Dealing with Asthma in children

By Toby Buckley

According to Asthma UK, 1.1 million children (1 in 11) are receiving treatment for asthma and one of the most common causes of missed school days during childhood is attributable to this condition. The good news is that it can be managed and many children do grow out of it.

What is Asthma? Asthma is an ongoing, chronic inflammation of the airways in the lungs. This inflammation makes the airways vulnerable to tightening, causing episodes of difficulty in breathing which are called asthma attacks. Common triggers include allergens like pollen, colds, stress, pollution and exercise. Asthma is managed by controlling inflammation with drugs, avoiding triggers when possible and using medications to treat asthma attacks.

Any illness that complicates a child’s breathing should be evaluated by a doctor, whether or not it matches the symptoms of asthma. Whilst there is no cure for asthma, if your child is diagnosed with the condition, parents can work with their child to reduce symptoms by following an asthma action plan. Having an action plan makes dealing with the condition much easier.

Symptoms of Childhood Asthma The following symptoms and indicators are very common in children with asthma, though it’s worth noting that every child and episode will be different: ✱ Nighttime coughing, and coughing while crying, laughing or playing; ✱ Chest tightness or pains in the chest; ✱ Muscle pains in neck and chest; ✱ Loss of breath or difficulty breathing; ✱ Occasional rapid breathing; ✱ Chronic cough (sometimes this is the only symptom a child will have); ✱ Wheezing (a highpitched whistling or purring sound when breathing in or out);

✱ Feelings of weakness or tiredness; ✱ Retractions (see-saw motions in the chest from difficulty breathing).

Diagnosing Asthma in the Under 5s Diagnosing asthma in children under the age of 5 years is challenging. This is because, in infants and young children, the primary symptoms of asthma — wheezing and coughing — may be caused by other conditions. It is important to keep in mind that until a child is aged 5 years, standard diagnostic tests used to measure how well someone is breathing cannot be used easily or accurately. This is because breathing tests are not always easy for younger children who may have difficulty following the precise instructions.

If an infant or very young child experiences shortness of breath or wheezing coughs, the illness will likely respond to asthma medications.

However, the doctor will generally refer to the illness as “reactive airways dysfunction syndrome” or “bronchiolitis.” This is a common lung infection among infants. It can cause coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. There may be a link between bronchiolitis and developing respiratory conditions such as asthma in later life, but currently the link is not fully understood. Monitoring and Treating Asthma Peak flow meters, spirometry and other tests used in adults can be used by doctors to monitor and diagnose asthma in children aged 5 years plus. These tests measure how well the lungs are working by calculating how much air a child can quickly force out of their lungs. Most children diagnosed with asthma will have to take medication. Liquid and pill forms are available for some medicines. Referred to as ‘long-term control medicines,’ some asthma medicines work by helping to keep airways from getting irritated and will need to be taken daily. Inhalers and nebulizers are designed to get medication straight into the lungs so that they can take action effectively. Emergency Situations Many of the problems caused by asthma in children can be reduced through proper asthma treatment, which will also improve day-to-day breathing and reduce the occurrence of asthma flareups. Unfortunately, in some circumstances a trip to A&E may be necessary if a child has a severe asthma attack, as these can be life-threatening.

In children the following symptoms may suggest an asthma emergency: ✱ Severe difficulty breathing; ✱ Red zone readings on the peak flow meter; ✱ Being unable to speak without gasping; ✱ Persistent coughing or wheezing.

For more information about asthma, check out Need2Know’s Essential Guide to Asthma at www.need2knowbooks.co.uk/product/theessential-guide-to-asthma/ This book discusses the diagnosis and symptoms of asthma and looks at how it affects all age groups. To receive a 25% discount, quote N2K25OFF at checkout.

Primary Home Tuition