If your LO has asthma...

KMEss86

DS gets cold pretty frequently (about 1/month from November- April). Every time it starts with a runny nose, and within a few days, he is coughing, wheezing, labored breathing, cannot sleep. We've been to the doctor (He sees a family doctor) many times for this and everytime he tells me its RSV or just gives me a steroid. I know this is not the answer, and I know these aren't just normal colds. We've been to the ER once for it, and they said they were calling it asthma because he responded wonderfully to the asthma medication. To me, it seems like a no-brainer that after the 15th time this has happened, it would be safe to say my son has asthma. But, my doctor just doesn't acknowlege it. I may be wrong. But I just dont feel right about this. I am planning to switch to a ped, but was waiting until my next LO was born to do it at the same time. Now Im thinking I'll switch sooner. Anyone have any experience with this?

mrsdugger

No personal experience, but don't they do specific tests for asthma? Either way I think you're right to switch Pediatricians.  At the very least I'd be pushing the current ped. for some answers as to why he does not believe it to be asthma.  Maybe he has his reasons, but if your kiddo responded to asthma meds in the ER and the ER doc had reason to think he has asthma I wouldn't waste my time not having him treated for it.  Asthma in kids is scary buisness and you need answers before there's a big problem.

JennaNAaron

Our older LO has similar issues as yours.  We also had him treated in the ER once, and they treated it as asthma.  Per our pediatrician, they said he could very well have asthma, but they don't like to diagnose it so young.  That could be what your pediatrician is thinking too.

kxp004

Crash Into Me:

I'd switch pediatricians if yours isn't listening to you.  DD gets wheezy and rattly when she has a cold and we're supposedly watching her for asthma.  I have asthma, which increases her chances of having it.  Plus, she has a food allergy and eczema both of which can go hand-in-hand with asthma.  Our pedi prescribed an albuterol syrup, to be given whenever DD is sick and exhibiting chest trouble and I have been told that we can switch to a nebulizer at any point.

 

This... DH has asthma so we are watching DS... thankfully we haven't noticed anything yet... I know I've read a lot of pedis will not call it asthma until they are 3 or so... but most of what this poster wrote rings true with DH's experience 

goodgollie

You should ask your pedi if you can be referred to an allergist.  He is correct that asthma cannot be diagnosed at such a young age.  DS is 5 and we still have not been able to concretely diagnose if he has asthma because he can't do the official breathing test yet.  However, the allergist was able to assess his symptoms we described during a cold, etc and give him the appropriate medicine to treat him along with an action plan.  DS's problem was that every cold would turn into bronchitis.  As soon as we got our nebulizer, he never had bronchitis again.  Now he is able to get the same medication through an inhaler with a mask attachment.  The allergist also did the skin prick test to determine if DS was allergic to anything, which he is.  It definitely sounds like your DS has asthma by the way he responds to the asthma meds.  Best of luck to you!