Hi there, my DS was on an inhaler from July (our winter) to mid-Feb (our warmest month), although we had expected him to come off as it got warmer (Octoberish).  It could just be a coincidence that the switching off of the pilot light coincided with your LO coming off the asthma pump.

hi thanks for that. yes i agree it maybe just coincidental...but what if its not!. between sept and april i have spent almost 1000euros on dr bills and hospitals. but what if this was the cause???? another reason that makes me think this fire is to blame is i was told at the start when my daughter was diagnosed with asthma that in the summer/warmer mths she may not even need inhalers......but we live in ireland and for the last 2mths of this "summer" we have had nothing but rain and the kids are still in vests! so that can also be ruled out as the change in my daughters symptoms.

Hi i don't think there could be a connection not unless they are like this all the time around gas appliances, my friend is severly allergic to gas she had to go all electric but she now as a combi boiler fitted as they are sealed so she doesn't suffer with it and it is fitted in her outhouse. But if your children are allergic to gas they would be bad around cooker hob or fire when on. It may be a coincidence. See how they go when it is cold when you will be using fire and see how they are then. I can't believe a fitter told you to keep the pilot light lit all time even when not using it. I kept my water heater lit but i used it regular obviously for hot water but when fire is not in use through the summer there is no need to keep pilot light lit.....Some dozy workmen. It could be fumes but i wouldn't think there would be a major load coming off pilot light to cause them symptoms, but who knows. Sharon x

hi i have a 2yr old daughter who last yr was diagnosed with asthma. she had 2-3 chest inf in as many mths and in oct 07 was put on steriod inhaler. around the same time( late aug) i got a gas fire fitted and we were told to never switch pilot light off on it(to even leave on when away or on hols or whatever). to just switch it down . she has had her inhalers every day since then, until 4wks ago. when i had my gas  boiler serviced, the service man (diff man to the one who fitted fire) had a look at our gas fire and asked why  was the pilot light on. when i told him thats what we were advised to do, he went mad and said we were given wrong advice and it should have been switched of tottally always! but since then my daughter hasnt needed her inhalers and has never even as much as coughed. also both my kids(i also have a 5yr old DD), have had runny noses constantly and my 5yr old has just had grommets fitted for constant ear inf since sept 07. but since the service neither have even needed a tissue!  do you think there is a connection??? and should i take it further with gas company????     thanks xxxxxxxxxxlisa