What is Childhood Asthma?
Asthma is a disease that often begins in childhood. Asthma makes it hard for your child’s lungs to take in air. That makes it hard for your child to breathe. Asthma occurs when your lungs become irritated and filled with mucus.
What are the symptoms of asthma?
If your child has asthma, they may:
- Rapid breathing (with or without activity)
- There is a feeling of tightness (or pain) in the chest
- Difficulty sleeping (because asthma symptoms are worse at night, when you are lying down)
- There is a noticeable wheezing sound when breathing
- Have a persistent cough
The more frequent the symptoms, the more severe the disease.
What causes Childhood Asthma?
No one knows what causes asthma. However, we know a lot about what triggers an asthma attack. People with asthma are often sensitive to:
- Pet
- cigarette smoke
- Smoke from burning wood
- Dust mites
- outdoor pollution
- Mold
- Cockroaches
- Some foods
- Some drugs
Other triggers include:
- Do exercise
- Upper respiratory tract virus
- Acid reflux (when liquid from the stomach backs up into the throat)
- Sleep apnea (when you briefly stop breathing during sleep)
- Sinusitis
- Weather (variable temperature, muggy conditions, rain)
- Stress
- Getting too excited
Newer research shows that asthma is linked to obesity (significantly overweight).
How is asthma diagnosed?
The doctor will do a physical examination of your child. They will review your child’s medical history and perform a breathing test called spirometry. Spirometry measures the amount of air you exhale after taking a deep breath. It is painless and can be done in a doctor’s office. The doctor will give your child a disposable mouthpiece that attaches to a tube. The tube was attached to a machine that recorded their breathing. There is usually an image on the screen of the machine, such as a birthday candle or a brick wall. When your child exhales, the candle will go out (or the brick will fall). Your child will be asked to repeat the test several times during the doctor’s visit for accurate results. Your doctor will likely give your child a prescription inhaler to open the airways for the test.
Other, more relevant tests may include:
- Exercise challenge (exercise on a treadmill or stationary bike while doing a breath test)
- Exhaled nitric oxide test (breath into a special device that measures the amount of nitric oxide gas in your breath – high levels of the gas are present in people with asthma)
- Allergy testing (skin and blood tests to determine what you are allergic to)
Can Childhood Asthmabe prevented or avoided?
Asthma cannot be prevented. However, your child can reduce asthma attacks by learning the triggers and avoiding them. For example, limit your children’s exposure to pets and secondhand smoke, and keep them indoors on days when the air is heavily polluted. Avoid wearing perfumes or strong perfumes around your child. Strong odors can trigger an asthma attack.
Treatment
There is no cure for asthma. It can often be a lifelong condition. However, you can improve your child’s quality of life by knowing and avoiding triggers, reminding them to take their prescription medications, and following the written asthma treatment plan your doctor gives you. young. The plan details their triggers and what to do if they sense an attack is imminent.
There are two types of asthma medications. The first is maintenance medication (taken daily to control their asthma). The latter are quick-acting drugs (usually in the form of an inhaler to give them immediate relief during an asthma attack). Some people take their medicine with a nebulizer. Nebulizers turn liquid medication into a fine mist that is inhaled through a mask or mouthpiece. Your doctor will determine which is best for your child.
Living with Asthma
Living with asthma as a child can be difficult. An asthma attack can interfere with physical activity (playtime and sports), sleep, and cause a child to miss school or be hospitalized. Teach your child to recognize their asthma triggers and plan for those if they cannot be avoided. Also, teach your child to keep a quick-acting medicine with him in case of an asthma attack. With proper monitoring and medication, your child can enjoy a full and active life.