What is Asthma?
Asthma is a disease that affects the lungs and makes breathing difficult. Approximately 10% of children worldwide have asthma. In the US alone that is more than 11 million children!
Asthma symptoms are caused within the airways of the lungs. Children with asthma have inflamed airways. Sometimes these airways are so inflamed that it reduces the amount of air a child can breathe in or out. Often, children with asthma experience a tightening feeling in the chest. This happens because the muscles surrounding the airways squeeze together and narrow the airways.
What are the Symptoms of Asthma?
Children with asthma may experience wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and trouble breathing. The type and timing of a child’s symptoms can vary. Some youngsters may have frequent symptoms; others less often. Some children may only experience symptoms at night. Some children seem to have less energy than other children and they may even avoid exercise or active games because they do not want to cough or wheeze. (But note that with appropriate treatment the majority of children with asthma can participate in sports and games and, in fact, many famous athletes have asthma.)
What Causes Asthma Symptoms: Triggers
Substances or situations that can cause asthma symptoms are referred to as triggers. There are many different kinds of triggers. These include:
- Allergens -like mold, pollen, animals
- Irritants - like cigarette smoke, air pollution, perfumes and cleaning products
- Weather - cold air, changes in weather
- Exercise
- Infections - like flu or the common cold
What Kinds of Medicines are there for Asthma?
Asthma is treated with two kinds of medicines: quick relief medicines to stop asthma symptoms and long-term medicines to prevent symptoms. Some asthma medicines come in pill form but many are taken using an inhaler. An inhaler allows the medicine to be inhaled directly into the lungs. Some medicines are taken using a nebulizer. A nebulizer is a device which vaporizes liquid medicine into a fine mist which is inhaled into the lungs.
What is an Asthma Attack?
When children experience noticeably worse symptoms than usual we say they are having an asthma attack or flare-up. Usually flare-ups are treated with quick relief medicines to stop asthma symptoms. In the case of serious flare-ups a child may have to see a doctor. Every child should have an asthma action plan to follow in case of an asthma flare-up. In addition to describing daily treatments, this plan should explain what to do in the case of an attack or emergency. Your doctor can help you create this plan.
Is Asthma Curable?
While Asthma is not a curable disease, it is very manageable. Asthma attacks and symptoms can be prevented by eliminating triggers in the child's environment, teaching the child to avoid triggers, and using the appropriate preventative medications. Most children who are well informed about their condition and its treatment are able to manage their asthma and maintain normal activity levels.