Eglu Cube Coop and Accessories

[iar fach goch]

Yesterday we went for a rare family day out and visited a butterfly house, with pet corner etc and had a lovely time, with children being allowed to handle various creatures, including a snake and bearded dragon. After a late picnic lunch, 3 boys went to play on a large bouncy castle. After a few minutes, noticed that YS had come to sit at the front and was coughing. He returned to play but after a few minutes came off and came to us coughing and wheezing and having difficulty to breathe normally. He couldn't speak properly and his heart was beating very quickly (he is normally a very active and fit child). He sat on my lap, whilst we encouraged him to sit calmly and then I carried him to the car and called the GP who agreed to see him as soon as we could get there. His breathing had returned to normal by then, with just a little coughing. He has had to have steroids and use an inhaler previously, having developed a lung infection on a few occasions, but yesterday was completely different, he was perfectly healthy. GP checked him over and agreed that he was fine, apart from the attack, which she has diagnosed as asthma, and gave us a prescription for an inhaler and spacer and said that we should ensure that he carries it with him at all times. She went on to say that as she was new to the practice, having previously been in paediatrics, she was unsure of the route to be taken as a GP, but that he would need to be included in the system. That was it. Any help/advice gratefully received.

[Cinnamon]

Are you sure it was an asthma attack & not an allergic reaction of some sort to one of the animals he had been around?

Just a thought.....

Because if it were an allergic reaction,then he may need an Epi-Pen in case of a second attack

 

I might be tempted to get a second opinion,just to be safe.

[merlina]

I have allergic asthma - if I get near something I'm allergic to (horses, a wide variety of chemicals, some dogs), I get exactly those symptoms.

It sounds like your son should have some allergy tests - but be very aware that you should think of these as 'advisory' rather than 'definitive' - my last batch of tests showed me as allergic to stuff I can tolerate well, but no reaction to stuff that produces a severe reaction.

Epipens are quite dangerous in themselves and are usually only necessary when it's an allergy to something that's ingested or injected - eg a bee-sting or a food. With asthmatic reactions the problem can usually be improved by getting away from whatever it is and so anaphylaxis is not often a problem , Having said that, I carry one in case I'm somewhere I can't get away from the allergen.

If it is an allergic reaction (the reptiles are unlikely to be the culprits but we can be allergic to absolutely anything!) then you/your son will need to recognise the early signs - for me a very hayfever-like reaction, so that you can get away before the asthma etc kicks in

It's also worth being aware that allergies change - if you're a 'allergic person' you can find you can't tolerate something today that you've been fine with all your life and suddenly something that would have made you very ill, is OK!

Allergies are a PITA to deal with because each person's reaction is so idiosyncratic - and mainstream medical people aren't always well versed. I'd suggest asking to see an allergy specialist.

[Willow]

Also your doctors practice may have an asthma nurse, if they do I suggest booking in to see him/her.

 

I have asthma that is mostly set off by allergic reaction to cats (except I love my cats so aim to manage the asthma/allergy rather than lose the allergens). I make sure I always have my inhaler with me just in case and have an unsed one in the car glove box. I can go months without needing it but when I do need it I'm always glad I have it with me. I found travelling in India I couldn't even get from the airport to the hotel in New Delhi without my inhaler but I'd been fine in Bangalore and had nearly packed it in my suitcase rather than my handbag. So it's never obvious what will cause an attack, cats may be the main culprit for me but they are by no means the only culprit.

[patsylabrador]

One of my boys has asthma and got it when he was little. The doctor said a symptom of it being asthma was if he coughed a lot in his sleep, which he did.

[Alis girls]

Have to say as a asthma nurse what happened sounds very like asthma. In the light of the fact he has had to use an inhaler post virally in the past could be the start of possibly allergic asthma. Asthma waxes and wains and you can go for long periods of time with no probs and then - something triggers it and off it goes. I would see your nurse and possibly ask for lung function tests or a peak flow meter to check it at home for a few weeks.

If the animal contact was a one off then he may not need allergy testing. But I agree with previous poster you need to know what you are dealing with.

As a caution please deal with it now - take it from a mum who didnt act on an allergic reaction (albeit mild) in the past and my son ended up in hospital with a much worse reaction years later. Believe me I still beat myself up about it so please get it seen to. Hugs Ali x

[iar fach goch]

Thanks guys for all your replies and advice, as I have no knowledge/experience of asthma it is much appreciated. I have tried not to make a big thing of yesterday's incident so as not to worry him, but on the inside I'm quite worried and unsure of my next move. He's quite used to fur and feather at home, and has never had any reaction to these, so don't really know what could have caused this. As a small baby he did have a reaction to egg but has since grown out of this; he'd just eaten a home made picnic lunch so I can't imagine that it would have been this. OH's attitude tends to be ignore it and it will go away, but I will follow your advice and make an appointment next week before school begins. Thank you all.

[Alis girls]

Please dont leave it - I agree dont make a big thing but just see what your asthma nurse says. Allergies can build up - I was brought up in the country - several mates had horses , never had a problem round their horses - now i am a "townie" and horses bring on my asthma.

We dont make a big thing of my sons nut allergy but we are careful - hes 16 and often forgets to take Epipen with him .they do drive you mad!

At least you have an inhaler now so if th symptons re -occur you can treat. You dealt well with it - a full blown asthma attack is scarey less so with an inhaler believe me.

[Willow]

He's quite used to fur and feather at home, and has never had any reaction to these, so don't really know what could have caused this.

 

It can be very specific, I'm (very) allergic to cats but not at all allergic to dogs or horses or anything else I've encountered with fur (or feather). I know people who are very allergic to horses but nothing else.

 

I wouldn't worry unduly because it is manageable but get down to your surgery so that it can be managed. I only discovered I'd asthma when I was due to have a hysterectomy and worried that I had a summer cold which might lead to surgery being postponed so went to the drs to see if I could do anything to make sure my surgery wasn't postponed and found it was asthma, other times I'd assumed also it was a cold and cough and that nothing could be done which was a little annoying once I found what the problem was. The combination of steroid inhaler when a problem has built up and reliever inhaler lets me control the symptoms such that it isn't a problem.

[Valkyrie]

When I was young I had asthma - brought on by stress I gather. I can't really remember much about it and it was when inhalers were not about either. I had to sit on a dining room chair facing backwards while my mum massaged my back. I did have the cough. Tonsils were removed as a result. Still had the asthma. An x-ray revealed scar tissue on my lungs - but I did not have TB. We had a puppy when I was a bit older which had to be rehomed as my mum couldn't cope with us both - me being ill. Then when I got better I (like most kiddies) wanted my dog back. So they got another one - and back down I went. Another dog rehomed because I am allergic to them. I am not allergic to any other animal - I don't know if I am still affected by dogs - I would hate to get one only to find out that the problem still there. I am OK with regard to seeing friends animals so long term might not be good.

Eventually at 11 I developed hayfever and the asthma went - apart from when I walk up steep hills and then it returns. Or when I was having a particularly stressy time at work. Doctor advised me to ask for a transfer - which I did and all was well. With regard to hills I have been given a tip of breathing like an opera singer - from the stomach. After the initial panic and trying to overcome it - it's beginning to work (I did say I spend most of my time trying to keep my tummy in - not push it out!!)

OH developed asthma when we moved here - but then asthma runs in his family too - mine was passed down from my mother as was his.

Both my children have inhalers - DD used to have it for swimming. Since I went back to swimming I also have an inhaler to puff a few times before I go in the pool. DS is allergic to cats - but that didn't stop him from getting one - he said that it got so bad they were thinking of rehoming the kitty when he began to ease off a bit. Puss is part Siamese for lower allergens and is given a bath regularly (much to his disgust).

Different things set it off - and the hayfever - dwindled to almost zero now.

 

I agree with the tests - inconclusive as some things I was not allergic to showed up too - eg cats and I am most definitely not allergic to those. The only time I have a severe reaction to those is when a neighbours cats attack the chickens or use my garden as a toilet - but it isn't an asthmatic one.

[Cinnamon]

My daughter grew into her allergy of cats & hayfever too,after 13 years with nothing at all.

With the cat allergy it is the saliva of the cat that causes the allergic reaction,from where they wash themselves - it is not a severe reaction from her though & a daily Cetirizine keeps on top of it (when we have a cat)

She has also developed an allergy to grape skin,raisins,sultanas & some wine.

 

So allergies can also develop with time.

[Valkyrie]

Oh another thing - you sound like Muttley when you laugh! And then if it's really a hard laugh you end up coughing too.

[zakjon-98]

Oh another thing - you sound like Muttley when you laugh! And then if it's really a hard laugh you end up coughing too.

 

I'm asthmatic and laugh like that too My friends have now got used to the coughing after laughing and it's become a joke in itself.

I'm allergic to cats and also have pretty bad hay fever and I was told by my doctor to take cetirizine every day starting from April to get it in my system for the summer. I have done this for 2 years now and it's worked both times

[Valkyrie]

And then the Tena lady jokes that accompany it!