Asthma affects various children even from birth and is the largest cause of chronic disease in children.
Asthma is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases diagnosed in children and adolescents by pediatricians. While there is no cure for Asthma, there are effective strategies to manage your child’s symptoms to minimize flare-ups and attacks while still allowing them to enjoy a full, healthy life. It is critical to detect the symptoms of pediatric Asthma. This blog will help understand the warning sign of Asthma in children and possible treatment options for the illness.
What Is Childhood Asthma?
Childhood asthma is the same lung disease that adults experience, although children may have different symptoms. This is also referred to as pediatric Asthma by doctors.
When your kid has Asthma, their lungs and airways can easily get swollen when they catch a cold or are susceptible to pollen. The symptoms may make it difficult for your child to do daily tasks or sleep. An asthma episode might sometimes need a hospital visit.
There is no cure for childhood asthma, but you can cooperate with your child’s doctor to treat it and protect their developing lungs.
What are the possible symptoms of Asthma in children?
In many situations, it’s difficult to recognize whether your child’s cough is caused by a viral illness or by persistent inflammation of the airways caused by Asthma. But below mentioned symptoms may help you to identify abnormal signs of Asthma in kids, which include:
- Regular Coughing – An occasional cough is normally nothing to worry about, but if your child frequently coughs, especially at night, it might indicate Asthma. When your child has a cold, you may find that their coughing becomes significantly worse.
Keep track of how long your child’s cough lasts. If it’s been just a week or two, it’s most likely the result of a cold or other respiratory infection. However, if the cough lasts three weeks or more, it should be consulted with a pediatrician.
- Troublesome wheezing – If your kid wheezes (gasping breaths) after a cough or as they exhale, this is an indication of Asthma. These wheezes may sound like a whistle or a squeaky toy, but they can also be mild and only identifiable with a stethoscope.
- Complaints about breathing – If your kid is old enough to express their symptoms, they may complain of chest discomfort or tightness. Asthmatic babies may pant or breathe so strongly that their tummy rises and falls rapidly.
- Changes in their quality of life – Asthma symptoms such as coughing and wheezing might interfere with your child’s sleep. Compared to healthy children, they may recover far more slowly from respiratory illnesses. Asthma symptoms can also make it difficult for a child to perform or practice sports. Your child may also appear tired all of the time, most likely due to their coughing and wheezing interfering with their sleep.
How is Asthma in children diagnosed?
Your child’s doctor may recommend the following tests to detect Asthma in children:
- Spirometry – A spirometer is a device that measures lung function. It is possible to do it on young children, even infants.
- Peak flow monitoring – A peak flow meter is used to determine how much air a child can blow out of his or her lungs. This measurement is essential in determining how effectively your child’s Asthma is controlled.
- Chest X-rays – This diagnostic examination uses invisible energy beams to create film pictures of internal tissues, bones, and organs.
- Allergy tests – Allergy testing can determine whether your kid has allergies that are causing or worsening his or her Asthma.
How is a child’s Asthma treated?
Although, The best possible treatment for your child may depend on his/her symptoms, age, and overall health conditions. The severity of the illness will also determine it.
Your child’s doctor may send you to a pediatric pulmonologist. The severity of your child’s symptoms and how readily they can be handled determine their treatment. Treatment helps identify triggers and develop strategies to prevent them. Medicines are also considered the primary treatment.
Asthma medications include the following:
- Bronchodilators – These medications are used to help open up the congested airways. The medicine may help to reduce coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, or trouble breathing in an asthma patient.
- Anti-inflammatory medicines – These medications aid in reducing inflammation in the airways.
- Anti-leukotrienes – These medications help in the narrowing of the airways. These are normally taken orally.
- Immunotherapy – This treatment can treat severe asthma episodes in children aged 12 and older.
When should you see a doctor?
If you believe your kid has Asthma, take him or her to the doctor. Early treatment will aid in symptom management and may even avoid asthma attacks.
Make an appointment with your child’s asthma doctor if you see any of the following:
- Coughing that is persistent, intermittent, or appears to be related to physical activity
- Wheezing or whistling sounds when your child exhales or breath out
- Breathing issues including shortness of breath or rapid breathing
- Chest tightness complaints
- Repeated episodes of suspected bronchitis or pneumonia
Suppose your child is experiencing mild to severe wheezing, shortness of breath, or persistent coughing that is not responding to your existing asthma medication. In that case, you should seek treatment at a children’s specialty hospital. You can consult a pediatric pulmonologist at Rainbow hospital Chennai for excellent asthma care.
