Doctor said 3yo DD has asthma-advice please

[wheresthevalium]

I took my DD to GP last night as she sounded very wheezy, was struggling to breathe and had a bit of a temp.

He has said that she has asthma, and has prescribed 5 puffs of an inhaler (ventolin) via a childrens spacer, and also 3 5mg prednisolone per day for 4 days. He has also asked us to come back on Monday.

DD always seems very healthy, but does get colds and coughs fairly easily.

I am worried sick because my sister has asthma, and ever since she was a child has been in and out of hospital several times a year because of it.

I also can't understand why it has happened so suddenly.

Any comments or advice gratefully received.

I am (was) asthmatic and it only appeared or was diagnosed when I was 3 or 4 which is very common. I had to take medication until I was a teenager when I grew out of it which many people do. I only had to be hospitalised once in 10 years with it and it wasn't too serious. As long as DD has the correct medication and treatment she should do well. There is every chance that her asthma may not be as bad as your sister's as most people don't suffer to that degree. I wish you and your DD well.

Don't worry too much. Asthma isn't always as serious as your sister's.
I have asthma and have never been admitted to hospital with it. I did go to A&E once with an asthma attack, but that was before my GPs had recognised the problem properly and it wasn't controlled.
DH and SIL had asthma as babies, but both are totally fine now.
BIL had very bad asthma as a child and was in and out of hospital, now he is in his twenties, still has asthma, but it is well controlled with inhalers.

Dh has asthma too so I am fully expecting my DSs (who already have eczema) to develop asthma at some point.

Oh, yes, forgot to mention that until 6 months ago she had excema too