Asthma in Children

More than 20 million people suffer from asthma. In America alone, about 9 million of them are children. According to the American Lung Association’s website, asthma is the most common chronic lung disease in children, affecting an estimate of about 6.8 million children under 18 years old.

Asthma is a chronic lung disease in which the airways become sore and swollen, resulting to a narrow passage for air to pass through. An inflamed airway causes an increase in the production of mucus or phlegm, making it more prone to swelling and muscle contraction. Children have a smaller airway, making asthma a more serious case for them. Children and adults experience almost the same symptoms – wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and difficulty in breathing.

There is no known cause of asthma but several factors contribute to its attack. Inflammation of the airways, colds, allergens (mold, pollen, animals such as cats), airborne irritants, stress, changes in weather, exercise or lack thereof, secondhand smoke and viral infections are a few of them.

Signs that a child has asthma include wheezing, shortness of breath or rapid breathing, coughing after running or crying, recurrent night cough and chest tightness. Likewise, children who have asthma may complain of chest pains.

A child is more likely to develop asthma depending on certain factors. The presence of allergies is one. Another is frequent respiratory diseases, low birth weight, exposure to environmental pollutions such as second-hand smoke, and family history of asthma and allergies.

Children with asthma are diagnosed based on their medical history, symptoms, and through a series of physical examinations. If you suspect your child of suffering from asthma, it is best to write down the symptoms that your child experiences so your doctor can determine whether it is asthma or not. Your doctor will also ask you about your child’s history of breathing problems, allergies and the like. Tests may also be given to find out if the lungs are functioning well. Other tests include allergy skin testing, blood tests and X-rays.

Treatment for kids with asthma usually starts with an asthma action plan. This will include instructions on what to do when your child is having an attack, what medications to take, what to do when it gets worse and when to seek emergency help. Likewise, this plan will help control the severity of asthma attacks. Aside from the plan, it is best to be aware of all triggers and the ways on how to avoid it.

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