Definition of Asthma
- Asthma can be a chronic condition where certain stimuli cause the airways of the person to narrow and make it difficult to breathe.
- Asthma can happen at any age. However, it is more common in children under 5 years of age. Many children with asthma are diagnosed as adults. Most asthmatic children can still interact with their environment, except for an attack. Only a handful of children with asthma can play and participate in sports.
Asthma Causes
- Children with asthma react to triggers (stimuli) for a variety of reasons. Although there are many causes of asthma attacks, each child’s triggers will be different. Many factors can trigger asthma attacks. These include indoor irritants like strong odors and irritant fumes (perfume and tobacco smoke), pollution from the outside such as cold air, exercise, emotional disturbance, respiratory infections due to viruses, and various substances which cause allergic reactions in children such as animal dander and pollen.
- Levolin Inhaler triggers all produce the same reaction: certain cells in your airways release chemical substances. These chemicals cause the airways swelling and inflammation, which stimulates the contracting of the muscle cells. To reduce stimulation by chemicals, increase mucus production in the airways. This causes the cells lining the lungs to spill out and the lungs to contract. The asthma attack is caused by a sudden reaction to smaller airways (asthma attacks). Most children’s airways return to normal between attacks.
- Risk Factors
- Although doctors don’t know why certain children have asthma, there are a few known risk factors. If one parent has asthma, there is a 25% chance that the child will develop asthma. However, if both parents have it, the risk increases to 50%. Asthma is more common in children whose mothers smoke during pregnancy.
- Asthma is more common in urban children, especially if they are from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Although asthma affects more black children than white children, genetic influences are also a factor in asthma’s rise. This is because many black children live in urban areas. Asthma is more common in children who are exposed to high levels of allergens such as dust and cockroach droppings at an early age. Children with bronchiolitis in their early years often have wheezing and advanced viral infections. Although wheezing can be mistaken for asthma, children are less likely to develop asthma as they grow older.
Asthma Symptoms
The child may experience difficulty breathing due to asthma attacks in which the airways contract. This can also be accompanied by wheezing. Wheezing refers to a loud sound that is produced when a child breathes. However, wheezing does not always produce sound. A mild case of asthma can cause a wheeze, especially in children younger than five years old. Some older children with mild asthma may cough when they are exposed to cold or exercise.
Children with asthma may not wheeze as there is less airflow to produce noise. Acute asthma makes breathing difficult. The child’s breathing is more rapid and requires greater effort. Inspiration is also a problem. Acute attacks result in the child gasping for air and sitting upright, leaning forward. Sweating, pale skin, or blue.
Children who have frequent acute attacks may experience slow growth, but they are often chasing after another child into adulthood.
Diagnosis
Children who wheeze repetitively may be diagnosed with asthma if they are accompanied by family members who are also suffering from asthma. Other disorders such as fiber and gastroesophageal repeated cysts can be tested in children who have wheezing episodes. Lung function tests are sometimes performed on older children, even if the lung function of healthy children is good between relapses.
Half or more of asthma-free children are under control. As a teenager, those with severe diseases were more likely to develop asthma.
Asthma Treatment
A peak flow meter is a tool that measures the speed at which a person blows air to determine whether they have asthma. It can be used by older children and teenagers who can recognize their condition. This tool can be used to assess the child’s condition objectively.
The treatment of severe asthma involves opening the airways (bronchodilation) and stopping the inflammation. Many inhaled medications can open the airways (bronchodilator). Ipratropium and albuterol are two examples. These Asthalin Inhaler drugs are often safe for older children and teens. For children older than eight years, it is often possible to inhale with a buffer or spacer. Infants and very young children may need a spacer to inhale and masks for infants.
Children who don’t use inhalation devices may be able to inhale drugs at home by using a mask attached to a nebulizer. This small tool generates steam from compressed air and can be used for children. Both tool inhalation or a nebulizer can be used to remove the drug. Albuterol can also be used with the mouth. However, this was less successful than inhalation. It is usually only used in infants who didn’t use the nebulizer. Oral corticosteroids can be used for severe cases in children who have suffered from severe reactions.
Children suffering from severe asthma were treated in the hospital with a bronchodilator. This was done at least once every 20 minutes. If children have severe asthma, the doctor may inject epinephrine (a bronchodilator) to help them breathe. Children with severe attacks are usually given intravenous corticosteroids by doctors.
Children with mild asthma who have infrequent attacks tend to only take medication during an attack. Children who suffer from severe or frequent attacks may also require medication, even if they aren’t under attack.
Based on the severity and frequency of attacks, other drugs may be used. Children who have infrequent attacks but are not severe usually take inhaled drugs such as cromolyn and nedocromil or a low dose daily of corticosteroids to prevent attacks. These drugs reduce inflammation and prevent the release of chemicals that can harm the airways. Some children can be prevented by preparing to use the old theophylline.
Children who have recurrent or more severe asthma may also be prescribed one or more drugs. These include long-term bronchodilators such as salmeterol or leukotriene modifications such as montelukast and zafirlukast. Inhaled corticosteroids may be required if these Seroflo Inhaler drugs fail to stop the attacks. Children who experience great exercise-related development often inhale a dose of bronchodilator just before they exercise.