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Asthma and Children

Asthma and Children

Asthma and children:

Approximately 6 million children have been diagnosed with asthma according to the American Lung Association. Asthma is one of the most common, serious, chronic diseases among children, accounting for 14 million absences from school each year. Some other statistics about childhood asthma include:

  • Asthma is the third-ranking cause of childhood hospitalizations under the age of 15.
  • Asthma is one of the most common chronic illnesses in children.

Symptom differences between childhood and adult asthma:

Although childhood asthma symptoms are the same as adult asthma symptoms, they may not be as noticeable and easy to detect. Wheezing, often a positive indicator of asthma, may not be as noticeable in a child with asthma as in an adult. However, most children who have asthma will cough - a common characteristic of asthma, regardless of age. If your child coughs after running or crying, or during the night, consult a physician for a diagnosis. Your child may have "hidden" (undiagnosed) asthma. Other childhood asthma symptoms may include the following:

  • Frequent coughing or respiratory infections, such as pneumonia or bronchitis, may indicate undiagnosed asthma.
  • Infants with asthma may have a rattly cough, rapid breathing, and many respiratory infections.
  • Chest tightness and shortness of breath, which may lead to severe anxiety, may be a symptom of childhood asthma.
  • Unexplained irritability, which may be attributed to the discomfort of the chest tightness, can be a sign of asthma.

The symptoms of childhood asthma may resemble other medical conditions or problems. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.

What causes childhood asthma?

Childhood asthma is caused by the child's genetic predisposition and allergies. The majority of children with asthma have allergies. Even exposure to low-grade allergens (those that do not cause significant allergic reactions) may increase the severity of a child's asthma. In addition, allergies may play a role in undiagnosed asthma cases.

The basic cause of the lung abnormality in asthma is not yet known, although healthcare professionals have established that it is a special type of inflammation of the airway that leads to the following:

  • contraction of airway muscles
  • mucus production
  • swelling in the airways

It is important to know that asthma is not caused by emotional factors - as commonly believed years ago. Emotional anxiety and nervous stress can cause fatigue, which may affect the immune system and increase asthma symptoms, or aggravate an attack. However, these reactions are considered to be more of an effect than a cause.

What are the different levels of asthma?

As determined by the National Institutes of Health, the following is a guideline used by physicians to help determine the extent of asthma in your child. It is classified as "steps", because each child may step up or step down to different levels at any time.

The steps are as follows:

  • Step 1 or mild intermittent asthma
    This group of children has symptoms less than two times a week, do not have problems in between flare-ups, and only have short flare-ups from a few hours to a few days. Nighttime symptoms occur less than two times a month.
  • Step 2 or mild persistent
    This group of children has symptoms more than two times a week, but no more than one time per day, and may have activity levels affected by the flare-ups. Nighttime symptoms occur greater than two times a month.
  • Step 3 or moderate persiste