Asthma is a chronic condition that causes inflammation in the airway. External triggers like the inhalation of pollen and dust cause the muscles to tighten, resulting in wheezing, coughing, and difficulty breathing. It's an incurable condition, but it can be managed with medications.
Childhood asthma is no different from adult asthma but children present different symptoms. Conclusive testing for asthma before five years old is tricky and your child may not present any symptoms before their first attack. But, it's important to identify the warning signs to prevent permanent, extensive lung damage.
Causes and triggers
Some of the most common causes of asthma or asthma attacks include allergens like pollen, dust mites, respiratory infections, air quality, dog saliva, and dander. Early indicators of asthma in children include food allergies as well. Crying, tantrums, and distress can trigger the tightening of the chest and difficulty breathing.
If your child exhibits wheezing, difficulty breathing after short bursts of activity, coughing frequently, or pain in the chest area, consult your doctor. Quick RX Refill can make your life easier. Using their online medical consultations and prescription services, you get the help and advice you need whenever and wherever you are.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of asthma are wheezing or a whistling sound when breathing in and out, shortness of breath and coughing. In severe cases, children can experience attacks in which their sides pull inward as they use their abdominal muscles to try to draw in a breath. They also experience chest pain and excessive sweating.
It's important to pay attention to the symptoms that your child expresses both physically and verbally. And although they might not always understand what's happening to them, saying things like "my chest feels funny" or "I'm sore here" are indicators you might look out for.
Diagnosis
If you suspect that your child is showing the symptoms of asthma, act on your observations. Coughing often, even when they're not sick, can be the slightest indication that there are respiratory problems. The longer symptoms are left unattended, the more damage can occur in the lungs.
Early detection can prevent extensive lung damage. Allergists deal with asthma diagnoses. They will go through your child's medical history. They might run allergy tests by taking blood, x-rays to image the lungs and spirometry, which is a test that gauges the narrowing of the bronchial tubes.
Treatment
There is no cure for asthma, but it can be managed in a number of ways. These include medications that are taken daily in the form of inhalers that contain corticosteroids, which help to open their airways. Avoiding triggers, allergens and overexertion can help to control their conditions beyond medications.
Children who suffer from asthma are at risk of complications because of respiratory infections like pneumonia and flu. Yearly vaccinations are important to prevent illness and the potential damage to their already compromised respiratory systems. The less damage they incur from things other than their chronic asthma, the better.
Asthma classification
Your doctor will classify the symptoms that your child exhibits, taking into consideration the severity and frequency with which they occur. Through tests and physical examination, they will be able to accurately diagnose your child's condition. This is important information that will inform decisions around the best course of treatment for your child.
Severity and frequency can change over time, which will change the treatment they receive. Asthma severity is classified into four categories: mild intermittent - mild symptoms up to two days a week; mild persistent symptoms more than twice a week; moderate persistent - symptoms once a day and severe persistent - symptoms throughout the day on most days.