[mum2jp]

I hope this is the right forum. I took DS 2y old to the doctor today with a runny nose, chesty cough and mainly because he was wheezing last night. So the doctor listened to his chest and said the cough and wheezing was asthma, he gave me a script for ventolin to take via spacer 3 times a day untill he is better. I asked him if he needed to have some sort of asthma plan or tests and he just said if i need him to do a plan I will need to bring DS back later in the week.
Is there any other tests that he should have done to diagnose asthma? Do I need to ask for a referral to a pead for a proper diagnoses or is it normal for GP to do this. Also if he does in fact have asthma should he have a preventer treatment instead of just using ventolin? The only question he asked me was if there is a family history of asthma and DH has asthma so there was.
Edited to add, it wasn't my family doctor I saw as they are closed on Sunday's but I have taken DS to this medical centre a few times as my family doctor is hard to get not.

This post has been edited by mum2jp: 28/01/2013, 08:39 PM

[~chiquita~]

DS was diagnosed in hospital. He was 11 months at the time so even though he was 'too young' to be diagnosed officially, but because he responded to the Ventolin they said he most likely will suffer from asthma from time to time. DS has viral induced asthma so it's always after he has caught a bad cold.

They wrote an Asthma Management Plan for us and I keep Redipred in the fridge. I'd go back and get a plan from your regular doctor. It will tell you when and how often to administer the ventolin (e.g. when unwell, cough, cold etc.) When and if to start on steroids and when to get him to hospital.

HTH

This post has been edited by ~chiquita~: 28/01/2013, 08:53 PM

[Spotted Giraffe]

My 3yo had three incidents in the space of about 3 months where he was really wheezy. Once the dr surgery sent him to hospital and a other time we spend 4 hours there with him on a nebuliser and needing to get a chest X-ray.

We could not get into our regular dr on his third tie when he was diagnosed. Not sure what he would have done. We have an asthma plan and really need it, as I found it confusing to know when to give venotolin, preventer and redipred and really need the guidance, as well as to know when to go to the dr.


Eta, child also had ezcema and allergies and our paed told us several years before he most likely would have it.

This post has been edited by Spotted Giraffe: 28/01/2013, 10:43 PM

[RealityBites]

My DD1 was about 18mo when diagnosed in hospital, she couldn't breathe! If the doctor says it is asthma, I would listen to him - the official line is under 2 or 3 is 'too young' but IMO that is bollocks when the child actually has asthma iykwim. (Although if your little one hasn't been hospitalised, it couldn't hurt to get a second opinion.)

Also go back at some stage for an asthma management plan, either to a gp or paediatrician. My DD1 is at risk of asthma every time she has a cold, and was hospitalised too many times before the paediatrician put her on a preventer. Having predmix in the house is always a lifesaver, too.

This post has been edited by RealityBites: 28/01/2013, 08:54 PM

[doctorseuss]

A wheeze with a viral infection in a child under 5 may not be asthma.

Does ventolin help?

Time will tell if it is asthma.

See your normal GP when you can, or go to emergency if he gets worse.

[trebambinibelli]

DS1 diagnosed under 1. The paed said that it is almost always sensitive airways in an infant or very young child, however a blood test revealed very high IgE levels, had eczema, both parents have asthma and he responded well to ventolin. He is now 7 and has had multiple asthma attacks, the last one being quite severe, so yep he definitely has it.

[GreenEggJimmyJam...]

My daughter was diagnosed just before she was two. Was actually having an attack and couldn't breathe properly. Bad parent moment I and my husband didn't know that she was having an attack just thought she had a cold but was really out Of sorts so luckily decided to see our GP.

The preventer is generally prescribed if they need ventolin three or so times a week when it is supposed to be under control. If they go to day care and have been diagnosed with asthma you are required to leave ventolin and a space etc and have an action plan in place.

[RealityBites]

DS1 diagnosed under 1. The paed said that it is almost always sensitive airways in an infant or very young child, however a blood test revealed very high IgE levels, had eczema, both parents have asthma and he responded well to ventolin. He is now 7 and has had multiple asthma attacks, the last one being quite severe, so yep he definitely has it.

Yes, when DD1 (now 10yo) was diagnosed we were baffled, having no asthma in family. However, my grandfather had psoriasis, and my grandmother has recently been diagnosed with asthma. My mum has also recently admitted that she may have had a couple of episodes over her lifetime.
DD1 also now gets severe hay fever.

This post has been edited by RealityBites: 28/01/2013, 09:01 PM

[Akatara]

I have one daughter who gets it occasionally after a cold, and just takes ventolin.

I have another who was getting it a lot, and takes a preventer for most of winter, and ventolin on her all the time, and for sport. She was often wheezy and breathless. You will get to know if it gets worse over time, and you need a preventer.

[Sunny003]

DS1 was about 3.5 & a few bouts of asthma.
DS2 was 6mths. They said they don't usually dx so young as it could be bronchialitis, but because he'd had so many episodes, a&e visits and ward stays, it was most likely asthma.

I've known people dx with asthma when sick, recovered and never had it again. Hence no preventer.
My boys weren't put on preventer unless they had more than 1 episode in 3 months. They're both on flixitide. We tried a tablet (do cant think of its name) but it caused aggression in DS1 & eczema in DS2.