AboutDavid Olson, MD Expertise I would be happy to attempt to answer any questions about general pediatric topics, either medical issues or behavioral issues. This would include all the various questions one receives in a busy pediatric practice. I`m a board certified pediatrician in northern Michigan and have been in practice for over 15 years. I enjoy the teaching role I have in our practice and would enjoy the opportunity to help others with their pediatric problems.
Question I have a 12month old baby that had a cold with coughing and chest congestion or a rattle in the chest. This continued for sometime. The doctor put my child on Albuterol Sulfate inhalation solution 0.083%, the solution is used in a Compressor/Nebulizer every four hours. My question is... What exactly does this treatment do and will it hurt my child if used for a long period of time. My child has not been diagnosed with asthma.
Answer Hi, Bonnie,
Your doctor suspects that he might have asthma or has a virus that is causing the lungs to be inflamed and act like lungs of an asthmatic child. Is the treatment helping? It won't hurt him and is acting to open up the small breathing passages in the lungs that presumably are tight and need to relax. It is a medicine called a bronchdilator.
If it isn't working, then this should be discussed with your doctor.
