Albuterol is a rescue medicine that can be used as needed or twice a day for wheezing. Kamdyn used it once, and I will never give it to her again because of the side effects. Hers consisted of rapid heart rate, which is not good for a kid with a heart defect, and appearing as though we had given her speed. She was miserable, could not sit or lay still, and basically acted like she was crawling out of her own skin. It's some pretty potent, serious stuff.
Xopenex is an alternative to albuterol that is not as easily prescribed. We had to get special permission from Kamdyn's insurance company for them to approve it. My guess is it is more expensive, so there has to be a medical necessity, such as heart defect, to get it. I have not noticed any of the side effects with xopenex, and it works the same. It is also a rescue medicine that is used for troubled breathing to immediately open the airway.
These are medicines that are commonly used to treat asthma, and while Kamdyn does not necessarily have asthma, her symptoms during the winter months are consistent with those of asthma.
Kamdyn's pediatrician gave us our own nebulizer last year after she had been in the office for croup several times. To use it, you place the medicine into the blue container and screw the top on. The mask attaches above the lid. You place the mask over their mouth and nose. When you turn it on, a fine mist is released, and they breath it in as they take breaths. A treatment lasts about 5 minutes.
Apparently, Kamdyn has a sensitive and small airway. When she gets a cold or cough, her narrow passage way is quickly irritated, which leads to croup. Croup is a narrowing of the airway, which can cause difficulty breathing, hence the asthma coorelation. I cannot tell you how many times as a mom, I have heard a doctor or someone tell me to use a humifier when my kids get sick. Last year, I ran that stinkin' thing all winter. Did it help? NO! I'm starting to lose faith in the good ole' humidifier. Anyway.
Kamdyn had her first case of croup for the season about two weeks ago. It's been months since we have used the nebulizer, so she wasn't completely cooperative at first:
For the most part, she doesn't mind it, and it really doesn't take that long. In this video, you can tell that she is feeling pretty yucky:
Kamdyn is back to her happy self now, and she was able to enjoy a couple of beautiful, 65 degree, sunny days we had last week.
There you have it. If you have any pearls of wisdom about this issue, feel free to put it in the comment section, and I'll add it in.
Oh I found your post so informative! Nichole just got croup for the first time! It was not too bad so she got antibiotics because her sinus infection was making it worse. She is better now but it sounded terrible! Her issues (all winter long) are sinus infections. Last year she ended up developing periorbital celulitis and we were at the hospital for a few days.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to see that Kamdyn is feeling better!
ReplyDeleteThe sweetest pics of that lovie girl. So glad she's feeling better. Scary stuff when breathing is compromised.
ReplyDeleteWe have the same issues here. Lucas has had croup twice in the last 3 weeks. We also have an emergency nebulizer but have never had to use it.It doesn't really seem to help him because it opens the lungs and not the airways in the throat which is where he needs it. Unfortunately the meds they used in the hospital cannot be used at home, racemic epinephrine? We've had to get steroid shots both times, it's miserable.
ReplyDeletePoor baby! But she is so cute! I have to say it again...she is just. so. cute! I hope that she has clear airways through the cold season with the nebulizer. No advise...we have one from Reagan's bout with RSV last spring but she was so little still that it was no trouble...used albuterall with no side effects for her
ReplyDeleteGlad to see she's feeling a little better. One of my twin brothers (now 15) has serious asthma and was pretty much attached to a nebulizer as a small child. Some of those medicines sound mighty familliar. One thing I found that helped Daven was to keep him calm as much as possible (not always easy with two sibs in the house, I know) as it helps with getting the medicine in. Good luck with croup this season and hopefully getting a 1-up on it this year!
ReplyDeleteGoing to add you to my google reader, awsome stuff. Keep it up and u have a loyal reader.
ReplyDeleteVary nice article it helps me so much, taking care of my son, my son is suffering from respiration problems in winters it’s so tough to handle it before having nebulizers. Nebulizer is an effective treatment of respiratory problems. It can be commonly used for treatment of Asthma and other respiratory diseases.
ReplyDelete