Bronchiolitis and Asthma

Bronchiolitis Turning Into Asthma?

March 2011

My son came down with bronchiolitis this week (a cough, then cold, that ended up infecting the airways in his lungs). I was reading up on this virus and apparently the chances of an infant or toddler developing asthma when they're older is up to 40% greater when they've had bronchiolitis when younger. Has anyone's child had bronchiolitis and had their child develop asthma later on? If my son develops asthma, so be it, but as I know nothing about asthma in children or its onset, what signs should I watch for (aside from shortness of breath), what should I be careful about as far as exposure, etc.? Possibility of Asthma

Hi - this doesn't really answer your question but thought it might be useful to hear. Two of my three children had bronchiolits (AKA viral asthma) when they were young. They both used the nebulizer with Albuterol and later inhalers. One of them had it quite bad and every time he got a cold it set in something fierce.

Trying to remember but they both had it from toddlerhood until maybe early elementary school - say 6 or 7 years old. But they both outgrew it and now at 15 and 18 are rarely sick and never have the bronchiolitis or asthma - both are quite athletic and participate in many sports and outdoor activities. Good luck

Our daughter had bronchiolitis at around 18 months and developed asthma.

The asthma diagnosis is a slow and evolving thing. If your son has another episode or 2 or 3, they will call it ''reactive airway disease,'' but once it's pretty clear it's a pattern, they start using the ''a'' word.

My main piece of advice for you at this time is to keep him away from viruses to the extent that your life allows. Put it ahead of social considerations for 2-3 months. Give his lungs a chance to heal, if (and I get that it's a big if) you can. I wish I had been able to do that for my daughter. I always had the sense that the onslaught of back-to-back colds prevented her lungs from healing properly.

As for signs, watch out for persistent coughing. Obviously, wheezing sounds are alarming. Don't be afraid of crying wolf; call the doctor right away if you are at all worried. If his color is poor, if he becomes lethargic, if his breathing is very rapid, if you see that he is ''pulling'' -- sucking his stomach in under his ribs and sucking in at the collar bone as he inhales, go straight to Children's Hospital.

If he was prescribed an inhaler or nebulizer during this recent episode, keep the medicine on hand in case you need it. The earlier you start the drugs, the better chance they have of working. Also, if he was given prednilisone, keep any leftover in your fridge. If he does begin wheezing and it can't be stopped by albuterol (or Xopenex), that is what they will prescribe next, and it's an advantage to be able to start it immediately without going to the pharmacy.

If he does end up with asthma, get used to giving the inhaler readily and giving any prescribed controller drugs as advised by your doctor even if they no longer seem necessary to you. Waiting too long or stopping too soon can make your child vulnerable to the kinds of asthma episodes that require much stronger medicine and more intense medical intervention. It really is a weird situation where more means less. This was hard for me to get used to.

Finally, if he gets asthma (or even RAD) be a squeaky wheel about it if he's in childcare. if they they don't seem totally on top of it, make a change.

Let's hope it's just a one-off thing and your don't need any of this advice. Anon