Asthma in Children

Babyment

What Is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. It is very common worldwide. According to KK Women's and Children's Hospital, about one in five children in Singapore have asthma. According to the Chest Foundation, one in ten children in the United States has asthma. For some unknown reasons, this rate is increasing steadily.

Symptoms of asthma

Different children may display different asthma symptoms and symptoms may vary from episode to episode for the same child. If you suspect your child has asthma, it is important for you to note down the symptoms and inform the doctor as these symptoms may probably disappear by the time you and your child reach the clinic. Your observations will help the doctor evaluate whether your child has asthma.

Common symptoms of asthma in children include:

• Frequent coughing spells, which may occur during play, at night, or while laughing or crying
• A chronic cough
• Less energy during play
• Rapid breathing (intermittently)
• Complaint of chest tightness or chest "hurting"
• Whistling sound when breathing in or out -- called wheezing.
• See-saw motions in the chest from labored breathing. These motions are called retractions.
• Shortness of breath, loss of breath
• Tightened neck and chest muscles
• Feelings of weakness or tiredness

Cause of asthma

Scientists still do not know the exact cause of asthma; asthma may have a genetic cause and can be caused by environmental exposures.

What trigger asthma attacks?

The triggers that result in asthma attacks may differ in each child.

The common cold is one of the most frequent triggers for asthma attacks in very young children.

Others include:

• Smoke
• Exposure to allergens. Allergens include pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds, mold spores and fragments, animal dander, dust mites feces, and cockroach feces.
• Strong smells such as perfumes or other odors
• Changes in weather
• Running or playing hard
• Crying or laughing
• Changes in temperature or humidity due to indoor and outdoor climate variation.

Treatment of asthma

First, asthma can't be cured, but it can be controlled. The goals of asthma treatment are for your child to live a normal life and attend school every day just like other children which also means he or she can perform daily activities, play, and engage in sports without difficulty.

Two groups of medicines are used by the doctor in the treatment of asthma. The first group is called relievers which are used to provide quick relief of symptoms of an asthma attack.

Another group is called the 'controller' which are medicines that work gradually to make air passages less sensitive to triggers mentioned above.

Prevent asthma

The following measures can help prevent asthma in children.

Avoid dust mites. Dust mites are tiny insects that feed off human skin and hair and are one of the most common asthma triggers. They tend to live in beds and soft toys. Dust mites can be killed by steam cleaning mattresses and furniture and washing clothes, toys and bedding at temperatures higher than 55 degree celcius.

Restrict contact with pets. at least 30% of people with asthma are allergic to animals. It's however not your pet's fur that's to blame. If you have a pet, limit your child's exposure to the animal.

Maintain a health weight. Children who are obese are at an increased risk for developing asthma.

Do not smoke at home.Tobacco smoke is one of the most common asthma triggers. Secondhand smoke that your child exposed to may trigger asthma.

Will child outgrow asthma?

According to the medical experts, once a person's airways become sensitive, they remain that way for the rest of their lives. However, it is also observed that about 50% of children experience a noticeable decrease in asthma symptoms by the time they become adolescents, in a way that they have "outgrown" their asthma. Some of these children will develop asthma symptoms again as adults.