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Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

I have asthma and allergies too and can relate - sorry.

Soot from fires can definitely be a respiratory irritant, and considerably more so for someone with asthma.

I have a few thoughts on what might be going on:

1. If you have a cough and wheezing (or a wheezy cough), most likely your asthma is not under good control. Do you have an allergist who can do an in-office assessment of your FEV1 (a type of pulmonary function test)? Most likely you need to be on something other than just a short acting bronchodilator (i.e. other than the albuterol). Has your doctor talked with you about an inhaler that combines a long acting bronchodilator (such as salmetrol) with an inhaled corticosteroid (such as fluticasone)? Advair is an example of this type of inhaler. It does NOT help for acute attacks but might get your ongoing respiratory symptoms under control. It does not work immediately. You may still need to use the Albuterol occasionally for acute relief. The problem with a short acting bronchodilator like albuterol is that if used frequently/regularly, it becomes less effective (something known as "tachyphylaxis"). So it should really only be used sparingly.

2. You may have a cold going on on top of all of this if you also have a low grade fever. That will make the breathing worse. It can also cause an enlarged lymph node due to drainage in the region. Usually these are kind of sore from inflammation. Keep an eye on it though as a new lump should be examined if it is not at all sore. Without being able to feel it and know the size, mobility and consistency, I am only guessing here that it is an enlarged lymph node related to upper respiratory (sinus/throat) drainage. It could be a sebaceous cyst or lipoma (both benign).

3. Finally, after all of this... I recommend you go in to an urgent care clinic and get your throat swabbed for a rapid strep test and then sent for a culture. Because the combination of having a fever plus a VERY sore throat raises the concern that this could be strep throat. And that does need to be treated with an antibiotic to prevent the risk of complications from untreated strep. A rapid strep test can be done within minutes while you wait. While you are there, talk with the doctor you see about considering a combination steroid/LABA inhaler if you are needing to use your albuterol on a daily basis. And ask him/her to feel that lump.

Given that you have a somewhat complicated history here, I highly recommend that when you go in to the urgent care, you ask specifically to be seen by a physician (doctor). I am saying this because many urgent care clinics staff mostly with physicians assistants and nurse practitioners because it is cheaper for the clinic and there aren't as many doctors to go around. You need to be seen by a real doctor.

I hope this information helps. Please let me know how you are doing after you have been evaluated as above.

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