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Suggest Treatment For Chronic Asthma In A 4 Year Old
Question: Hi, my child is 4 years old. He caught cold and cough three days ago. Runny nose and cough. Mild fever for the first two days but on the third day fever has been 102-103 F. We had to give fever med every 6 hours as fever comes back. He has asthma as well and he is on Budecort 100 and Asthalin 100 for the past 1.5 years. We have increased the Budecort dose to 200 and have been giving asthalin puff three times a day. This is the flu season and swine flu is also in the city, would you recommend antibiotics? If yes, which one? When should we see a doctor? Child isn't too lethargic as of now.
Is there anything we should take care of?
-XXXXXX
Is there anything we should take care of?
-XXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Take the child to a hospital without delay
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
Chronic asthma can be can be aggravated by certain viral infections which generally does not show up in a routine blood test. Antibiotics are ineffective in the treatment of viral infections. Irrespective of the use of antibiotics, such infections may last for 5-10 days. But the child growing lethargic or developing wheezing calls for immediate action and you would have to take him to a pediatrician without delay. You need to get the blood counts and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels checked. If the leucocyte count or CRP turn out to be high, antibiotics need to be give. Usually azithromycin or levofloxacin work well in such cases.
Relent Syr. contains a mucolytic along with an antiallergic and can be given. If fever is present, it needs to be controlled by the use of crocin or paracetamol and tepid sponging. You can also give Meftal P which is more effective than crocin in reducing temperature. But it is a prescription medication and you might need to get it prescribed by your doctor. Saline nasal drops like Nasoclear may be given in case of nasal block. Please continue the inhalers or nebulization as you take the child to your doctor.
Swine flu refers to a variant of influenza virus that otherwise affects pigs. A different variant affects humans. It is only if one gets accidentally affected by both and if a recombination between the two occur, a new strain may be produced, to which we are not immune, and an epidemic may result. Hence the fuss. I do not think that you need to worry. Antibiotics will not help in preventing or curing swine flu. Certain antivirals would be required but only if it is proved to be swine flu.
Hope that helps.
If you found my answer helpful, please close the thread with a positive review and a 5 star rating.
Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das
Take the child to a hospital without delay
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
Chronic asthma can be can be aggravated by certain viral infections which generally does not show up in a routine blood test. Antibiotics are ineffective in the treatment of viral infections. Irrespective of the use of antibiotics, such infections may last for 5-10 days. But the child growing lethargic or developing wheezing calls for immediate action and you would have to take him to a pediatrician without delay. You need to get the blood counts and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels checked. If the leucocyte count or CRP turn out to be high, antibiotics need to be give. Usually azithromycin or levofloxacin work well in such cases.
Relent Syr. contains a mucolytic along with an antiallergic and can be given. If fever is present, it needs to be controlled by the use of crocin or paracetamol and tepid sponging. You can also give Meftal P which is more effective than crocin in reducing temperature. But it is a prescription medication and you might need to get it prescribed by your doctor. Saline nasal drops like Nasoclear may be given in case of nasal block. Please continue the inhalers or nebulization as you take the child to your doctor.
Swine flu refers to a variant of influenza virus that otherwise affects pigs. A different variant affects humans. It is only if one gets accidentally affected by both and if a recombination between the two occur, a new strain may be produced, to which we are not immune, and an epidemic may result. Hence the fuss. I do not think that you need to worry. Antibiotics will not help in preventing or curing swine flu. Certain antivirals would be required but only if it is proved to be swine flu.
Hope that helps.
If you found my answer helpful, please close the thread with a positive review and a 5 star rating.
Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you Dr Dipanshu.
Child is not lathargic and has been playing. Asthma symptoms are also under control as of now. I am worried about fever that's coming back (102-103 F range). High fever is there since today morning that subsides with med but takes like 2 hours and then comes back within 6 hours. Should we still take him to doc immediately or should we watch for some more time?
Is there any specific symptom we need to watch out for to take him to emergency if he developed those?
I had similar symptoms a week ago. He seems to have caught flu from me.
Child is not lathargic and has been playing. Asthma symptoms are also under control as of now. I am worried about fever that's coming back (102-103 F range). High fever is there since today morning that subsides with med but takes like 2 hours and then comes back within 6 hours. Should we still take him to doc immediately or should we watch for some more time?
Is there any specific symptom we need to watch out for to take him to emergency if he developed those?
I had similar symptoms a week ago. He seems to have caught flu from me.
Brief Answer:
If asthma symptoms are in control and child is playful- less cause to worry
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
If the child is not lethargic, I would not really bother. I would ask you to look out for excessive wheezing or lethargy as signs which call for visiting the emergency.
For fever, try giving crocin which contains paracetamol. If it does not get corrected, you can try meftal P which contains mefenamic acid which is more effective in reducing temperature. But it is a prescription medication and you might need to get it prescribed by your doctor.
It might still be a good idea to visit your doctor since he would be able to examine the chest and evaluate if antibiotics needs to be given alongwith. He will also be able to get a routine blood test done to justify the same.
Hope that helps.
Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das
If asthma symptoms are in control and child is playful- less cause to worry
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
If the child is not lethargic, I would not really bother. I would ask you to look out for excessive wheezing or lethargy as signs which call for visiting the emergency.
For fever, try giving crocin which contains paracetamol. If it does not get corrected, you can try meftal P which contains mefenamic acid which is more effective in reducing temperature. But it is a prescription medication and you might need to get it prescribed by your doctor.
It might still be a good idea to visit your doctor since he would be able to examine the chest and evaluate if antibiotics needs to be given alongwith. He will also be able to get a routine blood test done to justify the same.
Hope that helps.
Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear Dr Dipanshu,
We took the child to a doctor and he gave him antibiotic Augmentin (amoxicillin) 4 ml twice a day for 4 days. A bronchodilator and Noble Plus (Paracetamol) for fever.
Fifth day ie yesterday, child was better. Fever subsided with medicine and only two fever doses were required. He was playful as well.
However today that is sixth day, he has become less active. Fever came thrice. He vomitted in the night that smelled sour. He has cough.
His urine twice was brownish but in the night it looked okay. Fever is in the range of 101-102
On suggestion of a paediatrician, we gave him Ondem 5ml and fever med. He asked us to increase Augmentin dose to 10ml twice a day.
What does it look like and what does it mean? Kindly suggest.
Can there be secondary infection like UTI. Is there a need to get H1N1? If H1N1 is positive, what does it mean? Does it make a difference if it is H1N1 or any other virus?
Do we need to get the child admitted in hospital?
Kindly suggest.
We took the child to a doctor and he gave him antibiotic Augmentin (amoxicillin) 4 ml twice a day for 4 days. A bronchodilator and Noble Plus (Paracetamol) for fever.
Fifth day ie yesterday, child was better. Fever subsided with medicine and only two fever doses were required. He was playful as well.
However today that is sixth day, he has become less active. Fever came thrice. He vomitted in the night that smelled sour. He has cough.
His urine twice was brownish but in the night it looked okay. Fever is in the range of 101-102
On suggestion of a paediatrician, we gave him Ondem 5ml and fever med. He asked us to increase Augmentin dose to 10ml twice a day.
What does it look like and what does it mean? Kindly suggest.
Can there be secondary infection like UTI. Is there a need to get H1N1? If H1N1 is positive, what does it mean? Does it make a difference if it is H1N1 or any other virus?
Do we need to get the child admitted in hospital?
Kindly suggest.
Brief Answer:
Be patient. Fever may persist for sometime.Antibiotics ineffective in viral
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
I would insist you to relax. I understand the situation but let me assure that the fever may persist for sometime. Augmentin is a good antibiotic and likely to be effective if it is due to a bacterial infection. Getting a routine blood count can confirm whether the infection is bacterial.
It could also be due to a viral infection where antibiotics would be ineffective although the infection should subside eventually. H1N1 is a variety of influenza virus or flu virus. We get flu every now and then and it does not even need treatment. I do not think that you need to get a test done for the same. I do not think that you need to get your child admitted, but your doctor would be able to say better.
An UTI is also possible but Augmentin should take care of it.
Hope that helps.
Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das
Be patient. Fever may persist for sometime.Antibiotics ineffective in viral
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
I would insist you to relax. I understand the situation but let me assure that the fever may persist for sometime. Augmentin is a good antibiotic and likely to be effective if it is due to a bacterial infection. Getting a routine blood count can confirm whether the infection is bacterial.
It could also be due to a viral infection where antibiotics would be ineffective although the infection should subside eventually. H1N1 is a variety of influenza virus or flu virus. We get flu every now and then and it does not even need treatment. I do not think that you need to get a test done for the same. I do not think that you need to get your child admitted, but your doctor would be able to say better.
An UTI is also possible but Augmentin should take care of it.
Hope that helps.
Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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