Detecting Asthma In Children
How To Tell If Your Child Is Asthmatic
When in doubt, as a parent, you should seek advice from their your doctor and schedule an examination.
What Is Asthma?
Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory condition of the bronchial tubes that make breathing difficult. The airways become smaller and produce extra mucus making air passage difficult.
What Are The Symptoms Of Asthma?
- Repeated respiratory infections – Asthma often causes a weakening of the immune system. This in turn results in the body’s inability to handle even small infections. If your child has frequent bouts of bronchitis or pneumonia or always seems to have a cold, it is a good idea to consult with a doctor.
- Nagging Cough – If your child seems to have a chronic cough or a coughing spell is brought on by exercise or emotional stress it may be an indication of undiagnosed asthma. Night time coughing is common in asthmatics and can be very disruptive to sleep.
- Wheezing – Wheezing is the most often recognized symptom of asthma. As the airways restrict and the passage of air becomes difficult, a whistling sound can be heard. When it is severe it will seem that your child is struggling for air. A child may also feel tightness in their chest when they breathe, like pressure is being applied or their clothes feel too tight.
If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, seek advice from your physician. It is easier to have a diagnosis and treatment plan before the onset of an actual asthma attack.
Asthma Attacks
A full-scale asthma attack is a frightening experience for both the child and the parent. The inability to breathe can bring on extreme stress and feelings of panic. This will only exacerbate the attack. It is important to keep your child calm and seek immediate medical attention. Call 911 in the US or 999 in the UK or go to the nearest emergency room.
An asthma attack can be a result of environmental triggers to an already underlying asthmatic condition. Diagnosis and treatment will help you avoid them in the future.
Can Babies Have Asthma Too?
When children are too young to speak it becomes the parents’ responsibility to look for indications of asthma. Shortness of breath; rapid, noisy breathing; soft, short cries; difficulty breathing; and a shrunken looking chest are all indications of asthma in babies. They will also have difficulty breathing while they are eating and may be fussy eaters as a result.
A normal baby has a respiratory rate of approximately 40 times per minute. Adults breathe much more slowly. Parents of asthmatic babies can learn what their child’s normal breathing rate is and actually count it to determine if they are having an attack.
Treatment of Asthma
No parent doesn’t want to be told their child has asthma but it is a very treatable condition. There are now available a wide range of treatment options that make it possible for your child to live an active life.
The first thing you will want to do is have your family doctor run tests to determine your child’s triggers. Then you can work to protect him from exposure to them. Next, medications will be prescribed. There are two main types:
- Anti-inflammatory Medications – These medications include steroids and corticosteroids and they work by reducing the swelling of the airways as well as mucus production. This helps prevent asthma attacks.
- Bronchiodilators – They help relax the muscles in the airways allowing them to remain open so that air can pass through more freely. They also help the mucus clear from the lungs.
A combination of treatments will most likely be used. Your doctor will determine the nature of your child’s asthma and treat it accordingly.
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