Question about childhood asthma

[tinkerbellybutton]

Hey guys, Carter saw the pulminary specialist this afternoon and was finally diagnosed with asthma. Have any of you had experience with young children and asthma? I , unfortunately, am a smoker (I've set a quit date of Friday) But I've never smoked around him. They are moving back in on Sat. Do you think I should do something in particular to clean because of past smoke? He's only seven months old and has had multiple lung infections and is used to the nebulizer, have any of you traveled with a baby with asthma? We're taking him to WDW in sept. and I plan on talking to the specialist about it but was just wondering if any of you have some advice. Thanks in advance.

[MsMin]

My dd26 was diagnosed at 11mos. It seemed harder when she was younger b/c they can't tell you when they are starting to feel bad. Our doc didn't even want her to have stuffed animals, carpet, pets etc. Her doc took her off of milk b/c he felt that was bothering her too. Have you smoked in the house recently? We have a special filter in our A/C unit too. Kids can be so different because allergens can vary. I use caffiene in emergencies for a stimulant and tried to watch out for a runny nose b/c it would settle in her lungs and get infected real fast.
Have you seen some of the asthma posts in special needs?

[RenDuran]

His asthma isn't neccessarily caused by airborne allergens at this age. My son acquired asthma through RSV when he was small, but until recently the only thing that triggered his attacks were colds and other upper respiratory infections. The key is to know what his triggers are. Most doctors will tell you that a child usually won't have inhaled allergies until they're at least several years old. Now food allergies can start anytime.

We've travelled with our son, but it's such a pain carrying his nebulizer and other medicines. We don't travel much in the winter, since upper respiratory infections trigger his attacks.

[tinkerbellybutton]

My dd26 was diagnosed at 11mos. It seemed harder when she was younger b/c they can't tell you when they are starting to feel bad. Our doc didn't even want her to have stuffed animals, carpet, pets etc. Her doc took her off of milk b/c he felt that was bothering her too. Have you smoked in the house recently? We have a special filter in our A/C unit too. Kids can be so different because allergens can vary. I use caffiene in emergencies for a stimulant and tried to watch out for a runny nose b/c it would settle in her lungs and get infected real fast.
Have you seen some of the asthma posts in special needs?

Thanks so much for the input and I don't have a clue why I didn't think to look in that thread. I have also noticed that every time he gets a runny nose we end up in the ER

His asthma isn't neccessarily caused by airborne allergens at this age. My son acquired asthma through RSV when he was small, but until recently the only thing that triggered his attacks were colds and other upper respiratory infections. The key is to know what his triggers are. Most doctors will tell you that a child usually won't have inhaled allergies until they're at least several years old. Now food allergies can start anytime.

We've travelled with our son, but it's such a pain carrying his nebulizer and other medicines. We don't travel much in the winter, since upper respiratory infections trigger his attacks.

That's good to know about the allergies, Thanks so much!

[MsMin]

Christin actually started w/ asthma at 11 months, it was the spring (at least our spring) the doc felt it was the oak pollen and pecan pollen that was triggering the attacks. He said the allergic response triggers the histamine response (runny nose) that irritates the lungs and gets infected.
Fortunately, she was old enough to handle the nebulizer. We had a lot of trouble in winter b/c of the weather changes down here. We vary 40 degrees in a day. She could handle hot or cold but couldn't handle the the humid sticky in-between. I'm sure it can change with regions of the country. I know now that she finds cold air easier to breath in.
Our doc, a pulmonary specialist, said that asthma typically occurs closer to 2 years of age but in some children they develop earlier. In fact her pediatrician thought she had pneumonia b/c typically children don't get asthma that young. I'm glad you were able to get the diagnosis early enough to start managing her asthma.

[dismommy]

My son got asthma at 3 months due to lung damage he suffered after his premature birth. Was put on the nebulizer immediately,a though treatments were not easy to give, he has recently suffered a worsening of his condition (he is now 7) and the doctor told me that we could possibly get a portable Neb. to take away with us. Apparently it is small enough o fit in a purse, but my insurance has to approve to purchase. Also as far as stuffed animals they are discourage but if they have a special "lovely" (as it's called in our house) we were told to put it in the freezer for 12hrs ever couple of days to kill dust mites and other allergens. Hope this helps some.

[tinkerbellybutton]

My son got asthma at 3 months due to lung damage he suffered after his premature birth. Was put on the nebulizer immediately,a though treatments were not easy to give, he has recently suffered a worsening of his condition (he is now 7) and the doctor told me that we could possibly get a portable Neb. to take away with us. Apparently it is small enough o fit in a purse, but my insurance has to approve to purchase. Also as far as stuffed animals they are discourage but if they have a special "lovely" (as it's called in our house) we were told to put it in the freezer for 12hrs ever couple of days to kill dust mites and other allergens. Hope this helps some.

Carter was born three weeks early, they had to induce my daughter due to toxemia (sp?) Thank you so much for that info, I never would have thought about putting them in the freezer. We are fortunate enough so that Carters specialist gave DD a portable neb for him right in the office and she said if the insurance doesn't cover it, don't worry about it. I think it's horrible that insurance companies can tell you no when a Dr. says it's necessary.

[Nana]

My grandson was diagnosed at 6 weeks old as part of reflux. They often go hand in hand. He is now 11 years old. We have often gone to disney with his meds and the nebulizer and now we have inhalers in all rooms of the house, the book bag, etc. It has gotten easier. When he was little, he loved Disney videos so we would put a Disney video on as he do his treatments. He got to where he would sit very still and do his treatments when he needed them. It is amazing how much kids are able to adjust to.

[2Epcot]

I don't have any kids, but my experience is first hand. I was diagonsed at a young age with asthma and had bad allergies. Dust and bremuda grass often brought on my asthma. Cigarette smoke was also very bad for me ... Just the smell of it on someones clothes was too much for me. I just remember spending a lot of nights not being able to breathe ... and was in the hospital twice. I ended up taking allergy shots every week as well as medicine for my asthma. Luckily as I got older I "out-grew" the asthma which I guess is common for a lot of people. Hopefully things will be better for your son ... I'm guessing they know more now then 25 to 30 years ago when my asthma was bad, and that the meds have improved as well. I still get an inhaler when I travel out of the country just in case, but it is extremly rare that I ever have symptoms anymore.