Expert: Marc Rubin, RPh Asthma Educator - 11/10/2009

Question
I failed to mention in the first post that my daughter has never had any breathing issues at all...this was a first.  And also that I never have felt like I've been given clear information from our doctors as to whether they have asthma or not which has left me feeling very unsure!

I am the mother of a 4yr and 2yr old.  I have always been a little confused as to whether my children have asthma.  My son (4yr old) has had several periods over the last several years where he has a cold and wheezes and we've had to give him breathing treatments.  It has been well over a year since he's had a treatment even with having had a cold within that time frame.  My daughter who just turned 2 started coughing last week and within a couple of days was having retractions, breathing fast and had a fever.  I took her to the doctor and they did 2 breathing treatments back to back and her oxygen level was not coming up.  They did a chest x-ray which came back negative for pneunomia.  They gave her Orapred while we were at the office and sent us home with a prescription for the steriod and told us to continue the breathing treatments.  Does this mean she now has asthma? ..or my son??  I guess I need to become much more educated because when I think of asthma I think of having to have breathing treatments on a regular basis.  Or even if it just flairs up when they are sick (even if that's just once a year) does that still mean it's asthma?  I'm very VERY concerned with the swine flu and if they are at a higher risk if they got the flu?

Please help!!  

Answer
Hi Christa,

The basis for a diagnosis of asthma in young children is a close look at the history of the parents, as well as the clinical features of the patients presentation. Generally, a clean diagnosis is not made until around the age of 5, when you are able to do lung testing with a cooperative patient. What is common in young children is RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, that presents many of the same symptoms of asthma. Children generally outgrow this by the age of 5, so I'd discuss if this is a potential answer to the situation.

With their present lung issues, I would make every attempt to get the children vaccinated regardless.

Do you or your husband, or do any of your siblings have asthma. If yes, there would be an increased chance the kids have it also.

If you wish to learn more, I can offer you a completely free multi-session education program through Emmi Solutions. Just send me your email address, with your name and birthday, %26 I can get you going. Be sure to mark the letter PRIVATE. This is critical, so know one sees your identity.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Sincerely,

Marc