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You'll need your doctor's help. Asthma can be difficult to diagnose in children younger than 2 because conditions other than asthma can cause wheezing or wheezing-like sounds. In fact, a viral respiratory infection is probably the most common cause of wheezing in babies. However, if your baby coughs frequently and has allergies or eczema, and your family has a history of asthma and allergies or eczema (especially if you and your partner both have them), there's a good chance that your baby has asthma.
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs and airways — the tubes that bring air to the lungs. If your baby has asthma, these airways are irritated and swollen, and this can affect his ability to breathe. It's important that you work with your baby's doctor to prevent and treat asthma attacks. With the right medications, education, an asthma action plan, and regular medical follow-up, most asthmatic children do just fine. If your baby has an acute asthma attack, the lining of his airways becomes even more inflamed and produces more mucus, the muscles around his airways tighten, and his breathing tubes narrow. He may breathe rapidly, cough, wheeze, or whistle as his breath is forced through the narrowed airways. You may notice your baby's nostrils flare, the skin around his ribs suck in with each breath, or his skin start to turn blue.
If left untreated or if there's a delay in seeking medical attention, asthma attacks can be deadly. As soon as you notice any symptoms of an attack, promptly give your baby the "quick reliever" medicine prescribed by his doctor. (If you don't have any emergency medicine at home, call 911 or take him to the closest emergency room.) Once the medicine opens his breathing tubes, the symptoms should subside. If the symptoms persist or get worse, call 911 or take your child to the emergency room right away.

2006-08-31 11:52:19 · answer #1 · answered by cookiesandcorn 5 · 0 0

If your doctor gave it you she probably needs it. Asthma usually runs in the family and will often appear in infancy.

2006-08-31 12:48:06 · answer #2 · answered by sexyheater 3 · 0 0

good grief! don't MEDICATE a 19 day old babe.

Do you have animals in the house?

2006-08-31 12:48:37 · answer #3 · answered by bettyboop 6 · 0 0

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