New diagnosis with questions

[sgc123]

My 2 year old daughter was recently diagnosed with cough variant asthma. Her only symptoms were a nighttime cough and an occasional wheeze. She doesn't have trouble breathing unless the coughing is so bad that she can't catch her breath between coughs.

She was diagnosed about a month ago by her pediatrician who sent us to see a pediatric allergist who specializes in asthma. The pediatrician put her on singulair (once a day), flovent (1 puff twice a day), and albuterol (initially 2 puRAB 4 times a day). The cough did improve with treatment, but didn't quite go away entirely. It took us two weeks to get in to see the allergist. She agreed with the diagnosis, but said that my daughter might also have some sinus issues exacerbating the asthma. My daughter did have a cold when we saw the allergist, but had been cold-free for two months before this. She increased the Flovent because she said her dose was too low and said she wanted us to try to decrease the use of albuterol once the flovent kicked in. This was on a Friday. By Tuesday the following week the cough was completely gone and my daughter slept through the night for the first time in months. I had even gotten her off the rescue inhaler except for her evening dose. All was well... until Thursday. Her cold returned or she caught another cold. Nothing major, but just a drippy nose. By Thursday night, her cough had returned full force, but the albuterol was able to keep it under control. Friday during the day was uneventful. Friday after her nap she started coughing persistantly. I tried treating it with albuterol which usually works, but didn't work this time. By about four o'clock, she was coughing so hard that she couldn't catch her breath and she was vomiting. I eventually took her to the ER for treatment. They gave her a breathing treatment and an oral steriod and said to resume the albuterol four times a day for the weekend and talk with her doctor on Monday.

I have to call her doctor tomorrow and was wondering what I should ask her. I do want to ask her how to avoid future trips to the ER What else should I be concerned about? Even though I hate giving her the albuterol because it can make her jittery, should I just keep her on it until we get through cold and flu season? Does her Flovent need increased again? Should we try a course of antibiotics (3-4 weeks) in case she has chronic sinusitis which is contributing to the asthma?

I'm completely new to this so any advice you can give me would be appreciated.

 

[Titchou]

Her treatment plan should contain instructions on what to do in the event of a cold or other situation that brings on symptoms that a puff or two of albuterol won't take care of. So she may recommend adding a second puff of Flovent. I'm on that, one puff per day, and my plans states to up that to two a day during a cold or other event (we had 2 weeks of over 10 degree weather 2 Augusts ago and I had to do it then). Once the cause goes away, I go back to the 1 puff. Works well for me.

 

[lovemybabyboys]

My son has bad asthma. He is 3. He was diagnosed at 2 as well. I would ask about maybe some different medicines. I know the use of steroiRAB is questionable, but with children this severe, it is sometimes nessary. They say inhaled steroiRAB are not as dangerous from over use than oral ones. My son was first put on Pulmicort, it is an inhaled steroid. You take it as a breathing treatment. There are several different strengths. It really did help, but didn't seem quite strong enough for my son. After 3 hospital stays and several emergency visits, they started him on Syrabicort. It is also an inhaled steroid, but taken by inhaler. It also has different strenghts. But it has been a God send for us. My son, who was in the dr. office at least monthly, even on pulmicort, has not been to the dr. but once in the last 8 months. and at that visit, there was no weezing at all. So maybe one of those would help her. Just a thought. Or maybe even trying to get her into a pulminologist. Does she have allergies? I know our pediactric pulminologist is great. we love her. and she is up to date on all new medicines and lung related issues. so maybe another thought. I know learning to treat and getting a plan into action is so hard, expecially in ones this little. It is kinda like trial and error. But i've been there, so you are definately in my thoughts. it will get better. just keeping trying and staying on top of things. hope you find a treatment plan that works soon!
brandi