Asthma is undoubtedly one of the most common chronic conditions affecting children worldwide. Childhood asthma can be a particularly trying time, not only for the child who must experience the attacks but also for the caregiver who must deal with worried children. Children with the condition can live active, healthy lives if they are identified early and receive the proper care. This blog covers symptoms, causes, treatment options, and more about childhood asthma.
What is Childhood Asthma: An Introduction
Childhood asthma is a medical condition that inflames the airways of a child, making them swell up and constrict, thus making it hard to breathe. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Unlike adult asthma, childhood asthma sometimes subsides or disappears completely with age, while others grow up alongside the symptoms.
The severity of asthma symptoms can vary from one child to another. Some may only have mild asthma symptoms at specific times, perhaps during exercise or when an allergen is present. At the same time, others may have more constant or even severe asthma and require continual daily medication and close monitoring.
What Are the Symptoms of Asthma in Children?
Asthma symptoms in children can be subtle at first but typically become more noticeable over time.
The onset of paediatric asthma symptoms is mild but may become more pronounced over time. The most common symptoms include:
- Wheezing: It is high-pitched whistling. This occurs especially during exhalation.
- Frequent Coughing: This develops more at night or early in the morning and worsens after activity.
- Shortness of Breath: The child will struggle to get enough air. This is often the case when exposed to cold air or during exertion.
- Chest Tightness: Some children complain that something is pressing on their chest.
- Fatigue: Children become fatigued as breathing becomes difficult.
- Difficulty Sleeping: Asthma symptoms are nocturnal, particularly coughing and shortness of breath often worsen at night. They result in sleep disturbances
It is also crucial to remember that not every child with asthma will experience every symptom on the list, nor will they always show up or go away at the same time. Some children may have symptoms that are sporadic, for example, when they develop a cold or when they experience exposure to allergens.
What Causes Childhood Asthma?
The aetiology of childhood asthma is not well defined, but it is thought that environmental exposure combined with some level of genetic predisposition will lead to this illness. Some common causes and risk factors include the following:
1. Genetics:
Children with a family history of asthma or other allergic conditions like hay fever and eczema are more likely than their peers to develop asthma.
2. Allergens:
Exposure to airborne allergens, including pollen, dust mites, pet dander, and mould, is also known to cause asthma attacks.
3. Respiratory Infections:
Viral infections, particularly in infancy or early childhood, may cause damage to the infant's lungs if it fails to defend itself, thus placing the victim at risk of asthma.
4. Environmental Pollutants:
Exposure to second-hand smoke, air pollution, and other environmental toxins can increase the risk of asthma in children.
5. Weather Conditions:
Cold air, rapid change in temperature and high humidity may trigger asthma symptoms.
6. Physical Activity:
Exercise-induced asthma might also be present in children who are very active in play, which would cause coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
What Are the Complications of Childhood Asthma?
If childhood asthma is not treated or not well managed, it may lead to complications that a child's health may adversely suffer from a long-term effect:
1. Frequent Hospital Visits:
Some cases of severe asthma may necessitate frequent visits to the accident and emergency department or even hospitalization.
2. Chronic Symptoms:
For chronic asthma, in particular, uncontrolled coughing leads to persistent coughing that might interfere with any form of daily activities for the child and significantly degrade the quality of life.
3. Lung Damage:
Long-term damage to the airways from chronic inflammation and recurrent asthma attacks may lead to reduced lung function.
4. Interference with Daily Life:
Asthma may limit the child's participation in sports and other activities due to frequent absences at school when the illness flares up.
5. Emotional Impact:
It leads to stress, anxiety, and even depression in the children and their caregivers due to the constant management of asthma and dealing with the symptoms.
Early and effective treatment is crucial to avoid complications, which could make it difficult for the child to manage his asthma symptoms well.
How is Childhood Asthma Diagnosed?
Diagnosing asthma in children is a challenging task since young children cannot describe their symptoms. Still, the doctors use a mixed combination of medical history, physical examination, and some required tests to diagnose asthma:
1. Medical History:
Doctors would ask questions like symptoms the child exhibits, history of asthma or allergies in family members, and known things that trigger their symptoms.
2. Physical Examination:
The doctor would listen to the chest of this child for wheezing or any other sound indicative of respiratory problems.
3. Lung Function Tests:
Spirometry can be administered if the child is above five years of age to check the level of functionality of the lungs in the patient.
4. Allergy Tests:
This could involve either a skin or blood test to identify specific allergens for asthma symptoms to be triggered.
5. Trial Medications:
In some instances, doctors can prescribe asthma medication to see if such medications will assist them in improving the child's symptoms, thereby confirming their diagnosis.
How is Asthma in Childhood Treated?
Asthma cannot be cured but with the right treatment plan, most children can manage their symptoms well and live full lives. The treatment usually involves medication combined with lifestyle changes.
1. Controller Medications:
These are regular medications meant to prevent asthma symptoms from appearing due to decreased inflammation in the airways. The major controller drugs include the inhaled corticosteroids.
2. Quick-Relief (Rescue) Medications:
These are prescribed when symptoms worsen or an asthma attack occurs, and the purpose is speedy relief by reducing the tension of muscles surrounding the airway. Examples of quick relievers are albuterol in inhalers.
3. Avoiding Triggers:
The child will avoid triggers, including allergens, smoke, and cold air, which will reduce asthma symptoms to a significant level.
4. Asthma Action Plan:
All children should have an individualized asthma action plan that explains how to manage symptoms, medications, and what to do during an asthma attack.
First Aid for Asthma
If an asthma attack happens, the individual must respond quickly to avoid worsening the situation. Here's how you can deliver first aid for asthma:
1. Stay Calm:
Choking and panicking will worsen symptoms. Encourage the child to remain calm and breathe slowly.
2. Use the Inhaler:
Should your child possess a quick-relief inhaler prescribed for symptoms during an attack (it is usually blue), administer the drug according to his asthma action plan. A spacer ensures that the drug will reach more of the lungs.
3. Sit Upright:
Sit the child upright, as lying flat is not often easy to do because it worsens breathing.
4. Check for Improvement:
If the child improves with the inhaler and symptoms subside, monitor the child closely for relapse.
5. Seek Emergency Help:
Your child will require emergency care should the symptoms worsen or remain the same after medication.
Tips for Managing Childhood Asthma
Asthma needs an active management strategy. To do so, use the following tips:
1. Know the Triggers:
The child must know the common triggers causing asthma attacks, such as allergens, irritants, or direct cold air.
2. Monitor Symptoms:
The child must monitor his or her signs and symptoms and lung functioning closely to find early warning signs of an asthma attack.
3. Follow the Asthma Action Plan:
Make a proper asthma action plan with your doctor that includes information on medication in case of an emergency and what should be done in such a situation.
4. Take Medications Regularly:
Ensure that your child is taking their asthma medication for the prescribed time duration, even if they feel great.
5. Educate the Child:
Teach older children to recognize their asthma symptoms and learn how to properly use their inhalers so they can learn to self-manage the condition over time.
Conclusion
Childhood asthma is not rare but can easily be controlled, with millions of children now living with this disorder. With proper diagnosis, treatment, and preventive strategies, most children with asthma can lead healthy and active lives. In close collaboration with healthcare professionals, a good action plan helps to understand what triggers asthma, and medications are used correctly. Prevention of complications from asthma and improvement in the quality of life both for the child and family are early interventions and consistent management. By staying vigilant and informed, parents and caregivers can empower children with asthma to thrive, even in the face of this chronic condition.
FAQs
- How do you know if your child has asthma?
Your child coughs frequently, wheezes often, or gets easily winded while playing. Additional symptoms include tightness in the chest and frequent infections of the respiratory tract. The child's doctor can confirm this by taking a medical history, performing physical examinations, and administering lung function tests.
- What is the best treatment for asthma in children?
The best treatment for childhood asthma would be a combination of controller medications that include inhaled corticosteroids to reduce the inflammation and quick-relief inhalers such as albuterol to provide immediate relief for the patient's symptoms. Triggers should be avoided, and an asthma action plan should be followed to manage the condition effectively.
- What are the symptoms of silent asthma in children?
Silent asthma can be silent wheeze less. Symptoms are frequent coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing during physical activity. The symptoms may go unnoticed because it has no symptoms described as a typical wheezing one. Still, it might be harmful if it's left untreated.
- Will childhood asthma go away?
Symptoms can sometimes be relieved or disappear when the child grows older, often in adolescence. Asthma may continue beyond the age of growing up or even relapse later in life. Every case is different, and follow-up and treatment must be continued even if the symptoms are subsiding.
- At what age does childhood asthma start?
It can begin as early as infancy, though a more common diagnosis is between the ages of 3 and 5 years. Symptoms are most likely to appear after common viral infections or allergic exposures, while early signs involve wheezing, coughing frequently, and getting short-breathed during physical activities or at night.
Note: The information provided in this blog is based on thorough research and is intended for educational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional or your doctor before using any products or following the tips mentioned here, especially if you have underlying health conditions or are on medication.