Asthma in children is not that easy to diagnose however, your asthma doctor will perform some tests on you to diagnose the disease. Below are mentioned the main symptoms, causes and the treatment for asthma in children;

Symptoms of Asthma in Children

Symptoms vary is every child which is why they couldn’t get your attention easily. If you notice any of these symptoms in your child then visit an asthma clinic immediately.

1. Frequent cough attacks especially while playing, laughing, crying or at night.
2. A whistling sound while breathing in or out usually known as wheezing.
3. Tightening or congestion of chest.
4. Either shortness or rapid/frequent breathing.
5. Feeling tired and dizzy every time and unable to perform even the simpler tasks.
6. Asthma symptoms vary and may develop into severe ones, these conditions include;
7. Symptoms may get worse at night. Shortness of breath can cause trouble in sleeping.
8. Respiratory infections along with wheezing and coughing.
9. Lack of sleep can cause fatigue.

Causes of Asthma in Children

In children, causes are a little bit difficult to understand. However, a few that have been noticed are.

1. Sensitive Immune System

An extra sensitive immune system of a child can lead to asthma. It is due to the swelling in lungs, airways and the mucus produced when triggered by certain stimuli such as; viral infections, cold, flu etc.

2. Inheritance

Inheritance plays an important role in asthma in children. If you have a history of respiratory diseases or asthma then your children are more likely to have asthma in their early ages.

3. Respiratory Infections

Many children can have respiratory infections such as; chronic infections, pneumonia, runny nose etc. at a very young age which can ultimately lead them to asthma.

4. Pollutants

If you are living in a busy city life where there is a lot of pollution in the air or when the child lives in a surrounding where tobacco is being smoked which affects the child’s health negatively too.

Treatment of Asthma in Children

Noticed any of the symptoms in your child? Don’t waste any more minute and take your child to the asthma clinic and get him/her treated well. Treatment helps in minimizing asthma attacks, reducing the symptoms or even eliminate them completely, helps you to stay active and prevents short of rapid breathing. Following are some treatments of asthma;

1. Long-Term Medications

These medications need to be taken on daily basis. They are:

• Inhaled corticosteroids – Your allergist would suggest this medicine if your child is below the age of 5. It is one of the most common long-term drugs to control asthma. These are safe for and can be taken by the infants as well as preschool children.
• Leukotriene modifiers – If inhaled corticosteroid could not be enough or help in stabilizing the asthma then Leukotriene modifiers are suggested to the child. This medicine is available as a tablet that can be chewed by children of age 2 to 6. It is also available for children below the age of 2 in granular form to be added to the food.
• Long acting beta agonist – Combined with inhaled corticosteroid but is taken in as a single drug.
• Cromolyn – It can be added with inhaled corticosteroids, it is also an inhaled drug which helps in blocking the inflammation. It is usually prescribed for the children below the age of 5.
• Oral corticosteroids – When all the above-mentioned drugs fail to control asthma then this drug would be preferred by your allergist.

2. Short-Term Medications

The effect of these medications last up to 4 to 6 hours only. Children who has minor asthma can be treated with these drugs. These include:

• Ipratropium – The drug that helps the airways to relax and makes it easy for your child to breathe.
• Short acting beta agonist – These drugs can be inhaled easily and provide quick relief whose effect can last up to few hours.
• Immunomodulatory agents – If the child has a sever eosinophilic asthma then the doctor will prescribe your child these agents.

Asthma has now become very common in most of the people. You shouldn’t ignore the symptoms that are mentioned above and take your child immediately to an asthma clinic and start the treatment as soon as possible.