Brayden and Bryna have had a horrible cough that won't go away and the pediatrician cant find anything wrong with them. Then I start to pay attention and realize that they are wheezing. (Actually - my mom came over and within one minute of being over she heard it and made me listen - I'm a bad mom!) I've got them both on albuteral and it seems to help. But if Brayden runs around at all - even for 5 minutes - he starts coughing so hard and he can't catch his breath. I talked to the pediatrician on the phone again today and he said that since they have reflux and a family history of asthma to just continue treating them with albuteral whenever they get this way. They don't need to be seen in the office and this will probably happen again. Oh - and I got the usual line - they will probably grow out of it. (Like their reflux, right?)

Umm...so aren't they a little young to just have me self treat them? Especially Bryna? And since the pedatrician is no help - I'm turning to you guys who are more knowledgeable anyways. Should I be asking for a referral to a specialist for this or just wait it out? When I got the script filled, the pharmacist said that it is the season for this so it makes me wonder if this is a seasonal thing and I wont need to worry about it all the time? What has your experience been?

Oh - and they didn't bring me a mask for the nebulizer, just a ton of different parts that the delivery guy said is just different manufacturers shapes....Does is really matter is I have a mask since I don't have one? I just hold it in front of them...

If it is not a continual everyday thing...then I would ride it out and see how things go.

I have albuterol here in the liquid form for Andrew....Every now and again he starts to wheeze and I will give it per his Ped, but has not been diagnosed with Asthma!

A mask is the most efficient delivery form if your children will tolerate wearing it. Catherine will not, generally. If she's really having trouble, we'll hold her down and use the mask. Otherwise, I just hold the reservoir under her nose and she's usually OK with that.

She has a mask that looks like a duck face. Your son might think that's kind of cool and be more accepting of using a mask. Your daughter won't care, lol.

A lot of children do outgrow asthma, especially when they hit puberty. Generally, the earlier symptoms appear, the less likely it is to be outgrown (according to one of our many knowledgeable and reliable docs).

I think you need the mask for kids to get it in effectively. If you feel that the couging doesn't stop then I would ask for a preventer, we have flixotide, I think it is flovent over there. Parker was diagnosed thorough his pH study at 14 months and has been on meds since.