Un-prescribed albuterol for an infant?!
Question: Un-prescribed albuterol for an infant!?
My husbands ex is giving her infant (almost 1 year of age) albuterol treatments through a nebulizer at home, becuase she thinks the baby has asthma!. She has NOT consulted a physican about this diagnosis or treatment!. Unfortunatly due to other circumstances none of us, including her other daughter who is currently residing with us, are on speaking terms with her right now!. I know she'll just get irrate and hang up if I call!. If I call DCFS it will seem like I am doing it out of pettiness or being vengeful!. How serious is this, and what effects could it have on the baby!? Should I call DCFS anyways, despite the further consequences to our extended family dynamic!?Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
Without a thorough understanding of what dose and frequency the child is receiving !.!.!. all this rhetoric centers around speculation!.
An infant can receive adult doses and not have any harm done!. The side effects for an infant !.!.!. would be elevated heart rate and neurological irritation !.!.!. the baby will not sleep much !.!.!. and will be very hyper!. I have given very large doses to infants with very little side effects!. Not to downplay the potential risk for inappropriate therapy !.!.!.!. because they are potentially real!.
The fact that she has diagnosed her infant with asthma is a concern !.!.!. since we do not diagnose infants with asthma!. You may have heard physicians use that diagnosis !.!.!. but it is wrong and inappropriate !.!.!. we usually will use the term Wheezing Associated Respiratory Illness !.!.!. that does not confer the diagnosis of asthma !.!.!.!.
Her pediatrician should know that she is doing this !.!. especially if she becomes ill and needs pharmacotherapy !.!.!.!.
Then there are the legal issues of inappropriate care for a child !.!.!.!.
I have asked my attending this question and he suggests:
1!. To find someone that can talk to her and suggest that she discontinue the treatment and take the baby to the pediatrician
2!. If she chooses to continue her course of action !.!.!. remind her that their are medical and legal repercussions to what she is doing !.!.!.!.
3!. A last step would be reporting her to CPS !.!.!.!.!.!.
Hope this helps !.!.!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
An infant can receive adult doses and not have any harm done!. The side effects for an infant !.!.!. would be elevated heart rate and neurological irritation !.!.!. the baby will not sleep much !.!.!. and will be very hyper!. I have given very large doses to infants with very little side effects!. Not to downplay the potential risk for inappropriate therapy !.!.!.!. because they are potentially real!.
The fact that she has diagnosed her infant with asthma is a concern !.!.!. since we do not diagnose infants with asthma!. You may have heard physicians use that diagnosis !.!.!. but it is wrong and inappropriate !.!.!. we usually will use the term Wheezing Associated Respiratory Illness !.!.!. that does not confer the diagnosis of asthma !.!.!.!.
Her pediatrician should know that she is doing this !.!. especially if she becomes ill and needs pharmacotherapy !.!.!.!.
Then there are the legal issues of inappropriate care for a child !.!.!.!.
I have asked my attending this question and he suggests:
1!. To find someone that can talk to her and suggest that she discontinue the treatment and take the baby to the pediatrician
2!. If she chooses to continue her course of action !.!.!. remind her that their are medical and legal repercussions to what she is doing !.!.!.!.
3!. A last step would be reporting her to CPS !.!.!.!.!.!.
Hope this helps !.!.!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Even a Doctor can misdiagnose, the infant (baby) is in danger!. Make the call, you and your husband are obligated to do so because you both know she is giving medication that is not prescribed!. The baby may have a cardiac problem or more serious lung disease, pray not!. Good luckWww@Answer-Health@Com
Using a prescription medication on someone it wasn't prescribed for, especially an infant, can be VERY dangerous!. It could kill her if she's on other meds!. Call Child Protective Services Pronto!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Regardless if that child IS asthmatic it needs to be seen by a legit Doctor to get proper medication!. She doesn't k now how much to give a child that small, so she could very easily overdose the baby, Albuterol over doses ARE deadly!!!! They increase your respirations, blood pressure, and heart rate!. The baby could ultimatley suffer a heart attack if someone doesn't intervene!. And right now that's YOU!. I would call the ER and speak to a nurse and tell her what's happening, ask what the side effects are and what you should do!. Personally I would have been on the phone to DCFS the first second I heard about that!. It is EVERY adults responsiblity to make sure our children stay safe!. Even if you think it's none of your business I want you to think of how you will feel when you get a phone call saying that the child past away due to an albuterol overdose and you didn't do anything to stop it!.Www@Answer-Health@Com