Asthma is a chronic (long lasting) inflammatory lung disease that causes
airways to swell up, tighten, and narrow.
A single episode of wheezing is not asthma.
What causes asthma?
Many children with asthma can breathe normally for a long time.
Children with asthma have sensitive airways.
When an asthma flare happens, airway muscles tighten up. The airway lining
also swells and can fill with mucus. Both of these cause the airway to narrow.
An asthma flare makes it hard for your child to breathe.
Different things can cause a flare in different people. Sometimes, a flare
is triggered by exercise, smoke, allergies, viral infections, breathing in
cold air, and changes in the weather.
Who can get asthma?
Anyone can get asthma, both children and adults.
Children are more likely to get asthma if a parent has asthma.
What are the symptoms of asthma?
A child with asthma has noisy breathing. Normal breathing is quiet.
During an asthma flare, your child may cough, wheeze, sweat, feel tightness
in his chest, and feel short of breath. His heart will probably beat faster.
Your child may cough a lot at night but seem fine during the day.
A child with asthma may get chest colds a lot.
A child with asthma may tire more easily than other children or avoid activities
and places that make it hard for him to breathe.
Is asthma contagious?
No. Asthma is not contagious.
How is asthma treated?
If you think your child has asthma, take him to the doctor.
Your doctor will probably want to know your family's history of asthma and
allergies.
Also be prepared to tell your doctor about your child's condition. How bad
are his symptoms? How long do they last? When do they begin? What seems to
cause them? What seems to make them better or worse? How do they go away?
What have you tried to do to improve it?
The doctor may use a machine to test your child's breathing.
If the doctor thinks that your child has asthma, your child will need a
plan to control his symptoms and flares.
Asthma is often treated with medication. Medication helps to both prevent
flares and treat symptoms.
Make sure your child gets enough rest and eats healthy.
Talk to your child's school. Discuss your child's asthma. What can trigger
a flare? What are his symptoms? What should be done? What medication is needed?
A child with asthma can still be very active, if treated with the right
medication.
How long does asthma last?
Each person has a different experience with his or her asthma.
For some, symptoms may improve as the child gets older. For others, symptoms
may get worse. For others, symptoms may seem to go away but show up again
later in life.
How can asthma be prevented?
Avoid things that trigger your child's asthma, such as allergies and breathing
in cold air.
Look for signs that your child may be nearing a flare. Signs include change
in appearance or mood, change in breathing, or your child might say he "feels
funny."
Follow the plan for managing your child's asthma. Make sure he takes medication
as prescribed.
Avoid smoking around a child who has asthma. Smoke can trigger a flare.
When should I call the doctor?
Call the doctor if you think your child has asthma.
Call the doctor if your child is having difficulty breathing.
Call the doctor if you have questions or concerns about your child's condition.
Quick Answers
Asthma is a chronic (long lasting) lung disease that causes airways to swell
up, tighten, and narrow.
An asthma flare makes it hard for your child to breathe.
Anyone can get asthma, both children and adults.
A child with asthma has noisy breathing. Normal breathing is quiet.
Asthma is not contagious.
Asthma is often treated with medication. Medication helps to both prevent
flares and treat symptoms.
For some, symptoms may improve as the child gets older. For others, symptoms
may get worse.
Avoid things that trigger your child's asthma, such as allergies or certain
forms of exercise.
Call the doctor if you think your child has asthma.
References
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Tips to Remember: Childhood
Asthma. 1998-2001 (cited 2001 November 27). URL: http://www.aaaai.org/public/publicemat/tips/childhoodasthma.stm
Rutherford, K MD. Asthma Basics. KidsHealth. 2001 May (cited 2001 November
27). URL: http://www.kidshealth.org/Pagemanager.jsp?dn=KidsHealth&lic=1&ps=107&cat_id=&article_set=21965
Rutherford K MD. Managing Asthma. KidsHealth. 2001 May (cited 2001 November
27). URL: http://www.kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?dn=KidsHealth&lic=1&ps=107&cat_id=&article_set=21967
Weinberger M. Asthma Education: Interactive Guidelines. 1998 December (cited
2001 December). URL: http://www.vh.org/Providers/ClinGuide/AsthmaIM/comp3/RefC.html
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