Nebulizer = Asthma?

There are many types of 'induced' asthma. Excersise induced asthma, smog induced asthma, smoke induced asthma, the allergies you mentioned can induce asthma, it really just depends. Asthma is a tightining or shrinking of the bronchial aveoli and anything that causes that to happen can induce asthma.

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It sounds like he does have asthma. When my daughter first started having symptoms, the asthma was only "kicked off" when she got a respiratory illness (cough or cold). Now that we have it under control with Singulair, she also only has symptoms when she gets a bad cold or cough. Sounds like you should probably see an asthma specialist. Does he cough when he runs really hard, even when he's not sick?
I just posted this link on another question as to the correlation between asthma and eczema:
http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/10208/1/The-Link-Betw...
Asthma is very treatable, but I would ask around for a good allergy/asthma doctor in your area and take him in...preferably when he is exhibiting symptoms.

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If he only has trouble during a cold he probably has viral induced asthma. There are several types.

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My son had RSV, and after wards he had "cold induced asthma". We had an inhaler for him for when he got sick to keep his airways open. By the time he turned 3 and his lungs had gotten bigger he out grew it and no longer needed the inhaler.

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He is a little young for an official asthma diagnosis. There are tests that can be done to confirm it when he is older. But, it does sound like asthma. You describe what we went through with my son who is 8 now and now has an offical asthma diagnosis. The doctor wouldn't call it that until he was 6 or so. My son still mainly only has issues with his asthma when he has another illness or when allergies are bad.

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What your son is experiencing is called viral asthma. It is triggered by a cold. My son has the same thing and the most important thing I did was change his pediatritian to an asthma & alergy specialist. His previous doctor was not an expert in asthma therefore he did not know how to treat my son effectively and that is what it seems your doctor is doing. Asthma in kids can be very scary so I strongly suggest you seek the help of someone more knowledgeable in managing it. My son was put on daily medication to prevent a full on attack. We also used his cool mist humidifier whenever he was sick, lots of fluid. We also elevated the head of his bed by putting books under his mattress to help drain his lungs.

Best of luck to you,

M.

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Asthma is not a disease but a symptom. Do you have pets? Are you treating your son's allergies? If you are not then I would think his lung capacity is reduced to begin with so when he gets sick it sort of puts him over the edge and therefore the wheezing and the need for the nebulizer. If you could get his allergies under control then I would think everything else would improve.

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Sounds like asthma to me. I don't understand why your doctor won't give you a more conclusive diagnosis unless he doesn't feel qualified to do so. My granddaughter's pediatirician said it was likely she had asthma and suggested that her mother take her to a pediatric allergist who then definitely said she has asthma. I suggest that a pediatric allergist is better able to give you a definitive diagnosis.

My daughter didn't take her to the specialist until my granddaughter's symptoms couldn't be controlled by the medication prescribed by the pediatrician. When I think about it, my granddaughter's pediatrician was saying something similar to your son's. We just accepted it for the moment and went to the specialist when the pediatrician was no longer able to successfully treat it.

It varies and is not as "clear cut" as we parents would like. Growing up I got asthmatic bronchitis EVERY year at least once and was told I may develop asthma, when I was grown I was told I had allergy induced bronchial asthma. I don't actually wheeze but I cough (there is a specific name for this type but can't remember it).

My daughter recently had bronchitis/almost pnemonia and needed a neubulizer but she does NOT have asthma.

My son was put on the nebulizer twice when sick but never diagnosed with Asthma. I too was confused He is five now and hasnt needed it in years

Asthma diagnoses are hard to make before age 2, which is likely why he is evasive. He has asthma symptoms - so treat the symptoms. Later, when he can be tested, ask for a referral to a specialist.

Doctors will normally not diagnose asthma until the children are older, around 5 according to my pediatrician. My 2 year old also uses a nebulizer when he gets that weezing cough and I have learned now when I first hear that cough, start the nebulizer immediately twice a day and it goes away within a day or two. It gets worse at night and in the morning because it just sits in their chest. I wouldn't worry about it, my 4 year old had to use the nebulizer as well, but hasn't had any problems since he was about 2 1/2, so they do grow out of it, which is probably why they don't diagnose until the kids are older. Just follow the pediatricians recommendations.

I had the same conversation with our pediatric nurse and she said it was Bronchiolitis. It acts like Asthma but only happens when the bronchi are inflamed excessively during upper respiratory episodes. Treating it with the same meds you have is what we do.

She wrote us a prescription for a portable nebulizer and now we aren't tied to the house when he's wheezing. It runs off either battery pack, car cigarette lighter power, or electricity. It's a Pari.

Asthma is like an allergy, usually gets worse at night or after rough play or when sick. He's still little so its hard to tell. I've been an asthmatic since I was a young child and I've never heard of that medication. Just keep his room and any areas he plays in clean and free of dust, stuffed animals and keep him bundled up when out and cool.

I have Asthma. Had it since I was a child.
I... only need my inhalers, when I am sick.
When I catch a cold or are sick, THAT is when my Asthma, gets actively acute and wheezy.

Many Asthmatics, get worse, when sick with a cold.
Not that it goes away, other than that.
It is a daily ailment. Which can get worse under certain circumstances.

Or, take him to a Specialist, to find out for sure. Versus just relying on the Pediatrician.
That is what I would do.

all the best,
Susan

I'm not sure. Alot of problems can come within our home. Many products in our home trigger asthma. Lysol is horrible. For more infomation contact me at ____@____.com
or
livetotalwellness.com/lisamariel

Hi SS-

Just another thought...there may be a reluctance to 'officially' diagnose it as asthma as it may then become a 'pre existing' condition? Things seem a bit up in the air lately with health care...

In any case, as long as the symptoms are being treated...and there is good 'linear' growth...lungs CAN be very forgiving over time.

Best Luck
Michele/cat

My son is almost 7 and he has cold/allergy induced asthma. And that is to say that usually when he gets a cold his asthma flares up. Or when he is exposed to something he's allergic to (dust mites, tree pollen, cats) his asthma flares up. Although he was not technically diagnosed with Asthma until he was around 3 years old because they can outgrow these things and at such a young age they don't like to diagnose. We just always kept Albuterol (for his nebulizer) on hand when it flared up. Now that he's older he has an inhaler. He keeps one at home and one at school.

I do have asthma, and it is triggered by illness and by the cold.

I wouldn't say at 20 months it is a definite diagnosis, but it could be asthma and only be triggered when he gets sick.