Asthma in Children
What is asthma in children?
Asthma is a long-term (chronic) lung disease that causes your child’s airways to become sensitive to certain things (triggers). Several things happen to the airways when a child is exposed to triggers:
The lining of the airways swells.
The muscles around the airways tighten.
The airways make more thick mucus than normal.
All of these things will cause the airways to narrow. This makes it difficult for air to go in and out of your child’s lungs, and leads to the symptoms of asthma.
Asthma Causes in Children
The exact cause of asthma is not known. Researchers think it is partially passed down through families. But it can also be caused by many other things such as the environment, infections and other exposures, like tobacco smoke.
Which children are at risk for asthma?
A child is more likely to be diagnosed with asthma if he or she:
Is age 5 to 17 years old (though for many, symptoms start sooner)
Has family members with asthma
Has food allergies, eczema or nasal allergies
Is around tobacco smoke
Is around air pollution
Has another health problem, such as being overweight
Asthma Symptoms in Children
Symptoms can occur a bit differently in each child. Many children with asthma have times when they have few, if any symptoms. They also have times when symptoms flare up. Symptoms may include:
Cough (daytime, nighttime or both)
Wheezing or whistling sound that is heard while your child is breathing
Trouble breathing or shortness of breath while your child is active
Chest tightness
The symptoms of asthma can be like other health conditions. Make sure your child sees his or her health care provider for a diagnosis.
Asthma Diagnosis in Children
Asthma is a clinical diagnosis. However, there are some tests that can be used to help support a diagnosis of asthma, depending on the age of the child and the clinical situation. To diagnose asthma, your child’s health care provider may recommend these tests:
Spirometry. A spirometer is a device used to check lung function. It can typically be done starting around age 5.
Peak flow monitoring. A peak flow meter is used to measure the amount of air a child can blow out of the lungs. This measurement can be helpful in some, particularly older, children.
Chest X-rays. This diagnostic test uses invisible energy beams to make images of internal tissues, bones and organs on film. This can help rule out other conditions that appear similar to asthma, but may appear normal if the child has asthma.
Allergy tests. Allergy tests can help identify triggers for asthma, but are not themselves diagnostic of asthma.
Asthma Treatments for Children
Treatment will depend on your child’s symptoms, age and general health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is.
Your child’s health care provider may refer you to a pulmonologist. This is a doctor with special training to treat lung conditions. Your child may also be referred to an allergist. Both of these specialties have expertise in treating asthma. Your child’s treatment is based on how severe his or her symptoms are and how well they are controlled. Treatment includes finding triggers and ways to avoid them. It will also include medicines.
Asthma that is not well controlled may cause:
Severe asthma attacks
Lasting damage to the airways
Increased time in the hospital or the emergency department
Missed school or other activities
