Asthma and Kids—What You Should Know
Asthma is a disease that is fairly common in babies and children. In fact, approximately five to 10% of children are affected by asthma, which is about 5 million children overall. The symptoms that are most common in these asthma sufferers are wheezing, trouble breathing, and coughing. Not all children cough and wheeze with each attack, but they are common symptoms nevertheless.
 Fortunately, if you are willing to work with your child’s pediatrician it should not be too difficult to get the asthma under control. When the asthma is controlled your child’s life should not be slowed down too much and he should even be able to play with other kids and take part in the activities he wants to. Keep in mind that asthma that is not under control is a main cause of missed school days, hospital visits, and considerable frustration on the child’s part as well as the parents.
What Happens to Kids with Asthma?
Nobody knows exactly why asthma occurs, but one thing is for certain and that is that kid’s who suffer from asthma have super sensitive airways. This means that when triggers are encountered the bronchial tubes immediately tighten and restrict, produce mucus, and are inflamed. These responses result in smaller airways and considerable difficulty breathing. A fast acting inhaler can reverse these effects many times and provide relief for the child. However, in some instances the fast acting inhaler will not work and the asthma attack will continue or worsen. In these cases a trip the emergency room is required.
Many times children who have asthma have other family members that also have the disease. Children affected by eczema or rhinitis also have a higher chance of developing asthma. Children who are exposed to common triggers on a frequent basis are also more likely to have asthma than other kids. So, make sure you keep your kid away from smoke, mold, pets, dust mites, pollution, and chemicals if at all possible.
If you believe your child has asthma, or if your child is displaying common symptoms of asthma like wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and the like then an appointment with the pediatrician is necessary. Your child’s pediatrician will likely perform a variety of tests in order to determine if what is affecting your child is asthma or not. There are other disorders and diseases that can cause similar symptoms in children so it is very important to rule these things out if at all possible. Also, make sure your child’s pediatrician is focused on finding the cause of your child’s symptoms. Many times in the United States asthma is mistaken for a cold or other similar illness. If your child has a cough that just won’t go away then asthma may be to blame.
Please click on the following links for more detailed articles.
- Getting Your Child’s Asthma Under Control
- More Information on Asthma in Children
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