What type of doctor should I see for asthma/respiratory issues?

Question

My child has had a cough for months that hasn't responded to antibiotics, steroids, or allergy meds. I don't believe my family practitioner is providing appropriate care and would like to see a specialist but I'm not sure what type to contact. Do I need an interal medicine doc or a pediatric allergist or...??? The FP is beginning to suspect asthma at this point but my child is not wheezing or having difficulty w/physical activity or any of the other asthma symptoms, just a chronic cough.

To add more details, I don't need referals, can see any doc I like who accepts my insurance. Even though he's not responding to prednisone, singular & claritin, FP said keep treating & come back in Oct (coughing since June 1) for recheck. It's gotten worse in last 2 wks even w/meds. With school starting I believe more aggressive evaluation & treatment is in order!

Answer 1

When my son was five years old (he is 18 now) he got a terrible cough every time he stepped into the hockey arena. We would take him to the doctor and it was always bronchonitis. He would get an antibiotic and then get better. One summer he had a really bad cough, and the pediatrician said he had asthma. He wanted me to get a nebulizer for him. I went to the pharmacist (small town) and he said I should get a second opinion because this doctor said everyone had asthma or allergies. I took him to an asthma/allergist specialist. He did not have asthma, but the doctor tested him for allergies and said he had those. He started taking the shots but did not get better. I am not big on filling a child up with medication so took him to an ear, nose, and throat doctor. He x-rayed his sinuses (front and side view--the allergist only x-rayed the front). The ENT said that his adenoids were so big that they were causing the constant pressure in his sinuses. He ended up having his tonsils and adenoids removed and tubes put in his ears. He was a totally different child after that. He did not take any more allergy shots. He used to snore really bad before he had this surgery, but now you can hardly hear him. Before you start giving her child all kinds of drugs, get different opinions. I think doctors are really quick to say people have allergies and asthma. Good luck.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

You need to see a pulmonologist. He/she will be a doctor that specializes in breathing and the respiratory system. If the FP suspects asthma, then there are tests that will definitively recognize asthma or hyperactive airway disease, which is much like asthma. The test are preformed at a pulmonary function testing lab, (PFT Lab) and you will need to see a pulmonologist first. The two tests are called the methylcholine challenge and the pre and post bronchodialator test. Of course, I dont know how old your child is and if he/she is too young then these tests cannot be preformed unfortunately.

There are other disease or problem possibilities. Chronic Bronchitis, which would cause a lot of phlegm/mucus, Bronchiectasis, again, mucus, RSV or Respiratory Syncitial Virus, and if that is the disease, then the lack of response to the current medicine regimen is appropriate as virus's dont react to antibiotics.

Please, consult a Pulmonologist before you get too worried and find out for sure what your dealing with. Good Luck!!!

Answer 4

A chronic cough might be asthma related. Asthma is an obstruction in the airway that causes decreased air entry. That means that the body will kick into life save mode and keep him coughing to try to clear the block. The fact that he hasn't been responding to any of those medications does not mean that he isn't asthmatic. You just haven't found the allergen and been able to eliminate it from his environment.

Also, you cannot just help yourself to a specialist. As the specialists secretary or office manager will tell you, you need a referral from a general-family practitioner to get to see a specialist.

If you try a walk in clinic, they might be willing to refer you if you give them a little of the history, but be pre-warned that it is most likely that they will refer you back to your own GP. (They will not help you because they are supposed to support each other and not go behind each other's backs. Also, the second doctor might agree with the route that your own GP is taking.)

Good luck with it!

Answer 5

The Answer Is Very Simple. If His Kidneys Are Good? Give Him Water 3 Or 4 Ounces Every Hour That He is Awake, This Is All It Takes.
If Your Body Give You Asthma It's Because Is Crying For Water, It's That Simple

Answer 6

An allergist. My son and daughter have allergies and asthma. The are now on Zyrtec and doing great. It takes awhile for it to show improvement once they start it. Asthma does not always have wheezing that you can hear. A cough can be asthma. Good luck.

Answer 7

I feel your pain. I've had asthma for 14 years now and have seen several doctors. The truth is, there is no known cure for asthma at the moment. But the symptoms can be prevented. It really depends on what causes your brother's asthma. Mine is usually dust and hot weather. But I think the universal method is using the control inhaler.

I cured my Asthma the natural way?

Answer 8

This is probably an allergic cough, but she should have responded to steroids. May be she inhaled a foreign body, See a pediatric pulmonologist.

Answer 9

See an allergist doc first..they should be able to handle asthma or even refer you to a pulmonary doctor *lungs*

If you're insurance is HMO, you will need a refferal from your PCP
but it you have PPO you just need to fina an allergist or pulmoary who accepts your insurance

GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 10

Your child needs to see an Ped. Pulmonologist.