Why is saline + duolin nebulisation prescribed for cold in babies?
Patient: Hi, My daughter is 14 months old. we are from India, presently staying in south part of the country. She keeps catching cold and cough often. Earlier, she used to be presecribed only saline neblisation with the usual syrups of chlorpheniramine, terbultaline etc. But, this time she has been presecribed saline + duolin nebulisation. What does that indicate ? Is she predisposing towards asthma ?? Doctor: Hello, Thanks for posting your query at Health Care Magic. Duolin, as you have rightly surmised is used for babies with wheezing or fast breathing, which will be greatly helped by the salbutamol and ipratropium in Duolin.     They must have used Duolin as she had a wheeze, which could be due to viral infection as such. If there is a stronjg family history of asthma, there is a chance that your baby is predisposed to develop it. If not, the wheezing and fast breathing is probably because of intercurrent viral infections. What can you do to decrease the frequency?1. Vaccinate her with influenza and pneumococcal vaccine2. Decrease triggers for her wheeze or fast breathing. Avoid the following:   - agarbatti/incense    -perfume     -face powder      -dusting or sweeping near the baby   - pet hairs -cockroaches      -soft toys 3. Wash her bedsheets weekly in hot water to get rid of dust mites which will cause frequent wheezing4. Clean AC filters once in 10 days5. Keep an allergy diary: each time your child develops fast breathing, note down all the foods she has eaten that day, any particular activity she has done. you can compare notes over a period of time and try to identify a common allergen    Hope she feels better and this has helped you. Take care!