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Asthma and Children: Critical Information
Sunday, 07 February 2010 08:50 | Written by Kim Archer |
While asthma is far from unheard of in the United States, it affects the most vulnerable of us, our children. Asthma as a whole affects nearly 20 million people, and nine million of those people are children. Due to the smaller airways in children, asthma becomes a very scary but real respiratory disease, sometimes fatal. Symptoms of asthma include coughing, difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness, an upset of sleep patterns with all the previous symptoms, or frequent use of a rescue inhaler. Childhood asthma is a very serious condition that can cause a number of complications for your child, unless you have the right information on how to treat and manage asthma.
While asthma is far from unheard of in the United States, it affects the most vulnerable of us, our children. Asthma as a whole affects nearly 20 million people, and nine million of those people are children. Due to the smaller airways in children, asthma becomes a very scary but real respiratory disease, sometimes fatal. Symptoms of asthma include coughing, difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness, an upset of sleep patterns with all the previous symptoms, or frequent use of a rescue inhaler. Childhood asthma is a very serious condition that can cause a number of complications for your child, unless you have the right information on how to treat and manage asthma.
Children who have the symptoms of asthma may need a chest X-ray and pulmonary function tests, also called lung function tests, in order to diagnose the condition. Lung function tests assess the amount of air in the lungs as it is inhaled and exhaled, helping to determine how severe the asthma is. Children under the age of five are unable to perform pulmonary function tests and in these cases doctors rely only on a history of the symptoms and an examination to make a diagnosis. Older children may be diagnosed by their own medical history, current symptoms, or a physical exam.
What causes asthma? There is no clear evidence on this, but there are some known triggers. For example, there is a relationship link between lack of exercise and being overweight and a higher risk of asthma. The study is the only direct link between sedentary behavior, young age, and a higher risk of asthma in late childhood. Asthma can be a hereditary condition that may be passed on to babies if one or both parents have chronic breathing problems, but childhood asthma can also be caused by common triggers, such as household furniture, dust, plants, and even pets.
Because pollen, certain tree, plants, or pet hair can cause asthma in toddlers and infants, a skin prick test might be recommended that will tell you which animals and plants are dangerous for your child. Your asthma clinic physician should then be able to give you the right medication to fit your child's needs and symptoms.
Children with asthma should be using medications to regulate their asthmatic symptoms. When asthma gets worse there should be a health care pediatrician available for the child, and it is important to have a plan in place in order to prevent fatal attacks. If the daily medication prescribed by the physician doesn't seem to work, your child may have to have shots or stronger medication that can only be administered in an asthma clinic.
by KimArcher
While asthma is far from unheard of in the United States, it affects the most vulnerable of us, our children. Asthma as a whole affects nearly 20 million people, and nine million of those people are children. Due to the smaller airways in children, asthma becomes a very scary but real respiratory disease, sometimes fatal. Symptoms of asthma include coughing, difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness, an upset of sleep patterns with all the previous symptoms, or frequent use of a rescue inhaler. Childhood asthma is a very serious condition that can cause a number of complications for your child, unless you have the right information on how to treat and manage asthma.
Children who have the symptoms of asthma may need a chest X-ray and pulmonary function tests, also called lung function tests, in order to diagnose the condition. Lung function tests assess the amount of air in the lungs as it is inhaled and exhaled, helping to determine how severe the asthma is. Children under the age of five are unable to perform pulmonary function tests and in these cases doctors rely only on a history of the symptoms and an examination to make a diagnosis. Older children may be diagnosed by their own medical history, current symptoms, or a physical exam.
What causes asthma? There is no clear evidence on this, but there are some known triggers. For example, there is a relationship link between lack of exercise and being overweight and a higher risk of asthma. The study is the only direct link between sedentary behavior, young age, and a higher risk of asthma in late childhood. Asthma can be a hereditary condition that may be passed on to babies if one or both parents have chronic breathing problems, but childhood asthma can also be caused by common triggers, such as household furniture, dust, plants, and even pets.
Because pollen, certain tree, plants, or pet hair can cause asthma in toddlers and infants, a skin prick test might be recommended that will tell you which animals and plants are dangerous for your child. Your asthma clinic physician should then be able to give you the right medication to fit your child's needs and symptoms.
Children with asthma should be using medications to regulate their asthmatic symptoms. When asthma gets worse there should be a health care pediatrician available for the child, and it is important to have a plan in place in order to prevent fatal attacks. If the daily medication prescribed by the physician doesn't seem to work, your child may have to have shots or stronger medication that can only be administered in an asthma clinic.
About the Author:
Asthma is a serious medical condition that affects countless numbers of people worldwide. Children are particularly susceptible to pediatric asthma. Get the information you need to know about asthma at Asthma Treatments.