HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

Suggest Treatment For Asthma And Anxiety Disorder

Hello, my 15 year old daughter has been sick on & off for the last 4 years. She has lost a lot of weight over this time. She suffers with anxiety & asthma. She vomits on a daily basis, has terrible headaches, small bruises everywhere & crys that she wants to be a normal teenager. I m worried beyond belief now.
Wed, 25 Mar 2015
Report Abuse
Allergist and Immunologist 's  Response
Hello,

Thank you for asking at HCM.

I went through your daughter's history and would like to know more about her as follows:

a. What is the amount of weight loss?

b. What are her anxiety symptoms?

c. What is the cause of her anxiety? Any particular stressful event?

d. What is frequency of her asthma symptoms? What are the symptoms of her asthma? Wheezing, difficulty in breathing, fast breathing? Does she have hyprventilation (related to anxiety)?

e. What are her nose symptoms - running nose, congestion, sneezing, etc?

f. What is frequency of vomiting? Does she have any other digestive symptoms - constipation, stomach pain, etc?

g. Has she been investigated previously? What were the previous investigations?

Above details would help me to know about her and to make suggestions for her more specifically.

At present, from your provided details, I would suggest you as follows:

1. I would suggest her spirometry with post-bronchodilator reversibility testing. It will help to confirm diagnosis of asthma as well as to know her lung capacity. Sometimes, an adolescent can have asthma-like symptoms due to anxiety, which will be diagnosed with spirometry testing.

2. Based on spirometry report, her doctor would also decide severity of her asthma. It will also help the doctor to decide whether she needs regular medications/inhalers or medications/inhalers for as-and-when-needed basis.

3. I would also suggest her allergy testing for common inhaled allergens (house dust mites, molds, pollens, animal dander, insect proteins, etc) and common food allergens (milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, etc). This will help to know if she has allergies as well as to identify the substances causing allergies to her.

4. Weight loss is not a common feature of asthma-allergies. It could be due to poor appetite related to anxiety or other causes. Please get her weight regularly monitored by her doctor, so if weight loss is significant, other disorders could be thought about.

5. I would suggest her regular use of antacids like ranitidine or omeprazole to reduce vomiting and gastritis symptoms.

6. For intermittent bruises (At present, I assume they are hives, can be confirmed only by doctor after direct examination), I would suggest her to take antihistamines like cetirizine or levocetirizine and application of calamine lotion.

7. I would also suggest her a good multivitamin-multimineral supplement containing vitamin D, vitamin B complex (especially folic acid & vitamin B12), etc.

8. Please try to identify her stressor and try to remove it, if possible. A psychologist consultation will help her to combat stress. Regular stress reduction strategies such relaxation and meditation may also help.

Hope above suggestions will be helpful to her.

Should you have any further query, please feel free to ask at HCM.

Wish her the best of the health ahead.

Thank you & Regards.
I find this answer helpful

Note: For further information on diet changes to reduce allergy symptoms or to boost your immunity, Ask here.
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 
Loading Online Doctors....
Suggest Treatment For Asthma And Anxiety Disorder

Hello, Thank you for asking at HCM. I went through your daughter s history and would like to know more about her as follows: a. What is the amount of weight loss? b. What are her anxiety symptoms? c. What is the cause of her anxiety? Any particular stressful event? d. What is frequency of her asthma symptoms? What are the symptoms of her asthma? Wheezing, difficulty in breathing, fast breathing? Does she have hyprventilation (related to anxiety)? e. What are her nose symptoms - running nose, congestion, sneezing, etc? f. What is frequency of vomiting? Does she have any other digestive symptoms - constipation, stomach pain, etc? g. Has she been investigated previously? What were the previous investigations? Above details would help me to know about her and to make suggestions for her more specifically. At present, from your provided details, I would suggest you as follows: 1. I would suggest her spirometry with post-bronchodilator reversibility testing. It will help to confirm diagnosis of asthma as well as to know her lung capacity. Sometimes, an adolescent can have asthma-like symptoms due to anxiety, which will be diagnosed with spirometry testing. 2. Based on spirometry report, her doctor would also decide severity of her asthma. It will also help the doctor to decide whether she needs regular medications/inhalers or medications/inhalers for as-and-when-needed basis. 3. I would also suggest her allergy testing for common inhaled allergens (house dust mites, molds, pollens, animal dander, insect proteins, etc) and common food allergens (milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, etc). This will help to know if she has allergies as well as to identify the substances causing allergies to her. 4. Weight loss is not a common feature of asthma-allergies. It could be due to poor appetite related to anxiety or other causes. Please get her weight regularly monitored by her doctor, so if weight loss is significant, other disorders could be thought about. 5. I would suggest her regular use of antacids like ranitidine or omeprazole to reduce vomiting and gastritis symptoms. 6. For intermittent bruises (At present, I assume they are hives, can be confirmed only by doctor after direct examination), I would suggest her to take antihistamines like cetirizine or levocetirizine and application of calamine lotion. 7. I would also suggest her a good multivitamin-multimineral supplement containing vitamin D, vitamin B complex (especially folic acid & vitamin B12), etc. 8. Please try to identify her stressor and try to remove it, if possible. A psychologist consultation will help her to combat stress. Regular stress reduction strategies such relaxation and meditation may also help. Hope above suggestions will be helpful to her. Should you have any further query, please feel free to ask at HCM. Wish her the best of the health ahead. Thank you & Regards.