Bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma... help!

[Marylizah]

How can you tell the difference between these three in kids?

DS is almost four, was diagnosed with laryngitis ten days ago. He's been coughing ever since. It started dry, then became wet, now we're back to dry again. I think he may be wheezing while he sleeps (it's 6am here) but how can I tell for sure?

He had a bout of bronchitis/ pneumonia-- a lung infection that was audible to the doctor but that didn't show up on the x-ray-- and recovered. Now it seems like every time he gets sick it goes to his lungs. He coughs horribly after walking/running.

I am calling a doctor in a couple of hours when he wakes up, but if anyone can walk me through the difference between these three conditions I would really appreciate it.

[Violet2]

Momma:

It's hard to tell without a stethoscope and chest x-ray.

Sounds like your DS has had a rough time. If you think he's not breathing well, I would go to the ER and let them figure it out--he might need a nebulizer treatment if he's wheezing.

Hope he feels better!

V

[Marylizah]

Thanks, Violet2.

He's awake now. We cleaned out his nose and his breathing is better, but the cough is AWFUL.

I'm calling the doctor in a bit. So glad to live in a place where doctors make house calls on the weekends!!!!

[Crafty]

Yikes. I hope he feels better soon. My ds had a wet, rattly cough this week, started on Monday night, but he slept through the night okay. Tuesday, he felt pretty awful and coughed all day. I figured I'd see how he was Wednesday and if he weren't better, I'd take him in. Wednesday morning, he woke up, came into my room and promptly had an asthma attack, so that was the end of that debate! In he went and the doc gave him a nebulizer treatment in the office, along with a prescription for Flovent. (His ears were also chock-full o'fluid, too! ) Poor kid. He was so, so much better after the breathing treatment- that alone decreased his cough by about 80%!

I totally understand- I always say that I think my ds's lungs and ears are directly connected. Every time he gets sick, even with just a cold, it's his lungs and ears. Asthma runs in my family, his dad had asthma, so I wasn't at all surprised when he was diagnosed. But it sure makes it hard for him every time he gets sick. I watch him like a HAWK at the smallest sign of illness- the slightest wheezing or difficulty breathing and we're at the doc's. Not breathing is NOT an option in my house!