Brian,
Thanks for the update.  Good to see progress.

Brian, I am sorry I missed your original post but I viewed it from here. I first want to add my sympathy that your son has to go through this. If you had asthma yourself, I am sure you understand the possibilities of him developing eczema as well (itchy spots) and allergies, which sometimes (not always) go hand in hand with asthma. I hope he is spared some of the other attendant complications that can go with.

As far as steroids, I see parents every day at work who are angry and upset and fearful when their kids are put on steroids. No one wants their child to be on them, and doctors don't like to prescribe them either, if it can be helped. I work in dermatology and plastics, and we see patients all the time who also have to see pulmonologists and allergists for such things. The simple fact is that steroids do work well, especially where breathing issues are concerned. So try to make peace with this treatment at least for now. And try not to get on too many blogs regarding this, as people can go off the deep end and scare others half to death talking about side effects that rarely occur, and will likely not occur in your son's case, if he is in the majority of the situations. (And we of course hope and trust that he is.)

I am just happy to hear that you and his mother completed his course of treatment so far, and I wish nothing but the best for the little guy! It's so sad to see them suffer, but he has a great sober dad, and I'm sure he will be just fine with all the lovely prayers going up on his behalf.

((((hugs))))
Joni

Great Ref,
I know those first few days were hell! Glad thats over and some normalacy has set in.
Tom