What’s The Deal With All Of These Kids Being Diagnosed With Asthma?

[Unregistered]

My daughter has asthma. It took us moving for me to get her a new doctor to find it out. He doctor told me she just had "a snot nosed cold" from the time she was born until we moved here to Ohio when she was seven. She would have "colds" for months on end, which I found odd. After we moved to Ohio her new doctor ended up diagnosing her with Asthma. I guess what I am saying is that it is possible for cases to go a long time without being diagnosed, especially when parents like myself know little about it.

My daughter who does pretty well with it in the summer (except for when swimming a lot, something about it gets her I think it is the odor of the chemicals). But now true to form this time of year her allergies started up, and she is wheezing and coughing up a storm and will likely be pretty constantly until spring. It is NOT a fake issue, and most doctors won't just "fake" it. DD had to have THREE doctors visits where there was wheezing before the doctor could make a diagnosis, the doctor said that was the medical standard because you can wheeze and not have asthma.

It is a SERIOUS chronic condition and to take a lax attitude about it as a childcare professional is dangerous.

who has taken a lax attitude about it?

[Thriftylady]

who has taken a lax attitude about it?

To assume that parents and doctors are faking it is a lax attitude. The child you assume doesn't have it when they do is a big deal.

[Crystal]

To assume that parents and doctors are faking it is a lax attitude. The child you assume doesn't have it when they do is a big deal.

I assume you are referring to my post. As I said in a later post, I do not mean ALL cases are diagnosed as such, and some are truly induced by colds/allergies. I was stating from MY experience, in which it has happened. It actually became pretty common in my area for some time and it was coming from the same group of doctors.

If a child were to have "colds" for months on end, they wouldn't be in my care for months on end without having been referred to, evaluated by and given a professional diagnosis.

[daycare]

I assume you are referring to my post. As I said in a later post, I do not mean ALL cases are diagnosed as such, and some are truly induced by colds/allergies. I was stating from MY experience, in which it has happened. It actually became pretty common in my area for some time and it was coming from the same group of doctors.

If a child were to have "colds" for months on end, they wouldn't be in my care for months on end without having been referred to, evaluated by and given a professional diagnosis.

my husband said exactly what you said about the doctors diagnosis as well and he is an MD...

[Thriftylady]

I assume you are referring to my post. As I said in a later post, I do not mean ALL cases are diagnosed as such, and some are truly induced by colds/allergies. I was stating from MY experience, in which it has happened. It actually became pretty common in my area for some time and it was coming from the same group of doctors.

If a child were to have "colds" for months on end, they wouldn't be in my care for months on end without having been referred to, evaluated by and given a professional diagnosis.

But how do you KNOW it was fake? Are you able to listen to lungs and diagnose? If not, to assume the families are lying is dangerous. If the doctor wrote up the diagnosis, you have to assume that it is correct. If you question it you can call the authorities in your state and report your suspicions, but you have to care for the child based on the written treatment plan of the doctor.

If you have never sat up all night listening to your child breath after they have been sent home from the doctor or hospital and are still having issues, you are very lucky. But it is something those of us who have done it won't forget.

ETA: As far as the diagnosis my daughter was getting from her professional for years, it was a cold. I had suspicions but had no idea how serious it could be. If I had, she would have had a new doctor much sooner. I had never spent any real time around anyone with asthma and had no clue. I now try to tell parents about what happened to us so they know what to look for.

[Rockgirl]

My diagnosis of cold-induced asthma isn't due to me having a cold.....it's due to cold air, which is why I cough and cough when I run outside in winter.

[Thriftylady]

My diagnosis of cold-induced asthma isn't due to me having a cold.....it's due to cold air, which is why I cough and cough when I run outside in winter.

Yes, My DD gets that also but not nearly as often as she gets a cold from allergies and such. We don't allow dd to run and such outside in the winter though.

[Rockgirl]

Yes, My DD gets that also but not nearly as often as she gets a cold from allergies and such. We don't allow dd to run and such outside in the winter though.

I probably wouldn't let my child, either. But I let myself, .

[daycare]

But how do you KNOW it was fake? Are you able to listen to lungs and diagnose? If not, to assume the families are lying is dangerous. If the doctor wrote up the diagnosis, you have to assume that it is correct. If you question it you can call the authorities in your state and report your suspicions, but you have to care for the child based on the written treatment plan of the doctor.

If you have never sat up all night listening to your child breath after they have been sent home from the doctor or hospital and are still having issues, you are very lucky. But it is something those of us who have done it won't forget.

ETA: As far as the diagnosis my daughter was getting from her professional for years, it was a cold. I had suspicions but had no idea how serious it could be. If I had, she would have had a new doctor much sooner. I had never spent any real time around anyone with asthma and had no clue. I now try to tell parents about what happened to us so they know what to look for.

its not fake....it's just that because there are not really any other medications that they can prescribe for children under 5 that are safe.

most colds cause inflammation in the airway and congestion in the lungs, an inhaler is the fastest way to combat it. so my husband says

he said most doctors are not well educated in asthma and that most kids under 5 are never usually diagnosed with actually having it.

[Thriftylady]

I probably wouldn't let my child, either. But I let myself, .

Well I guess I will ask this..... Why put yourself though that? But I am asking as a person who hates cold anyway.

[daycare]

I probably wouldn't let my child, either. But I let myself, .

lucky for me when I am able to run it does not get cold enough here that breathing becomes an issue.

NOW I ran in Denver Colorado once and I say once, because even though i was there for a full week and intended to run each day. I could not even walk due to the elevation and air there.................

[spedmommy4]

That is not true. My daughter has cold induced asthma and it is a real thing. The illness is a trigger for asthma just like an allergy is for some kids. It makes their airways constrict. WE have spent multiple nights in the ER from a minor cold. It is not a fake illness people have to allow their kids into school, however, I'm sure some can abuse this when they are really sick just like some people can take advantage of everything.

Agreed. My daughter has it too. Allergies are a trigger for her too. I can't send her to school when her illness triggers it. She gets really bad.

[Rockgirl]

Well I guess I will ask this..... Why put yourself though that? But I am asking as a person who hates cold anyway.

Because I am a runner. I sometimes run on a treadmill, but I'd rather be outside. I'm out there for at least a couple of my runs, even in winter. In fact, colder weather makes running enjoyable for me, and I'm a person who does not enjoy being cold. I know it doesn't make sense, but running makes it feel as if it's roughly 20 degrees warmer. And I don't cough while running--it's as soon as I stop. I can take a couple of puffs from my inhaler, and I'm fine. I'm only using it 2-3 times per week.

[Rockgirl]

lucky for me when I am able to run it does not get cold enough here that breathing becomes an issue.

NOW I ran in Denver Colorado once and I say once, because even though i was there for a full week and intended to run each day. I could not even walk due to the elevation and air there.................

The altitude kills me! We went to a concert at Red Rocks last summer, and walking up the ramps and steps, I had to stop twice to catch my breath. I decided then not to register for any races there, which is a shame, since it's so beautiful.

[Thriftylady]

its not fake....it's just that because there are not really any other medications that they can prescribe for children under 5 that are safe.

most colds cause inflammation in the airway and congestion in the lungs, an inhaler is the fastest way to combat it. so my husband says

he said most doctors are not well educated in asthma and that most kids under 5 are never usually diagnosed with actually having it.

Maybe that is why my DD went so long. She does better with her singulair and allegra each once a day now. But there are times (this year is awful for allergies here it seems she and I are miserable), that nothing seems to help. We try to keep DD out of the cold air as much as possible but the colds going around school get her I think she catches every one that goes around there and it seems to take forever for her lungs to clear up when she does. I felt so bad when her new doctor here looked at me with a very serious face and said "how long has she been wheezing like that?" and her eyes about popped out of her head when I said "Since a few days after she was born mostly". I had no ideal nighttime coughing was a sign of asthma.