Asthma
Recognizing Asthma In Children
A rising health problem today amongst children in the United States is asthma. Nearly one in every ten children today is affected by it in some fashion, and the CDC estimates that six and a half million children under the age of 18 have already been diagnosed with this disease. This means that the rate of diagnosis has nearly doubled since the 1980s, making it an alarming trend, indeed. But how do you know if your child has become one of those statistics?
Does your child have difficulty catching their breath during play? The caring professionals at Trinity Primary Care want your child to be at their best. Call them today for an immediate appointment for an asthma screening for your child.
Symptoms Of Asthma in Children
The important thing to keep in mind when looking at these symptoms is that they can vary from one child to another and not all children will have the same symptoms. Very often, some of these symptoms can be mistaken for allergic reactions, because allergies and asthma will often show up together, making true diagnosis that much more difficult.
The major symptoms of this condition in children include:
Frequent Coughing Spells: These may occur during play, at night or even while laughing with family and friends. This may be the only symptom that presents itself with any frequency.
Reduced Energy Levels: If your child shows signs of having less energy during regular play, it may be due to an inability to breathe freely.
Chest Hurts: If your child complains of his or her chest hurting, or if it feels like it is being squeezed, take them the doctor as soon as possible, because it may be indicating an attack.
Whistling Sound: When your child breathes, is it accompanied by a whistling or wheezing sound? This may indicate that their airways are tightening up.
Tightened Neck and Chest Muscles: In children, because their lungs are still developing with the rest of their bodies, when there is an episode, their neck and chest muscles can grow rigid and tight, a sure sign that they are experiencing an attack.
If your child experiences any of the listed symptoms, please take them for an examination by their pediatrician as soon as possible.
Triggers and Treatment
Children with this condition can have attacks brought on by any number of triggers, and if they have allergies, it can make the attacks that much more worse. Common triggers for this disease include secondhand smoke, dust, pollen, pet dander, mold, or fumes from cleaning products or perfumes.
Treatment usually will include breathing medications known as bronchodilators. These are generally administered through a nebulizer or inhaler, and work to relax the child’s airways during an attack, and keep them from narrowing. Childhood asthma will often go away on its own over time, but may continue on into adulthood. There is no cure, per se, only management on a daily basis. Our pediatricians are located in our Bartow office.
Asthma
Recognizing Asthma In Children
A rising health problem today amongst children in the United States is asthma. Nearly one in every ten children today is affected by it in some fashion, and the CDC estimates that six and a half million children under the age of 18 have already been diagnosed with this disease. This means that the rate of diagnosis has nearly doubled since the 1980s, making it an alarming trend, indeed. But how do you know if your child has become one of those statistics?
Does your child have difficulty catching their breath during play? The caring professionals at Trinity Primary Care want your child to be at their best. Call them today for an immediate appointment for an asthma screening for your child.
Symptoms Of Asthma in Children
The important thing to keep in mind when looking at these symptoms is that they can vary from one child to another and not all children will have the same symptoms. Very often, some of these symptoms can be mistaken for allergic reactions, because allergies and asthma will often show up together, making true diagnosis that much more difficult.
The major symptoms of this condition in children include:
Frequent Coughing Spells: These may occur during play, at night or even while laughing with family and friends. This may be the only symptom that presents itself with any frequency.
Reduced Energy Levels: If your child shows signs of having less energy during regular play, it may be due to an inability to breathe freely.
Chest Hurts: If your child complains of his or her chest hurting, or if it feels like it is being squeezed, take them the doctor as soon as possible, because it may be indicating an attack.
Whistling Sound: When your child breathes, is it accompanied by a whistling or wheezing sound? This may indicate that their airways are tightening up.
Tightened Neck and Chest Muscles: In children, because their lungs are still developing with the rest of their bodies, when there is an episode, their neck and chest muscles can grow rigid and tight, a sure sign that they are experiencing an attack.
If your child experiences any of the listed symptoms, please take them for an examination by their pediatrician as soon as possible.
Triggers and Treatment
Children with this condition can have attacks brought on by any number of triggers, and if they have allergies, it can make the attacks that much more worse. Common triggers for this disease include secondhand smoke, dust, pollen, pet dander, mold, or fumes from cleaning products or perfumes.
Treatment usually will include breathing medications known as bronchodilators. These are generally administered through a nebulizer or inhaler, and work to relax the child’s airways during an attack, and keep them from narrowing. Childhood asthma will often go away on its own over time, but may continue on into adulthood. There is no cure, per se, only management on a daily basis. Our pediatricians are located in our Bartow office.