Overview
In childhood asthma, the lungs and airways become easily inflamed when exposed to certain triggers, such as inhaling pollen or catching a cold or other respiratory infection. Childhood asthma can cause bothersome daily symptoms that interfere with play, sports, school and sleep. In some children, unmanaged asthma can cause dangerous asthma attacks.
Childhood asthma isn''''t a different disease from asthma in adults, but children face unique challenges. The condition is a leading cause of emergency department visits, hospitalizations and missed school days.
Unfortunately, childhood asthma can''''t be cured, and symptoms can continue into adulthood. But with the right treatment, you and your child can keep symptoms under control and prevent damage to growing lungs.
Symptoms
Common childhood asthma signs and symptoms include
Frequent coughing that worsens when your child has a viral infection, occurs while your child is asleep or is triggered by exercise or cold air
A whistling or wheezing sound when breathing out
Shortness of breath
Chest congestion or tightness
Childhood asthma might also cause
Trouble sleeping due to shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing
Bouts of coughing or wheezing that get worse with a cold or the flu
Delayed recovery or bronchitis after a respiratory infection
Trouble breathing that hampers play or exercise
Fatigue, which can be due to poor sleep
Asthma signs and symptoms vary from child to child, and might get worse or better over time. Your child might have only one indication, such as a lingering cough or chest congestion.
It can be difficult to tell whether your child''''s symptoms are caused by asthma. Periodic or long-lasting wheezing and other asthma-like symptoms can be caused by infectious bronchitis or another respiratory problem.
When to see a doctor
Take your child to see the doctor if you suspect he or she has asthma. Early treatment will help control symptoms and possibly prevent asthma attacks.
Make an appointment with your child''''s doctor if you notice
Coughing that is constant, is intermittent or seems linked to physical activity
Wheezing or whistling sounds when your child breathes out
Shortness of breath or rapid breathing
Complaints of chest tightness
Repeated episodes of suspected bronchitis or pneumonia
If your child has asthma, he or she may say things such as, "My chest feels funny" or "I''''m always coughing." Listen for coughing, which might not wake your child, when he or she is asleep. Crying, laughing, yelling, or strong emotional reactions and stress also might trigger coughing or wheezing.
If your child is diagnosed with asthma, creating an asthma plan can help you and other caregivers monitor symptoms and know what to do if an asthma attack occurs.
When to seek emergency treatment
In severe cases, you might see your child''''s chest and sides pulling inward as he or she struggles to breathe. Your child might have an increased heartbeat, sweating and chest pain. Seek emergency care if your child:
Has to stop in midsentence to catch his or her breath
Is using abdominal muscles to breathe
Has widened nostrils when breathing in
Is trying so hard to breathe that the abdomen is sucked under the ribs when he or she breathes in
Even if your child hasn''''t been diagnosed with asthma, seek medical attention immediately if he or she has trouble breathing. Although episodes of asthma vary in severity, asthma attacks can start with coughing, which progresses to wheezing and labored breathing.
Causes
Childhood asthma causes aren''''t fully understood. Some factors thought to be involved include:
Inherited tendency to develop allergies
Parents with asthma
Some types of airway infections at a very young age
Exposure to environmental factors, such as cigarette smoke or other air pollution
Increased immune system sensitivity causes the lungs and airways to swell and produce mucus when exposed to certain triggers. Reaction to a trigger can be delayed, making it more difficult to identify the trigger. Triggers vary from child to child and can include:
Viral infections such as the common cold
Exposure to air pollutants, such as tobacco smoke
Allergies to dust mites, pet dander, pollen or mold
Physical activity
Weather changes or cold air
Sometimes, asthma symptoms occur with no apparent triggers.
Risk factors
Factors that might increase your child''''s likelihood of developing asthma include
Exposure to tobacco smoke, including before birth
Previous allergic reactions, including skin reactions, food allergies or hay fever (allergic rhinitis)
A family history of asthma or allergies
Living in an area with high pollution
Obesity
Respiratory conditions, such as a chronic runny or stuffy nose (rhinitis), inflamed sinuses (sinusitis) or pneumonia
Heartburn (gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD)
Being male
Being black or Puerto Rican
Complications
Asthma can cause a number of complications, including
Severe asthma attacks that require emergency treatment or hospital care
Permanent decline in lung function
Missed school days or getting behind in school
Poor sleep and fatigue
Symptoms that interfere with play, sports or other activities
Prevention
Careful planning and avoiding asthma triggers are the best ways to prevent asthma attacks.
Limit exposure to asthma triggers. Help your child avoid the allergens and irritants that trigger asthma symptoms.
Don''''t allow smoking around your child. Exposure to tobacco smoke during infancy is a strong risk factor for childhood asthma, as well as a common trigger of asthma attacks.
Encourage your child to be active. As long as your child''''s asthma is well-controlled, regular physical activity can help the lungs to work more efficiently.
See the doctor when necessary. Check in regularly. Don''''t ignore signs that your child''''s asthma might not be under control, such as needing to use a quick-relief inhaler too often.
Asthma changes over time. Consulting your child''''s doctor can help you make needed treatment adjustments to keep symptoms under control.
Help your child maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight can worsen asthma symptoms, and it puts your child at risk of other health problems.
Keep heartburn under control. Acid reflux or severe heartburn (gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD) might worsen your child''''s asthma symptoms. He or she might need over-the-counter or prescription medications to control acid reflux.
