Understanding and Managing Childhood Asthma

Have a child who was recently diagnosed with asthma, and you, as a parent, want to understand and learn how you can manage childhood asthma properly? This article has you covered.

Childhood Asthma

There is no denying that when a parent sees their child struggling with severe cough, wheezing, or any condition, all they want is to flip the switch and make it better for them. However, health is one factor that cannot be fixed with just a flip of a button. It takes a few trips to the doctor and managing the condition for it to get better. One such condition that requires these factors to be implemented is childhood asthma.

Asthma can be hard to diagnose in children. However, there are a few signs and symptoms that can rule it out and tips and tricks that can help manage it. If you want to learn about understanding and managing childhood asthma, then you have landed on the right page. Hop on below to read a detailed guide on all that you should know.

How to Recognize Childhood Asthma – The Signs and Symptoms

A child with asthma usually faces a series of asthmatic attacks, which causes the bronchial tubes to become swollen and collect extra mucus. The presence of mucus and swelling hence makes it difficult for the child to breathe. According to WebMD, this condition can lead to the following signs and symptoms:

• Continuous cough that doesn’t go away
• Cough triggers after exercise or play time, in cold and harsh air, or when laughing and crying.
• Kids show less energy during playtime and may stop often to catch a breath.
• Trouble sleeping because of breathing problems.
• A cough that gets worse after a viral infection, flu, or cold.
• Chest tightness and pain
• Wheezing
• Rapid breathing.
• Feeling weak and tired.

However, what one should know is that not all children have the same set of asthmatic symptoms. In fact, some children may only show one or two symptoms, while others may show several of them. One child can even show one set of symptoms during one asthmatic attack and an entirely different one during another. So, it is important that parents look out for these symptoms and visit a doctor when necessary.

What are the Causes and Triggers of Childhood Asthma?

While it may look like a common cough or cold, asthma, in fact, is a condition that has causes and environmental triggers associated with it. Hence, it is important to know about the causesthat trigger childhood asthma and ensure that your child is protected from them. Here are a few causes mentioned by Mayo Clinic listed down for you:

• Airway infections – like COVID-19, pneumonia, colds, and sinus infections.
• Allergens – children can be allergic to a bunch of things like dust mites, pollens, mold, and even cockroaches,
• Exercise – partaking in strenuous or continuous exercise can lead to shortness of breath, coughing, and tightness of the chest.
• Stress – this can also be a major trigger that can cause your child to develop shortness of breath and worsen their symptoms.
• Irritants – factors like air pollution, cold air, chemicals, and smoke can be irritants that bother the airways.

How to Manage Childhood Asthma?

While an asthmatic attack can be painful for parents to see, what one should know is that symptoms can be managed for kids with asthma to the point that flare-ups and asthmatic attacks become rare. However, the key is to see how you can manage these attacks as a part of asthmatic care. Here are a few tips that can help you manage childhood asthma:

Make a Plan and Follow it

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institutes of Health, parents of kids with asthma should have an action plan. This usually includes a set of written instructions from the doctor on ways to avoid triggers, what to do when a flare-up occurs, what medications to take, and how to manage everything. With a fool-proof plan and a calm composure, parents can easily manage asthma attacks.

Take Medications as Prescribed

Children with asthma are usually prescribed medications, which they have to take either daily or when the symptoms flare up. Most children are also prescribed nebulizers and inhalers that have spacers to help the medicine get into the lungs. All this is decided by the doctor, who examines and suggests what fits your child best, but as a parent, it will be your responsibility to ensure that the suggestions are followed.

Identify and Avoid Triggers

There are some common triggers, like mold, weather changes, pollen, and even viral infections, that can bother the airways and cause an asthma flare-up. However, what parents should know is that not all triggers can cause their child to develop an asthmatic attack, and different children are sensitive to different triggers. Finding what triggers your child might take some work, but it will eventually help you avoid it.

Know the Signs of Flare-Ups

After your child has had a few flare-up episodes, parents start catching up on when the next one is going to happen through the slight changes that happen to their kids. This means that the flare-ups can be identified by the parents hours and even days before they start showing their obvious symptoms, which can eventually help them take the necessary precautions.

Stay Updated on Vaccines

It is essential to stay updated on proper and required vaccinations, like the yearly flu vaccine, for kids with asthma. This will help ensure that the kids do not develop flare-ups at the slightest sign of cold or viral infection.

Wrapping Up!

If you have a child with respiratory issues or one who was recently diagnosed with asthma, we are sure you want to learn and understand childhood asthma better and know ways to manage it. If that is the case, we hope this article was helpful in covering all your queries. Our staff at Healthy Kids Care at Sunrise are here to answer any other questions or concerns you might have.

In Health,

Dr. Atousa