Runny nose to cough...

[SuzySunshine]

So half a dozen (at least) times a year R gets a cold, his nose runs, its just a cold, 99% of the time he doesn't get a fever. But it ALWAYS turns into this hacking cough that he can't control, that makes him miserable, etc. Two times ago it go so bad he was wheezing and we had to take him in for a breathing treatment, they also gave us an inhaler for him. He's got it again yesterday/today, he's home from school, he's miserable. Cough medicine helps but not really b/c its because of the nasal drainage, cough drops help a little.

Why am I venting about this - my mom gut tells me this isn't normal. It doesn't happen to A, she gets the same runny nose. Often.

But at the same time I feel stupid calling my ped b/c he doesn't have a fever, they're going to tell me its viral...

UGH!

[Pollyanna]

Is it a reactive airway that leads to asthma? Our boys almost always needed inhalers when they got sick. Sometimes even a short course of steroids. A cold for them lasted longer and meant more days out of school than for our other kiddos.

Does he also have seasonal allergies?

Eta: make sure you use the spacer with the inhaler.

[spotty_dog]

DD has always gotten a little croupy after ordinary colds. DS isn't nearly as prone to this, it just seems to be how her body reacts to viruses.

Is he wheezing or is it stridor?

[SuzySunshine]

He does not have seasonal allergies that we know of.

We do use the spacer.

I don't know what stridor or a reactive airway is...

[spotty_dog]

It's wheezing if the sound is on exhale, stridor if it is on inhale. Asthma is wheezing, croup is stridor. (Obviously that's a huge oversimplification but it's just how I keep them straight.)

[Pollyanna]

Reactive airway isn't so much a diagnosis as a description of what is going on with your child. Typically the term is used before a diagnosis of asthma is given (if I remember correctly). DS18 started with reactive airway at 2 and DS14 at 3-4. When they were older it was just called asthma. They only had flare ups after a cold or during heavy seasonal allergy season. Interestingly enough, neither ever had croup. I don't think it's a big deal to call your doc at all. It's not an emergency but something you want to have a handle on so you know how to manage his symptoms better when he gets sick. Our boys had the inhaler and spacer but used the nebulizer when they were sick simply for a better delivery of meds.

[fluffhead]

My fourth child gets exactly what you're talking about - viruses lead to wheezing and trouble breathing. Steroids and albuterol inhalers usually keep it under control. Neb treatments only when it gets really bad. We've got her on antihistamines each night now to keep her from sneezing/coughing/wheezing at night.
It's kind of an art keeping it under control - each kid is different.
I can't wait for her to grow out of this, if she will - she's almost 7, and no signs of it letting up.

[Pollyanna]

It's kind of an art keeping it under control - each kid is different.
I can't wait for her to grow out of this, if she will - she's almost 7, and no signs of it letting up.

Our boys have pretty much outgrown this but not until about high school age. They no longer need the Singular and only use their inhaler maybe once/year max.

[SoonerTexan]

It's pretty par for the course for my kids :/

[SuzySunshine]

Thank you guys this has all been really helpful. His inhaler is albuterol, if he's still bad tomorrow I"ll call.

Thanks!

[peggyfromwastate]

I used to have to do albuterol neb for every cold with ds13. He did have allergies- you may have some allergy issues and just not know yet. Regardless breathing difficulties or wheezing or worsening symptoms or 3+ of these episodes in a year... I'd take it up with the PCM and get a referral to allergy/asthma docs most likely.

[scrub-jay]

I have a great allergy/asthma doc if you need a rec SS.

[SuzySunshine]

SJ I may take you up o n that as soon as I convince DH. He says its just a reactive airway and not something to get so worked up about. SIGH!


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[peggyfromwastate]

It is a reactive airway and chances are that will be the diagnosis. But they still treat it with albuterol and neb treatments. It's really a matter of bringing comfort to R bc it's miserable to feel miserable. I spent many months of my childhood sick with asthma and the wheezing and shortness of breath just sucks. My issue was (undiagnosed) allergies- I didn't get tested until I was 22 and I was super reactive to everything. Treat the allergies- and most of my asthma Sx have gone away.

I used to never take my kids in. But then they needed specialists, and we knew it, but we hadn't been bringing them in so they couldn't refer us until we had built up a bit of a file. Also the Peds seem to be able to hear these things better than surgeons. they have better stethoscope skills.