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Original poster

what to look out for with asthma in 7yo?

7 replies

BadKitten · 24/10/2007 14:11

Just looking for a bit of hand holding really. dh is away on business and I don't drive so doctors isnt so easy. (though friends will help out if I need it)

dd (7) has had asthma since she was a toddler but in the past few years its been much much better. She always had the cough variant of asthma with not much audible wheeze. She had some exacerbation last october when she had a bad cold which went on to sinusitis. But that was her last attack and even though she coughed an awful lot she didnt need anything other than her usual inhalers and antibiotics. Shes not been on any inhalers since christmas

Anyway, she came down with a cold over the weekend, which gave her a temp and rash (gone now) on monday. Shes very snotty and coughing lots. Its quite a tight cough, shes a little bit breathless occasionally but talking constantly. Shes started night coughing but not too bad. I did her peak flow which was 210 but I can't find where I put previous recordings so I don't know if thats ok.

My instinct is its still just a snotty cold and cough but can any one please talk me through what I should watch out for. We've not seen the asthma nurse for 2 years . I've made an appt for the next available date:8th November and will obviously get her to doctor if it gets worse.

Thanks - feeling a bit silly and emotional about this.

OP posts:
hennipenni · 24/10/2007 14:29

I'm sure that somebody will come along with better answers but this is what I lpook out for: Shortness of breath, not being able to speak in sentences. Pulling in around heer ribs when breathing or the area at the base of her throat- the little hollow bit at the top between the collar bones or pulling in of the tummy muscles, any blueness around the lips and nose. there are loads more but can't think at the moment. Her PF seems good (I think), DDs usually around 150 but is a yr younger.

KSed · 24/10/2007 14:30

Hi Badkitten! Normal peak flow readings depend on the child's height, and 210 sounds roughly okay for an average 4 footish 7 year old, especially given that she's not feeling too well. As for the tight cough and breathlessness, you can't do any harm by giving her blue inhaler. Give her a couple of puffs and see how she goes. Why not give the GP a ring for some advice or give NHS direct a ring for further reassurance (0845 4647)?
BTW, we are all silly and emotional when it comes to our kiddywinks - all part of the territory, I'm afraid!

Original poster
BadKitten · 24/10/2007 14:47

Thanks Hennipenni and Ksed. Forgot to say that the peak flow was about an hour after I'd given her 2 puffs of bricanyl. She started coughing again about 20 mins ago in that tight asthma-ish way and couldnt talk without coughing at every sentence so I gave her another dose and she sounds much better now. That makes me think that there may be an asthma component in the cough. Shes talking a million miles to the minute at the moment, sounds a bit hoarse and maybe tight but it can't be bad if its not slowing her yapping down!

I'm a bit rubbish at telling the difference sometimes between a bad cough and the beginnings of an asthma attack until it gets really bad. I'll look for the tugging, I remember that was the point that I used to get worried so I'd rather it didn't get to that point.

I'm going to keep an eye on the time and see how long it takes to wear off and then phone nhsdirect if it seems too soon. Does that sound reasonable?

OP posts:
Original poster
BadKitten · 24/10/2007 14:58

Thanks Hennipenni and Ksed. Forgot to say that the peak flow was about an hour after I'd given her 2 puffs of bricanyl. She started coughing again about 20 mins ago in that tight asthma-ish way and couldnt talk without coughing at every sentence so I gave her another dose and she sounds much better now. That makes me think that there may be an asthma component in the cough. Shes talking a million miles to the minute at the moment, sounds a bit hoarse and maybe tight but it can't be bad if its not slowing her yapping down!

I'm a bit rubbish at telling the difference sometimes between a bad cough and the beginnings of an asthma attack until it gets really bad. I'll look for the tugging, I remember that was the point that I used to get worried so I'd rather it didn't get to that point.

I'm going to keep an eye on the time and see how long it takes to wear off and then phone nhsdirect if it seems too soon. Does that sound reasonable?

OP posts:
Original poster
BadKitten · 24/10/2007 14:59

oh bum - sorry - double post

OP posts:
KSed · 24/10/2007 16:57

Sounds like a good plan to me - remember you often have to wait for a Nurse to ring you back at NHS direct so don't wait till you're feeling too panicky!

Original poster
BadKitten · 25/10/2007 10:12

Just to update. I was on the verge of phoning nhs direct last night when she coughed non-stop for an hour and was sounding pretty tight. Then she went to sleep and slept the whole night without coughing! This morning theres no sign of her asthma, just a normal cough you get with a cold.

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