Asthma in 7-Month-Old? - Frisco,TX

Updated on January 03, 2008
D.M. asks from Frisco, TX
4 answers

My son is 7 months old. At birth, he aspirated meconium and had a pneumothorax. He was in the NICU for a week.

This winter he has had wheezing twice where you can hear him breathe/wheeze for days and it's accompanied by a loud cough which lingers for weeks. The first time was diagnosed as bronchiolitis and he was given liquid albuterol. I gave it to him for a week, but it didn't seem to do anything to improve his wheezing and cough, so I stopped. He seemed to improve on his own.

The second time his pediatrician diagnosed him with wheezing (although he said it's not really a diagnosis) and prescribed an inhaler of flovent and an inhaler of albuterol along with a spacer (aeromask). I read on the documentation with both drugs that they're not to be given to children under 4 years old, so I haven't given him either one. I'm concerned about giving a child so young an inhaled steroid. Again, his wheezing seems to have improved, although it flares up a bit if we are playing hard.

I have an appointment with a pediatric pulmonologist, but it's not until April (I hate how specialists are always booked out so far in advance!) Any advice in the meantime? It seems like he has reactive airway disease - I've read children who experience meconium aspiration syndrome often have a higher incidence of that. I don't think it truly is asthma, but I'm not sure.

Also, he is in daycare, so I'm sure he'll be sick again and probably have another wheezing episode before the winter is over. I'm worried when we see the specialist in April he'll be over his colds and they won't experience his wheezing.

I would appreciate any help/advice/thoughts anyone has - especially related to giving Flovent to a baby this young. Thanks!

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So What Happened?

Thank you all so much for your help. I had scheduled the specialist appointment on my own without talking to my son's pediatrician. I wanted the pulmonologist visit to be sort of a "second opinion" for my son. Anyway, I ended up calling our pediatrician to see if she would give me a referral to possibly get us in sooner - she had no problem at all with that and the specialist called me last week to get us in TODAY!!! :) (Hoorah!)

We had a great visit with the specialist who is treating him for asthma and possible reflux. I'm much more comfortable with the Flovent now after talking with the pulmonologist and will be starting it with my son tonight. Thanks again, everyone!

More Answers

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D.M.

answers from Dallas on

D.,
Our son was diagnosed with asthma around the same age as yours, however at this age the kiddos can't actively participate in the standard testing used to diagnose, so it's called reactive airway disease. If I were you, I would not wait until April. My son has seen Dr. Mandujano at Medical City and he is great. His current Dr. is Dr. Peter Schochet who has an office at Presby Allen. When we switched, we got in to see him almost immediately. It sounds as if your son needs regular meds now, so you might look into getting an appointment with another doctor. You can send me a message if you want more info on either of these two doctors.
Shannon

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M.M.

answers from Dallas on

Hi D.-

I was reading your response concerning your son's asthma andI know how difficult it might be specailly having to wait until April to see a doctor. Have you ever thought about ridding your home of all toxic personal care and home care products? Simple things that your son is breathing in the air can help greatly with his asthma. Just a suggestion.... If you like to learn more I would love to talk to you, and just let you know other options out their! Hey is could not hurt, right???

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H.C.

answers from Dallas on

D.,
I am a pediatric respiratory therapist, so I know all about your situation. First of all, the albuterol and flovent is nothing to be scared of. The flovent is a WONDERFUL maintace medication for asthma or reactive airway. Start him on it ASAP, and do it twice a day, EVERYDAY even if he isn't sick or wheezing. The only thing to remember about the flovent is to wash your baby's face and have him drink something after you give it to him or he could get thrush. The albuterol should be given if he is wheezing. It is a "rescue" medication, so he would only need it if he's sick or wheezing. I hope this helps. Message me if you have further questions.
H.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.B.

answers from Dallas on

Hi D. -
One of my sons has a similar situation to yours. He was a preemie and had multiple pnuemos. Upon leaving the NICU, he was diagnosed with chronic bronchio pulmonary disease.

We kept him sheltered for the first year, then it all started in pre-school. Last winter he had bronchiolitis more times than I can count! Same symptoms, terrible wheezing and coughing.

We see Dr. Peter Schochet at Presby Plano, who treated him for asthma, even though we couldn't find the true source of the wheezing. After some tests we discovered that his airway is partially blocked by an artery to his heart (another NICU story) so he basically can't get sick. Yeah right - he's 3!

Long story short, we have Pulmicort and Xepronex on hand. When we hear the wheezing, we start breathing treatments. Sometimes we have to give him multiple if the wheezing doesn't seem to be getting better. This year we have been blessed with a much healthier child!

I was never conerned with the steriods though - and he's been getting them since birth and just 2 lbs. I'm not sure who you are going to be seeing, but I would see if he could get you in earlier? If nothing else, they have Respiratory Therapists that you can see sooner.

At least you are halfway through the winter. I hope it turns out to be nothing. It's no fun seeing your baby uncomfortable!

L.:)

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