Childhood Asthma – Symptoms and Causes

Overview

Childhood asthma occurs when a child’s airways become inflamed in response to triggers like pollen, colds, or other respiratory infections. This inflammation can lead to daily symptoms that disrupt normal activities, including play, sports, school, and sleep.

In severe cases, poorly managed asthma may result in dangerous attacks.

Though childhood asthma is the same condition that affects adults, children face specific challenges. It ranks as a leading reason for emergency room visits, hospital stays, and school absences among children.

While there is no cure for childhood asthma, and symptoms may persist into adulthood, proper treatment allows families to:

• Control symptoms effectively
• Prevent damage to developing lungs
• Maintain normal childhood activities

With appropriate management, children with asthma can lead active, healthy lives despite this chronic respiratory condition.

Signs of Childhood Asthma

Children with asthma often make a whistling or wheezing sound when they breathe out. They may feel short of breath or experience tightness in their chest.

Frequent coughing is another common sign, which typically gets worse during viral infections, sleep, exercise, or exposure to cold air.

Many children with asthma have trouble sleeping because of breathing difficulties, coughing, or wheezing. These symptoms can worsen when they catch a cold or the flu. After respiratory infections, children with asthma may take longer to recover completely.

Asthma can make it hard for children to play or exercise normally. They might feel tired during the day because their symptoms disrupt their sleep at night.

Important to know:

• Symptoms vary greatly from child to child
• Symptoms may change over time, improving or worsening
• Some children experience only one symptom, like a persistent cough
• Not all wheezing or coughing means asthma – other respiratory problems can cause similar symptoms

When to Visit a Healthcare Provider

Children with breathing problems like coughing or wheezing might have asthma. Taking action early can help manage symptoms and prevent serious attacks.

Call your child’s doctor if you notice:

• Frequent coughing that happens regularly or during physical activity
• Wheezing sounds when breathing out
• Trouble catching breath or breathing fast
• Complaints about chest feeling tight
• Multiple cases of bronchitis or pneumonia

Pay attention when children say things like “My chest feels funny” or “I can’t stop coughing.” Watch for nighttime coughing that might not wake them. Remember that strong emotions, crying, laughing or stress can trigger breathing problems.

If your child gets diagnosed with asthma, work with their doctor to create an asthma plan. This helps everyone know how to monitor symptoms and respond to attacks.

Emergency Warning Signs

Some breathing problems need immediate medical attention. Go to the emergency room if your child:

• Must stop talking mid-sentence to breathe
• Uses stomach muscles to help breathe
• Has nostrils that flare out when breathing in
• Shows the stomach area pulling in under the ribs during breaths
• Has increased heart rate, sweating, or chest pain
• Shows severe struggling to breathe with chest and sides pulling inward

Don’t wait for a diagnosis if you see these warning signs. Seek emergency care right away. Asthma attacks can start with simple coughing before quickly getting worse with wheezing and difficult breathing.

Causes

Asthma in children has several potential causes, though scientists don’t fully understand all of them. Genetics plays a significant role. Children with parents who have asthma or family members with allergies face higher risks.

Early life experiences matter, too. Certain respiratory infections at a young age can affect lung development. Environmental factors like air pollution and secondhand smoke exposure can trigger or worsen asthma symptoms.

When a child has asthma, their immune system becomes overly sensitive. This causes inflammation in the airways and excess mucus production when exposed to triggers.

Common triggers include:

• Viral infections (like colds)
• Air pollutants and tobacco smoke
• Allergens (dust mites, pet dander, pollen, mold)
• Physical activity or exercise
• Cold air or weather changes

Identifying triggers can be challenging since reactions might not happen immediately. Some children experience asthma symptoms without any obvious triggers. Each child’s asthma triggers are unique.

What Increases Asthma Risk

Several factors may raise your child’s risk of getting asthma:

• Tobacco smoke exposure, even before birth
• History of allergies (food, skin, or hay fever)
• Family members with asthma or allergies
• Living in polluted areas
• Being overweight
• Having breathing problems like stuffy nose, sinus inflammation, or pneumonia
• Having GERD (acid reflux)

Boys face a higher asthma risk than girls. Black and Puerto Rican children also show higher rates of asthma.

Complications

Asthma can lead to several serious issues. These include:

• Emergency care is needed for severe attacks.
• Worsening lung function over time.
• School absences and falling behind academically.
• Disrupted sleep causes tiredness.
• Limited participation in physical activities and sports.

These complications can significantly affect daily life. Children with asthma may struggle to keep up with peers in both academic and social settings.

Preventing Asthma Attacks

Preventing asthma attacks in children requires thoughtful planning and awareness of triggers.

Here are key strategies to help keep asthma under control:

Avoid Triggers

• Identify and limit exposure to substances that cause asthma symptoms
• Remove common triggers from the home environment when possible
• Create trigger-free zones, especially in the child’s bedroom

Create a Smoke-Free Environment

Tobacco smoke significantly increases asthma risk in young children and can trigger attacks. So, never allow smoking in your home or car.

Encourage Physical Activity

Regular exercise strengthens lungs and improves overall health when asthma is well-controlled. Work with healthcare providers to develop safe exercise plans.

Schedule Regular Checkups

Visit your child’s doctor regularly to monitor asthma control. Seek medical advice when you notice increased inhaler use or worsening symptoms.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Excess weight can worsen asthma symptoms. So, help your child maintain a healthy weight through balanced nutrition and regular activity.

Control Acid Reflux

Heartburn can trigger or worsen asthma symptoms. Talk to your doctor about appropriate treatments, which might include over-the-counter options or prescription medications.

Follow Treatment Plans

Stick to prescribed medication schedules and update action plans as your child grows.

Remember, asthma changes over time, so treatments may need adjustment.