Children don’t have to suffer
Approximately 4 million children and teenagers will report at least one asthma attack a year, and the number of people who suffer asthma symptoms is growing. If your child is showing asthma symptoms, he or she is not alone.
What is it?
Basically, asthma refers to the inflammation of the bronchial airways, and can be caused by anything from airborne irritants, to viral infections. The most common cause, however, is allergies. Other triggers include exercise, and, infrequently, emotional responses.
During an asthma attack, a victim may suffer shortness of breath, as the bronchial airway is constricted. If not treated or reversed immediately, a severe asthma attack can result in low oxygen levels in the blood, depriving organs and muscles.
But many asthma victims suffer more mild symptoms — some common ones include frequent respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia, limitations on bearable physical activity or chest tightness — which can be difficult to detect, even by a medical professional.
Seeing the signs
Because of the inherent difficulty in detecting asthma, parents have to be educated and sensitive to subtle cues. Symptoms range from fatigue during moderate exercise to severe shortness of breath, heavy breathing and wheezing.
Other symptoms may include: Runny nose and sneezing, headache, congestion, chest tightness, gray or bluish skin, and stressed breathing. There are many allergy symptoms beyond this list, and they will often correlate with the severity of the asthma condition. If you suspect your child has asthma, or you are curious about symptoms your child is exhibiting, talk to your pediatrician or an asthma specialist immediately.
Choosing a remedy/common treatments
If your child’s doctor has determined that your child has asthma, in addition to medicines like bronchodilators that open up the airways, they may recommend the use of a peak flow monitor to track your child’s day-to-day breathing function. Many patients use a monitor to determine proper medication dosages.
In addition to medical intervention, there are steps you can take to reduce your child’s exposure to allergens that trigger asthma. Some common solutions include: Allergy testing for your child to determine whether pollens, dust mites, etc. are contributing to asthma symptoms, reducing the use of household chemicals, keeping your child indoors during high pollen days, keeping surfaces clean of dust and pet dander, and using an air purifier to keep dust out of the air. And parents should never allow smoking indoors.
When an asthma victim has suffered repeated irritation to the bronchial passage, they can become more sensitive to the indoor environment, especially with regards to heating and air conditioning.
HVAC systems that bring air from the outside can introduce allergens to an indoor environment, even with proper filtration. Recirculating systems can reduce humidity and stir up dust and other irritants that are already present.
Of course the best medicine is to understand when your child is suffering an asthma attack, and having a plan to deal with it. With the consultation of your child’s doctor, you should know when to use medications or emergency medications, or when the child should be treated with emergency care at a hospital or clinic.
Talking to your child
Asthma can be a scary experience for children, especially in extreme cases when they experience shortness of breath. As you are dissecting your child’s symptoms, and putting them through medical testing, keep the lines of communication open.
Communicate with your child about why they feel sick, and understand that their medical care is for their benefit. They should also learn the importance of communicating with you when they are experiencing asthma symptoms.
As an educated parent, you will be able to help your child understand and manage their asthma.