Kids and Health Care: Asthma: What You Don't Know Can Hurt Your Child
len, making it hard to breathe. Nearly five million American children have asthma. The humidity and the polluted air contribute immensely to this miserable breathing disorder which is the number one chronic disorder in children and the number one reason for children's absence from school.
The most common form of asthma is allergic asthma, which is triggered by allergens such as pet dander, pollen and mold, as opposed to irritants, viral or sinus infections, weather changes or exercise. Nearly 10 million -- including 3 million kids -- suffer specifically from allergic asthma.
How do you know if your child's asthma is allergic?
Many of the symptoms of allergic and non-allergic asthma are the same (coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, rapid breathing and chest tightness). However, allergic asthma is triggered by inhaling allergens such as dust mites, pet dander, pollens, mold, etc. These allergens then cause the passages in the airways of the lungs to become inflamed and swollen, resulting in coughing, wheezing, etc.
Some kids are genetically predisposed to have asthma. However, you can reduce the risks associated with dangerous asthmatic attacks by ensuring sure that your child:
- avoids cigarette smoke;
- spends hot days in air-conditioned areas; and
- has a consultation with an asthma specialist, such as an allergist or immunologist about any allergies your child exhibits.
An asthma specialist can identify allergic triggers and develop a plan to help avoid these allergens or prescribe medication that prevents allergens from setting off an inflammatory response.
The following is a list of questions provided by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) to help you gauge whether your child has allergic asthma. Then, armed with this information, talk to your doctor or find a physician who specializes in treating asthma and allergies to find out how to manage your child's asthma.
- Do/did either of the child's parents have asthma?
- Do/did either parent suffer from allergies?
- Has the child experienced any of the following symptoms: sudden or repeated coughing,wheezing, shortness of breath, rapid breathing and/or tightness in the chest?
- Does being near the following allergens trigger or worsen the symptoms: dust, pollen from trees or flowers, animal fur or dander, molds, certain foods or other allergens?
- Do the symptoms seem to be worse during the spring and/or fall?
- Does your child suffer, at any time of the year, from any of the following allergy symptoms: sneezing, itchy/watery eyes, stuffy nose/congestion lasting more than 10 days, runny nose lasting more than 10 days?
For more information, contact your health care provider, the AAAAI executive office at (414) 272-6071 or the American Lung Association at (800) 586-4872.
