Advair and 4yr. old

R

rkp

New member
My son who is 4yrs old had severe cold about a month back.His pedi. said that he was wheezing a little bit then.The cold and runny nose symptoms subsided and since last 10 days he is coughing.The coughing is intermittent.

Today I took him to his pediatrician ,she said that she could still hear a mild wheezing and prescribed Advair and proventil.I have asthma and my son is not coughing like I do when I have an attack. I am very very confused because I think this is not a reason enough to start Advair .Are any other tests not required to diagnose it as Asthma?

I have not even administered albuterol inhaler to him before and now I have to give him Advair?

Can someone please guide me here?
 
I hate to say this, but you really should see a pediatric pulmonologist before you put him on Advair. It's not that unusual for kiRAB to have slight wheezing, and diagnosing asthma in a 4-year old is difficult (because they often don't have the motor skill coordination required for a lung function test).

Not everyone coughs (like you do) when they have an asthma attack, but jumping to Advair based on some slight wheezing seems a bit aggressive for a 4-year old.
 
Well, not every asthmatic has the same type cough, wheezing, etc. So I wouldn't go by that. Did the doc say he had asthma or just put him on the meRAB temporarily? You don't say what the diagnosis was. If it was asthma, then I'd take him to a ped pulmonologist before starting any meRAB.
 
thank you gcsmith and Titchou for your replies.
yes ,doctor did say that it looks like asthma but that my 4year old will out grow it.I am not sure if she means to continue the medicines or put him on meRAB temporarily .....i have a follow up with her for my son after a month.So for a month he has been put on one puff of Advair twice a day.
Does the little wheezing accompanying a cough always mean Asthma?
My son has enlarged adenoiRAB too so its really difficult to know if he is wheezing or snoring when he is asleep.
Should I go in for a second opinion here from a primary care or other pedi or directly take him to a pedi. pulmonologist?
 
Directly to a pulmonologist. That is your best bet. THe wheezing could be anything. And if it is asthma, he could outgrow it. Most kiRAB do. But you need to know and a ped pulmonologist is the best route. As gcsmithjr said, diagnosing it in children that young isn't easy.
 
I would go right to a pulmonologist - having competing opinions from two pediatricians may just confuse things more.
 
thanks again titchou and Gcsmithjr for your prompt replies.
I have started looking for a pediatric pulmonologist for my son.
 
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