copd in 7year old boy?

I can't imagine such a thing and have never heard of it, but someone else on this forum may have more information.    Were you given any idea of what could've caused it in someone so young?

Hi, sorry I have never heard of one so young, but copd is an 'umbrella' term which covers a broad spectrum of chest conditions. Have you asked for further info?

So sorry to hear this Toddly.  Who diagnosed your little boy?  Just wondering if it was your GP or practice nurse or a respiratory consultant.  If it wasn't a resp consultant, if it were me, I would defo ask to be referred.  Did they pick this up on a cat scan?

Please let us know how you get on.

Love and healing hugs to you and your son.

cx

   Thank you all who replied. A little backgound on Austin may answer some of the questions you have asked. First of all we found early in  his life he has a small wind pipe. We found this out because we wondered why Austin has had a wieght issue his entire life, as he has the same diet and exercise routine as his older and younger brothers however as always been a heavy set boy.(no video games and tv here,they work on the farm and play ice hockey three times a week, not to mention the biking and various outdoor activities that go with growing up on a farm.) We were told that because of his small wind pipe his lungs do not oxygenate his blood efficiently,therefore he has slower metabolism.He also has asthma. I did too however I grew out of it. As for possible causes for th COPD. I'm at a bit of a loss. I myself am a smoker (wish I wasn't) but I do not smoke in our home.I run a custom application busness from our farm,so there are alot of herbicides and pesticides on the farm but the boys know that the chemicals can be deadly and they steer clear of them, that being said they are likely exsposed to them more than an average kid.But as a professional I limit that to a minimum.(this is going to raise red flags with some of you but I have been a custom operator for 20yrs. my exposure would be a million times what they would get and I get tested twice a year to see if said chemicals are building in my bloodstream.) Last week my wife and kids went up north to the cottage, after a few days  Austin was showing signs of labored breathing and his inhalers were not helping. My wife then took him to the local emergency ward and they have been there since.After a few days at the hospital they told us that his left lung has swollen shut and his right lung was at 25%. He has been improving slowly and yesterday the doctor told us he has COPD. I myself do not believe this and as soon as he is out of the small northern hospital am going to take him to a respiratory specialest for a second opinion. Thankyou to all who reply and for your best wishes and prayers.

I think you are defo doing the right thing Toddly.  You really do need a good paediatric respiratory consultant.  In the meantime you might want to contact the British Lung Foundation specialist nurses.  They are very knowledgeable both in adults and paediatric lung issues and are very supportive and they will do their best to advise you or just talk it over.  They won't be in until Monday but their number is 03000 030 555.

Good luck and please let us know how your son gets on.

love cx

Hi Toddly,

some of yall remember Dawndee? Her name was something like that but I believe she was born with it or a kind of lung disease. Where is she? She knew soooo much about the disease too. Maybe she will see this and respond....

Hi Toddly

COPD is a big umbrella which covers a multitude of lung problems from astma to the more serious cases of chronic bronchitus/emphysema, hope this helpful to you.

Hi Toddly,

Firstly, I just wanted to say how sad I am to hear that your son isn't feeling at his best.  I've never heard of child so young having COPD but it is possible.  

I am in nursing school so bear with me.  From what I read, you said that your wife and son went up to the cottage for a few days and thats when he started having the real problems? Has he ever gone to have an allergy test done? It's the good ol' needle pricks they do on your back to check if you're allergic to anything.  Your son might have been allergic to something in the air near the cottage, and maybe it didn't show up right away but it did.  Also because your son has a small windpipe, if he was allergic to something there, it might have been part of the cause as to why he was having labored breathing. 

I hope he gets well soon, Toddly! Hate hearing when a child is suffering.  

Lung damage in children can be caused by a number of things, passive smoking is just one but there are other reasons also.  Check BLF pages, two links below:

https://www.blf.org.uk/Page/Childrens-lung-conditions

https://www.blf.org.uk/Page/Smoking-the-facts

You may want to contact BLF helpline for further advice.

Hope your little lad does not have COPD, take good care of his little lungs.

Yes....there was a lady...who used to be on here alot and used the dawndee...but I haven't seen her postings for awhile. She had it as a young child an was now a woman and still doing pretty good. The key is catching at an early stage and then the medichine and how well he takes care of himself can hopefully keep him at an early stage for a long time....years possibly. But everyone is different and I'm not sure what stage your son is at....is he on oxygen yet or just a puffer and a steroid? Can you tell us a bit more? Ladyjack51

HALLO TODDLY 

it would be good if you could get in touch with your doctor againWhen I found out abou t my copd i read some where that people  are born with a rare genetic disorder  called Alpha-1antitripsin defiecience 

Ask the dr. its your right to ask as much as you want 

I wish you all the best 

Regards ,nellebelle

It might not be what I mentioned but I read something like thids

Was there any mention of Cystic Fibrosis in his younger years?

There is a genetic cause of COPD as well that can be passed on to children. It is a  disorder that causes low levels of a protein called alpha-1 antitrypsin. Alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAt) is made in the liver and secreted into the bloodstream to help protect the lungs. Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency can affect the liver as well as the lungs. Damage to the liver can occur in infants and children, not just adults with long smoking histories.