Childhood Asthma: signs, diagnosis and parental guidance
Do you know that approximately 300 million people worldwide are affected by asthma? Yes, in India, 30 million people suffer from asthma, with over 20% of them being children. And still, many people fail to diagnose this disease due to a lack of awareness.
Asthma is a common disease, especially among children. This disease can be very challenging for younger children and affects their daily activities like playing, exercising, sports, etc. It is significant for parents to recognize early signs, understand the diagnosing process, and learn how to manage the condition to help their kid lead a safe and happy life.
In this blog, we will learn every essential piece of information about pediatric asthma to give them the best guidance and help them live healthy, active lives while minimizing the impact of the condition on their well-being.
What is asthma?
Childhood asthma is a chronic lung disease that can cause inflammation and shortness of breath. When you inhale or breathe, your chest cavity increases and your lungs expand, allowing air to rush in. But in asthma, the airways get swollen and narrowed, which makes the air difficult to get into the lungs, which causes many things like coughing, sneezing, chest tightness, pain, and even difficulty breathing.
What are the types of asthma in children?
Asthma comes in various forms, with different triggers and challenges. Understanding the different types can help you manage the condition more effectively.
- Allergic asthma: This type of asthma is caused by exposure to allergens like dust particles, mold, pets, or pollen.
- Exercise-induced asthma: Exercise-induced asthma is caused by physical activity, especially when the air is dry.
- Virus-induced asthma: Virus-induced asthma occurs due to a cold or other viral infection resulting in coughing or trouble breathing.
- Non-allergic asthma: It is caused by triggers like cold, air, certain medicines, household chemical infections, air pollution, or tobacco smoke.
Common signs of asthma in children.
Many common signs may feel normal but can be a sign of asthma in children, so make sure to consult a doctor if you see any of the following asthma symptoms:
- Coughing: Coughing is normal, but dry coughing that seems to itch the inner chest and worsen at night and in the early morning can be a sign of childhood asthma.
- Wheezing: Wheezing refers to a high-pitched whistling sound emitted while breathing. This may be normal in children during the winter, but it can be a symptom of pediatric asthma.
- Shortness of breath: Difficulty breathing mainly while doing any activity like walking, exercising, running, etc.
- Chest tightness: Chest tightness often happens when a feeling of pressure or pain occurs in the chest. This feeling should be taken seriously as it is a chronic sign of asthma.
- Other symptoms: There are many other symptoms of asthma that are natural and feel normal but need to be enlightened:
- Feeling tired
- Dark circles under the eyes
- Irritability
- Respiratory infections
- Sensitivity to allergens
- Trouble eating
How to manage asthma: parental guidance
- Medication management: There should be a proper routine for medications, which should be taken carefully and properly. It is important to consult the doctor and take medicines as per the prescription.
- Avoid triggers: many common asthma triggers like dust, pet dander, pollen, etc. should be avoided.
- Healthy lifestyle tips: It is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle and take a proper diet, as excessive unhealthy eating can develop obesity, which can worsen the symptoms of asthma. You should also try light physical activities, meditation, and breathing exercises.
It is important to consult your doctor before any kind of activity or exercise. And also take proper advice on dietary tips.
- Supporting mental and emotional health: asthma can also have a big impact on the mental health of children, and they might feel inferior to other children. It is important to talk to your child openly and make them feel supported.
Conclusion
Children’s asthma is common, but that does not mean that it is not harmful. This disease is very hazardous, especially for children. Recognizing symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, is beneficial for intervention in developing chronic disease. Managing asthma involves medication, avoiding triggers, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle with regular physical activity. Emotional support is also important, as asthma can impact a child’s mental well-being With the right care and guidance, children with asthma can lead healthy, active lives.
It is important to consult a pulmonologist and get the right advice and personalized consultation for children suffering from asthma.
FAQs
Q1: What are the signs of asthma in children?
Ans: Coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, etc.
Q2: How do you diagnose asthma in a child?
Ans: Spirometry test, bronchoprovocation, exhaled nitric oxide test, chest x-rays, and other medical procedures.
Q3: What is the first test for asthma?
Ans: The spirometry test is a lung function test that examines breathing.
Q4: Which antibiotic is best for asthma?
Ans: Macrolides are a class of antibiotic that also displays anti‐inflammatory properties, which may be of additional benefit in people with asthma.
Q5: How to manage asthma in children?
Ans: Take medications timely, avoid triggers, and improve lifestyle by healthy eating, exercise, and activities.
Q6: Is asthma in children curable?
Ans: No, pediatric asthma is not a curable disease, but you can use ways to improve symptoms.
