What is viral induced wheeze?
A wheeze or whistling sound that is caused by a viral infection (a cough or a cold). The wheeze may return each time your child has a cold. Usually the child is well in-between the viral infections but the wheeze can last for some weeks after the infection. Children under the age of 3 years are more likely to be affected as their air passages are small.
Treatment
Over the next few days, your child will need to be regularly given a blue (salbutamol) reliever inhaler.
Dose of blue (salbutamol) reliever inhaler via Spacer:
Today ....... puffs, ....... hourly for first ....... day(s)
Then ....... puffs, ....... hourly for next ....... day(s)
Then ....... puffs, ....... hourly until symptoms improve
after which your child should be back to normal and you should be able to stop the blue inhaler.
In the event that your child has been started on steroid tablets, these should be continued once daily (usual treatment course is 3 days).
If your child becomes increasingly breathless despite following the plan above, you should follow the instructions outlined in the table below
Looking after your child during episodes of viral induced wheeze
At the start of cold symptoms (such as runny nose), begin your child on blue (salbutamol) reliever inhaler 2 puffs 4 hourly (including through the night).