Asthma

[Guest]

My 7 year old daughter with asthma is being sent to an allergist for the 1st time. Asthma is exacerbated with colds and when she is in contact with cats. She is on Flovent inhaler, Singulair, and Albuterol inhaler as needed. She is also put on prednisone approximately 3 times a year. What can we expect from the allergist? Her diet does not change throughout the year, but her asthma is much worse in the winter. Thank you very much.

[Guest]

An allergist is a good idea for a child with asthma who uses prednisone 3x/year. The allergist can identify specific agents that can trigger asthma and help prevent exposure to them. Generally allergy shots in children without allergice rhinitis do not help control the asthma much. Additionally, a pediatric pulmonologist would be beneficial to help guide therapy. Any child with asthma that requires this much prednisone also needs to have pulmonary function tests regularly, have the inhaler technique evaluated and may be better suited with some of the newer combination inhalers such as advair(flovent and serevent combined).
[quote] My 7 year old daughter with asthma is being sent to an allergist for the 1st time. Asthma is exacerbated with colds and when she is in contact with cats... [/quote]