asthma in children

Does your child cough, wheeze, or find difficulty breathing? Recognize the symptoms of asthma in children and talk to your doctor about asthma and the use of inhalers for asthma.

Did you know that asthma is the most common lung disorder in children? Data suggests that lung disease affects approximately six million American children. Undiagnosed or poorly controlled asthma in your baby can result in more trips to the hospital. A doctor can help relieve the symptoms of asthma in children, the treatment goal for the child to make him/her feel well and live an active life. Under the supervision of a health care expert or a doctor, your child can do every possible thing that he/she wants and be active like other normal kids.

Early Signs of Asthma

Early warning signs of asthma are not the same for every child, and even your kid with asthma may not always show the same symptoms. Physical early warning signs such as tightness in the chest, watery eyes, fast heartbeat, congestion, tired, less able to work out, itchy throat, dry mouth, and under eye dark circles are the signs that can occur before you can hear your little one wheezing or coughing. Your kid may get upset quickly, feels nervous, restless, want to stay alone, and get excited quickly. Note that these asthma indications do not always mean that an episode is about to happen but suggest the possibility of an attack. Moreover, these signs are not uncommon and could be an indication of other illness as well or even mood changes.

By learning about these early signs of asthma, the families of children with asthma learn to be aware of how the body feels and what it signals. Identifying and acting on early warning signs is an important part of asthma management. This way by slowing down the activity, you can help prevent an asthma episode. An asthma treatment plan hep to avoid or lessen the severity of an episode. In case your child experience breathing issues, follow the medicinal treatment as directed for the prevention of episodes. Early treatment for asthma is the key to achieve control over asthma symptoms. Waiting for an episode to become a full-blown usually means it takes more time to gain control over it.

Recognizing Symptoms of Asthma in Children

What asthma symptoms look like in children and hints to identify them. Talk to your doctor about asthma if your baby has one or more than these symptoms of asthma in children:

  1. Cough- A persistent cough that keeps on coming back could indicate the arrival of asthma. A time or an early morning cough is common in children with asthma. Coughing following a sports activity or after doing exercise is not a good thing and usually happens with asthmatics.
  2. Wheeze- A whistling sound when breathing is wheezing, it is another commonly reported symptoms of asthma in children.
  3. Tightness in the chest- Usually children explain it as a tummy ache, while experience tight chest, they might rub in their tummy or chest.
  4. Shortness of breath- Watch to see if your baby is using lots of his/her body when breathing. Also, listen for breathing. 

However, the right treatment plan can manage your child’s symptoms. So, if you notice any of these symptoms of children in asthma that is highlighted above, fix an appointment with your doctor.

Also Read: Living with Asthma Is Easier With Knowledge

The treatment plan for Asthma

It is very important for asthmatics to receive proper treatment. A doctor can help your child bring back on the track and provide long-term control from his/her asthma symptoms.  By creating an action plan, a doctor can help your child to get rid of the unnecessary coughing and wheezing. Appropriate treatment can help your child to sleep through the night, avoid missing school and breathe more easily. An asthma treatment plan makes sure your child’s asthma is under control. Treatment for asthma usually depends on various factors including, age, the severity of the condition, or frequency of symptoms, etc. Generally, for treating childhood asthma, the doctor prescribed two types of medicines namely:

  1. Quick-relief drugs– Any child who has asthma require quick-relief medication to treat symptoms like coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Being a parent, you should always keep this drug with your child for use at the first asthma symptoms. These include inhalers for asthma
  2. Long term control medications- These type of medications is used to treat inflammation in the airways. These should be sued regularly to prevent an asthma attack.

Children can use both the medications using an inhaler which helps to ensure all the medicines reaches the lungs. A nebulizer is also a machine which delivers asthma medications. With the help of a doctor, you can get the best one which suits your kid although inhalers for asthma are very common.

Asthma medications are extremely beneficial and safe if taken under the supervision of a doctor.