If your child seems to get out of breath quickly, you may be wondering if they have asthma. We can help diagnose the condition and provide asthma management. At times, it’s necessary to refer your child to an allergy or pulmonary physician to help with the diagnosis.
What is asthma?
Asthma is a common long-term breathing problem that affects the airways. Your child may have wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. The airways become swollen or inflamed and cause a buildup of mucus that makes it difficult to breathe. Unfortunately, presently there is no cure for asthma, but the symptoms can be managed, and some children even outgrow their asthma as they get older.
What are the triggers?
It’s important to understand what triggers an asthma attack in your child, so you can anticipate it, try to avoid it and prevent the attack from happening in the first place.
The following can cause an attack:
- Infections like the common cold and flu
- Exercise
- Allergies to dust mites, grass or tree pollen, animal dander
- Tobacco smoke, pollution, fumes
- Emotional stress
- Cold air or dry air
How can I prevent the attacks?
- Understanding your child's triggers, and communicate them to your child's caregivers and family members so awareness can support prevention.
- Make sure your child stays away from triggers (such as smoke, pets, etc.)
- Dust-proof your child’s room.
- Shower after playing outdoors. This can help remove pollen from skin and hair.
To help communicate the experiences your child is having when you are trying to understand if it's asthma, allergies or perhaps just a cold, keep good notes to go over with your child's doctor. This may help you notice when coughing episodes follow a pattern. Whether you journal these details in a notebook or on input them on your digital calendar, tracking this information with attention to details can help with the communication between you, your child and your child's pediatrician.