My soon to be 3 year old daughter has had to go to the hospital twice over the summer because she's ?

Question

been getting sick therefore giving her respiratory problems similar to asthma (but it's not asthma according to X-rays) . The Pediatrician wants to put her on a steroid for a few months (Pulmicort 0.25 MG) but we are wary of this, especially because of the side affects and the fact that the first time she went to the Hosp. he put her on an antibiotic for 20 days, which got us a lot of strange looks from the people at the hospital. Is this a good idea or should we start looking for a new Doctor?

Thanks.

Answer 1

It doesn't hurt to get a second opinion.  They will wean her off of the Steroids.  She won't go into "withdrawal" as someone else said.  But if you're not comfortable putting her on them by all means go to someone else.  It's YOUR daughter.  

Answer 2

I say a new doctor, Steroids are bad for kids, and They gain a lot of weight  from them, and once you get off of them Your body goes through Withdrawals. I say get a second opinion  

Answer 3

I think you should see a respiratory specialist. We had some problems with my son, and the doctors tried several things that didnt work. They were just guessing. Finally, we went to a pediatric specialist, and he was able to help us right away. Your pediatrician is only trained in the basics, but sometimes, they just guess at trying to fix the problem. I'd say, ask for a referral.

Answer 4

Get a second opinion.  And be sure there is nothing in your environment that is causing her problems - like allergens.  Cats, dogs, birds can all cause respiratory problems in sensitive people.  I was highly allergic to pesticides as a kid and was treated for asthma for years and it was and allergy causing the trouble.  Could there be mold in your home?  Does she sleep on a feather pillow?  Ask the doctor about allergies.  Maybe take her to an allergy specialist.  I would definitely get a second opinion if you are not comfortable with the treatment.  Good luck.

Answer 5

I would say if you want to get a new dr. go for it but just to let you know pulmicort is a cortosteriod which is a ton safer than when she has the breathing problems and has to go on an actual steroid.  My son is on a bunch of cortosteroids for his asthma because it is so much safer than him having an asthma attack and needing to take those nasty steroids.  He has been on cortosteroids for a while (he is 3 but diagnosed with asthma when he was 5mos) and we have seen a world of difference.  He rarely has asthma attacks anymore and we haven't been to the ER with him for well over a year (at one point we were there every week)! Yay!

I forgot to tell you that my son is no longer on pulmicort due to having to sit for long periods of time to take it even when feeling fine - he is now using Qvar because it is just an inhaler instead of being used with the nebulizer.  Maybe they can find something that won't require a 3 yr old to sit for such long periods of time.

They say it's always better to prevent or control the respiratory problems than to have to recover from the problems.

Good luck with your choice.

Answer 6

Get a second opinion doctor. And do not give the new dr. any info that was told to you by your current dr. Let the new dr. form his/her own opinion. Good luck to you.  

Answer 7

You always have the option of asking for a second opinion. This is always a parent's right.

Answer 8

I think he is probably right about the treatment since respiratory problems can be dangerous, but you can always get a 2nd opinion... but my nephew kept going to the hospital and we never realized it because none of us smoked, but it was everytime he got into a restaurant, around cigarettes, even with us in non-smoking section that he ended up in the hospital later on that day. I'm just mentioning that because it was really frustrating for my sister-in-law because they also didn't understand why he kept getting sick and there was something, just no one noticed it at first.

Answer 9

nothing is wrong with getting a second opinion. i say go for it. Why would he want to put her on a steroid for asthma when she does not have asthma?

Steroids are not good for young children and should not be taken, till everything else has been tried out.

Answer 10

I would get a second opinion.  I know my daughter has breathing problems and has gone through chest x-rays, tests and everything else.  They first determined that there was nothing wrong.  I got a second opinion and found that she had abnormally shaped sinus cavities and a deviated septum, something that they never would have found if they had simply continued to look at her chest for the problem.

You don't have to find a new doctor, but I would get a second opinion before you do anything drastic like steroid therapy.

Answer 11

I'm am a pediatric nurse and a mom. I can't answer what you should do in terms of treatment, but I'm confident enough to say the following: You're right to be concerned about steroids over a period of months. If is not inhaled (ie. it is to be swallowed), it will go to every organ in her body. If it is an inhalor, that is better. However, you say it's not asthma, so why start inhalants when you're not sure what it is.

It sounds like you are not confident in your doctor. There are always reasons for that. Go see someone else. You will feel WAY better if you fully trust the person who's taking care of your daughter and the problem. I hope you find the problem soon and it is resolved easily.  

Answer 12

See a pediatric allergist or pediatric lung specialist.

Answer 13

Have you had her checked for RSV?  If she's been in any daycare or around other children, its easily picked up.   It affects the lungs in many ways like asthma or pneumonia.  my daughter at around 3 was hospitalized for a week in one of those bubbles like cribs.  

Second, if you feel uncomfortable at all with your doctors methods, please go get a second opinion!  Personally I think you need a new one.   You shouldn't just rule out one thing and jump to steroids. And 20 days of antibiotics does seem excessive for one so young.  h**l even at my sickest I've never had to take them longer than maybe 2 weeks.   Start asking other parents who they recommend  for pediatrics.

Answer 14

I would say new doctor.  My son had breathing problems when he was younger.  It turned out that he has restricted air ways.  He has breathing treatments.  It took them along time to find the source of the problem.  We took him to a ENT and they found the problem.  Good luck.  

Answer 15

A SECOND OPINION COULDNT HURT.

BUT IM NOT A DOCTOR.

Answer 16

Get yourself an allergist, and perhaps a new primary care doctor.  You can't check asthma with an x-ray, and antibiotics not only will not treat asthma - they can cause your daughter to grow antibiotic resistance bacteria (think MRSA here).  Asthma is diagnosed after 3 separate episodes of constricted breathing, she hasn't met the criteria.  Pulmicort is a standard and effective means of preventing asthma episodes, and since it's inhaled the steroid is treating the effected organs, her lungs and would not effecting her system wide.  Of course, the first step should be Albulterol which works immediately, and it's not a steroid.