RAD is back.

hey faithful blog readers!

please pray for the dude. we are in the middle of another flare up of his RAD and it stinks. he's coughing, wheezing, congested and overall yucky. sleep is difficult and he just isn't our happy Jordan.

we took him to the doc today for a new script of breathing treatments since we havent had to do them in forever. we're now at every 4-6 hours with the nebulizer. it is HARD keeping a 14 month old boy still for 15 minutes!!! we are trying to be very creative!

here's more info on RAD for those interested:

What is reactive airway disease (RAD)?

Reactive airway disease is another name for wheezing and coughing that happens when the airways in the
lungs “react” to something, such as a respiratory infection. The small breathing tubes in the lungs react by
getting narrow and becoming clogged with mucus. When air passes through a narrowed airway, it makes a
high pitched whistling noise called wheezing.
Some children with reactive airway disease may develop asthma later. While there is no way to predict
exactly which children may have asthma, children with a family history of asthma are at a higher risk.

What are the symptoms of reactive airway disease?
Your child may have one or more of the following:
• Wheezing
• Fast, shallow breathing
• Dry cough
• Chest retractions (skin pulls in between ribs with each breath)
• Nostrils flaring with each breath

What is the treatment?
Your child’s doctor will talk with you about specific care for your child. Some general guidelines to follow
are listed below:
• Your child’s doctor may prescribe aerosol treatments (breathing treatments) with medicine that works
to relax the airways that are reacting. Some children may use an inhaler (puffer), also called a metered
dose inhaler or MDI.
• Your child’s doctor may also prescribe steroids (for example, Prelone or Orapred) to be taken for
several days. The steroids help reduce inflammation and irritation in the airways.
• Keep your child away from cigarette smoke, perfumes and other strong fumes that may make the
wheezing worse.
• Do not use over-the-counter medicines, such as cough syrup, unless your child’s doctor tells you to.