my 20month old son was prescribed albuterol syrup due to some chest congestion from a cold. He had previously been diagnosed with bronchiolitis. After reading what the intended use for this drug is, I'm wondering if it is appropriate for my son who is not athsmatic and does not have chronic respiratory issues.
Is albuterol appropriate for chest congestion due to a cold in an infant under 2yrs old?
Question posted by bellykat on 12 Feb 2011
Last updated on 21 May 2018 by Bronchitis42
3 Answers
Bronchitis42
21 May 2018
I know that albuterol did help with the wheezing and the airway constriction I was experiencing from my chest cold/bronchitis
I would think the medicine should help a child as well who is having same symptoms with their chest cold
tmgal
17 Dec 2017
No. It is not appropriate. It's a misconception of the drug. It relaxes bronchospasm. Increase fluids to help your child thin out secretions and cough them up more easily. As the virus runs it course, his or her lungs will absorb some and he or she will cough some of it up. If it's an infection get antibiotics. If you notice your child is in distress, get them to an ER.
BridgettAnn0426
22 Dec 2017
I know this is an old post but wanted to say thank you for your insight. My children's father (not in a medical related field at all) insists that the answer to every sniffle and cough is albuterol and Qvar (80mcg). Even a scratchy throat with a dry cough, not a deep lung cough. My kids are 11 and 13 and have been using this medicine since they were very young. It was first prescribed when my 13 year old son was about 3. He became ill and had pneumonia, and was diagnosed in the ER with "asthma exacerbated by pneumonia". However, neither child has ever had an "asthma attack" in their lives and have never had any real respiratory issues other than those associated with congestion due to virus or cold, etc. I can't for the life of me figure out why this group of pediatricians continues to prescribe these drugs for both of my children. Their father also insists that they take a dose of Fluticasone nasal spray each morning for their "allergies".
(one of my children has been allergy tested and has no known allergies. The other has not been tested at all) I feel like I really need to take them to a different pediatrician and get another opinion. Probably worth mentioning, the father is a true hypochondriac, is at a dr's office several times a month for various ailments and has an entire kitchen cabinet dedicated to his personal pharmaceuticals. Really feeling like this is being projected on to my children .
DzooBaby
13 Feb 2011
Yes, they do use it to help break up chest congestion in someone,infants and children included, who has a respiratory infection. It is more commonly used for asthma but it is not unusual to see it prescribed for respiratory infections too. Your son will only need it for a short time, where a child with asthma would need to take it on a regular basis. It is very good for breaking up chect congestion and helping him get air deep in his lungs and may help to prevent him from getting pneumonia by helping to break that gunk up so he can expell it.
tmgal
17 Dec 2017
Actually, no. And a recent study proves that bronchodilators do nothing for RSV. Racemic epinephrine does. In order for albuterol to have any effect on the mucociliary clearance, you have to give a much higher dose than 2.5 mg. And you don't want to give that to an infant. Furthermore, the action of albuterol is a smooth muscle relaxer. It doesn't break up mucus at all. If the child has bronchospasm keeping them from expelling secretions, sure. Try a treatment. See if it helps. But to order an asthma medication because someone has congestion or pulmonary edema or pneumonia is not doing a thing. It makes people in the ED and doc office think you are treating something. As an RRT, I am tired of the overuse of bronchodilators. Our workload is out of hand with unnecessary therapy. It's unethical. We pacify people in the ED's. We make them think they can get this magical medicine and they come back whenever they have a cold. It needs to stop. And I'm venting, but I don't know how to spread the word and educate people. It's very frustrating.
Related topics
respiratory syncytial virus, albuterol
Further information
- Albuterol uses and safety info
- Albuterol prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Albuterol (detailed)
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