would wish on a child

I have had the flu jab every year since. If you do decide to go for it, request a thiomersal-free variant. If it's the first time he's had a flu jab (this applies to any child having a flu jab for the first time), he will need to have two doses a certain distance apart (vague memory of 8 weeks, but I could be wrong on that one).

I hope he's feeling much better soon.

I can't help you specifically, but thanks for the reminder. Ds2 is asthmatic and had the flu jab last year. You have reminded me he should have it again (cue many tears ). Will he be contacted by the doctors or should I contact them?

Oh GeorginaA (my asthma guru!) is it only the first time they have it they have to have 2 jabs? That will make it easier when it comes to telling ds2 he needs it again.

Thanks for your reply, Georgina.

We've been told that he will have to have two half doses, as you mentioned.

I hadn't heard of the thiomersal-free variant, so will look into that.

DS2 is much better now, thank you, but I wouldn't want another bout of what he had to go through last week.

I assume the flu jab has worked well for you, and you are much better now?

dd1 has lots of allergies, still not sure what they are 100% either. she is asthmaticm and her breathing has been awful since she fell ill at xmas 2005 with chickenpox. she had her 1sy jab the other week. i was told to wait 6-8 weeks till her next one.

How has DD1 been feeling since the first jab, Misdee?

DumbledoresGirl: yes, just the first time it's two jabs... following years will just be a single jab, fortunately. Perhaps you could let him take in some very sugary teeth-rotty sort of sweets when he goes in? Did that for ds1's MMR and he hardly noticed the needle going in at all (theory is that higher blood sugar means less pain, but I think it's probably more that he knows he's getting something he's not "allowed" normally - ace distraction either way!)

Technically, your GPs surgery should contact you - but I doubt it would hurt to give them a ring and check that he's listed to get one, even if they can't book the appointment yet. As I understand it, the jabs are running late this year due to manufacturing issues - I've been told late November here.

Humphrey: I only found out about the thiomersal free one myself recently when finding info out for a pregnant mumsnetter. I'm not sure how widely available they are, but the NHS guidelines do say that thiomersal free ones should be given to children & pregnant women if available. I don't worry too much about it for me, but I think I would at least ask for a child that needed it.

My 9 year old with asthma has had his flu jab every year since he was 5, (I think) and never had any side-effects or problems.

I do think he's growing out of the asthma actually. Hasn't needed his inhaler for about a year. Good sign it's going away I presume?

Oops, meant to say, haven't had flu since and haven't reacted badly to the jabs at all. I have had a fairly weakened immune system and got every cold/throat/sicky bug going (which I put down to several factors) which I'm currently seeing a homeopath for, but since I got my asthma meds sorted my asthma has been extremely well controlled since.

she has been fine. though i think getting her to have the 2nd one will be a lot worse lol.

emmatom: honestly, I can't really say - after all, I didn't grow out of mine It does sound a good sign though - important to keep an eye on inhalers going out of date and replacing them, and keeping up with the asthma nurse at least once a year in case it does pick up again, I would have thought? Your asthma nurse should be able to advise

Thank you GeorginaA. Unfortunately ds2 does not like sweets I know, unusual child!

But he is due a review of his treatment in about 2-4 weeks, so I will try to remember to ask about the flu jabs then. I think he and dh (also asthmatic) were called for them last year...

Fruit or something like that? Anything that'll boost his blood sugar and distract him at the same time, really Also a dose of children's paracetamol half an hour before the appointment will help.

Nope doesn't eat fruit either! Chocolate OK?

Gawd yes! Stuff the kid with chocolate buttons

Georgina, please could you give me a bit more advice if you're still around?

Did you mean I should ask for the 'thimerosal-free' version of the jab?

I've been doing a bit of a search regarding the flu jab and allergies, and couldn't find any reference to a thiomersal-free variant, as mentioned in your first post.

I did find details re thimerosal - the preservative though.

Or am I barking up completely the wrong tree?

Thanks for your help with this.

Humphrey.

Yes, same thing. Thiomersal/thimerosal are both the mercury preservative - one's US spelling the other is UK spelling and I can NEVER remember which way round it is

Sorry if I confused you.

Thanks Georgina. I just wanted to make sure I was searching for the same thing you advised me about.

I really appreciate your help.

Yikes - Allergies!

May I suggest you give him Aloe Vera Drinking Gel for his Asthma. It is an anti inflamitory so reduces the swelling in his airways, along with a host of other beneficial properties.

Does he have anything containing Aspartame? This is the secret cause of so many problems. Look it up on www.sweetpoison.com

Thanks Guitarman, will look into that.

Re aspartame (or 'the phlegm of the devil himself' as DH calls it ), he doesn't have it - ever.

He's allergic to all sweeteners.

But thanks for the info, and hopefully lots of other people will read this and stop their children from having anything containing aspartame.

My ds has asthma ,he's allergic ot nuts and eggs so he can't have the flu jab because of the egg allergy.

Must look up the aspartame thing,ds has occassional treat of ginger beer which has it in it.

Yup, I avoid aspartame for similar reasons.

Ooh, have you tried Fentiman's Ginger Beer instead, ggirl? My DS1 loves that - and it's all natural.

oh that sounds good ,where do you get it?

Most supermarkets stock it, usually in the organic section, iirc.

Or places like Goodness Direct sell it online.

HTH.