Question:
My nine year old son has been checked on two separate occasions at the
allergist for his lung capacity and both times come up very dimished.
According to the doc,he does not have asthma, although he did as a
toddler, but underwent treatment on a nebulizer with great results. He
never had an attack, just wheezing.
The allergist admits to being stumped about the cause of this, and
will refer him to a pulmonary specialist if the allergen control and
shots don't improve this problem.
Do any of you have any experience with this?
Answer:
Wheezing is one of the major symptom of an asthma episode. If you telling
yourself your kid does not have asthma, you are cheatig yourself and depriving your
kid of proper treatment . In some instances children develope a behavior which you call decreased lung
capacity (lower peak flow). Out thirteen year old son behaves the same way.
He does not cough, he simply can stay on decreased lung capacity for
extended period of time. We found it a very hard way - he had a respiratory
arrest a year ago. Only by using proper preventive medication ( flovent,
serevent, ventolin) you may find out the highest peak flow (lung capacity),
and then by controlling a peak flow at regular time intervals, and keeping a
detailed diary (diagram supplied with a peak flow meter) you can prevent
serious asthma attacks. Depending on the peak flow measurements a correct
preventive dose of medication is applied, under supervision and with
constant consultation with a doctor. The allergist has a long way in learning his profession, and studying
asthma. If I were you iwould find another doctor for my kid.
