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Asthma in Children

Children with asthma, like adults with asthma, should see a doctor for treatment of their asthma. Treatment may include allergy testing, finding ways to limit contact with things that bring on asthma attacks, and taking medicine.

Young children will need help from their parents and other caregivers to keep their asthma under control. Older children can learn to care for themselves and follow their asthma self-management plan with less supervision.

Asthma medicines for children are like those adults use, but doses are smaller. Children with asthma may need both a quick-relief (or "rescue") inhaler for attacks and daily medicine to control their asthma. Children with moderate or severe asthma should learn to use a peak flow meter to help keep their asthma under control. Using a peak flow meter can be very helpful because children often have a hard time describing their symptoms.

Parents should be alert for possible signs of asthma in children, such as coughing at night, frequent colds, wheezing, or other signs of breathing problems. If you suspect that your child has asthma or that your child's asthma is not well controlled, take your child to a doctor for an exam and testing.

Your doctor will choose medicines for your child based on the child's symptoms and test results. If your child has asthma, you will need to go to the doctor for regular follow-up visits and to make sure that your child uses the medicines properly.

Asthma in children becomes prevalent in recent years. It is considered as the most common chronic sickness in children. The presence of asthma in childhood affects the performance in school and children activities.

The adult asthma and asthma found in children have the same underlying cause and that is the continuous inflammation of the airways that leads to the lungs. Inflammation of the airways results to it's over sensitivity thus making breathing tightened and constricted.

With the proper medications, asthma in children is highly treatable.

Symptoms in Asthma in Children

The common symptoms of asthma include:

  • Wheezing sound
  • Chest tightness
  • Coughing
  • Chest congestion
  • Shortness of breath

Other symptoms of asthma in infants are:

  • Rattly cough
  • Recurrent bouts of bronchiolitis or pneumonia

Triggers of Asthma in Children

The most common triggers of asthma in children are:

  • Tobacco smoke by adults
  • Environmental pollutants
  • Exercise
  • Animal dander
  • Dust mites
  • Molds
  • Allergic rhinitis
  • Upper respiratory infections