Common Symptoms and Treatment for Childhood Asthma
Asthma is a serious disease requiring careful management to minimize its long-term impacts. For many children, the effect of an asthma attack will necessitate occasional same-day sick care appointments – or even emergency room visits. But while asthma symptoms can be severe, treatment has improved over the years, and pediatric action plans make it possible to limit the worst effects. At Vickery Pediatrics, we help parents recognize common asthma symptoms and develop effective plans for kids of all ages.
How Is Asthma Defined?
Asthma is a condition defined by 2 symptoms – airway constriction and chronic inflammation. Children who have asthma have chronic inflammation in their airways that is worsened by allergens, viruses or irritants. The inflammation and constriction cause episodes of wheezing, tight coughing, shortness of breath, and pain and tightness of the chest. The severity of the asthma is dependent upon how often the symptoms occur. There is no cure for asthma but it is highly treatable with a daily medication plan that is specific to the child’s symptoms.
Why Do Children Get Asthma?
Asthma is thought to be caused by a combination of genetics and environmental factors. There is a much greater chance of developing asthma if 1 or both parents have the condition. Environmental exposures such as cigarette smoke, ventilator use for premature babies and allergies also increase the chances of developing asthma.
The environmental and genetic components make you have an abnormal immune reaction that creates inflammation in your lungs and makes your airways constrict to certain triggers.
What Symptoms Will My Child Have During an Asthma Flare-up?
The most common symptoms of asthma are shortness of breath, chest tightness and wheezing.
In babies, you will see symptoms like fast breathing, decreased feeding or sucking, flaring of nostrils, grunting and skin tightness between the ribs with every breath.
Another common presentation of asthma, especially in older children is a chronic cough. This cough is usually exacerbated by activity and may be accompanied by less energy while playing, rapid breathing, wheezing, or chin and throat itchiness.
The handout on respiratory distress lists all the signs and symptoms you will see during an asthma flare.
What Allergy Medications May Help With Asthma?
Allergy medications are often added as a way to help airway medicines do their job better by trying to control the most common trigger – allergies. The medications are antihistamines, leukotriene receptor antagonists or nasal steroids that work at different levels of the allergy cascade to control symptoms. These include the following medications.
- Zyrtec
- Lodrane
- Nasacort
- Claritin
- Sudafed
- Singulair
- Benadryl
- Flonase
How Do I Figure Out What Medication to Use to Treat Asthma?
Treatment for asthma is different for every patient because everyone has different genetics and different triggers. We will work together to come up with an action plan that is tailored to your child.
The goal of treatment is to:
- Prevent daily symptoms that cause a disruption in daily activities and sleep
- Eliminate or decrease visits to the ER and overnight hospital visits
- Maintain normal daily activities like exercise and outdoor play
The first step is to figure out which severity classification applies. Additional information with specific pulmonary function testing may be necessary.
All patients need to have a bronchodilator to take as needed when symptoms occur.
Patients that fall into the mild, moderate or severe persistent categories require daily use of anti-inflammatories and allergy medications to keep symptoms under control.
Will My Child Need to Take Asthma Medication Forever?
This is a simple question with a complex answer. Asthma is a chronic condition that cannot be cured but can be very well controlled.
With the consistent implementation of the action plan, many patients are able to eliminate some or in rare instances, all of the medications needed for asthma control.
Consistently follow-up with us as well as compliance with the medications at home ensure the best success.
More Resources on Asthma
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Asthma Information
CDC Asthma Inhaler Information
AAAAI’s Asthma Activities for Kids
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Asthma Action Plan for Younger Children
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Asthma Action Plan for Older Children
Pediatric Asthma Treatments in the Cumming Area
Vickery Pediatrics provides dependable solutions to the most common childhood asthma symptoms. We help families in Cumming, Buford, Dawsonville, Gainesville, Johns Creek, Sugar Hill, Suwanee and Forsyth County to cope with asthma. Call us at (678) 990-2501 or request an appointment now.
