Childhood asthma causes inflammation to the sufferer's airways when they are exposed to certain environmental or biological triggers, such as pollen, dust or respiratory viruses. It can interfere with a child's ability to take part in sports and play with friends, and children with this condition tend to miss more days at school than their peers. Childhood asthma is not a separate condition to asthma experienced in adulthood, but children experience different challenges relating to this condition than adults do, so it's labelled differently to acknowledge the challenges faced by children. There's no cure for childhood asthma, but some cases do resolve as the child moves into adolescence. Here's an overview of the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment approach for this condition:
Causes And Symptoms
The causes of childhood asthma aren't yet fully understood, but researchers agree some factors increase the chances of a child developing the condition. These factors include having a parent with asthma, exposure to tobacco smoke and having environmental or food allergies.
Symptoms of childhood asthma include shortness of breath, chest congestion and a frequent cough that worsens during exercise or exposure to cold air. Some children will also cough in their sleep, and poor sleep can lead to fatigue. Other symptoms include wheezing during exercise and taking longer than is considered typical to recover from colds and upper respiratory infections.
Not all children with this condition will have an asthma attack, but it can happen, so it's important to be aware of the signs. An asthma attack is characterised by the inability of the lungs to take in enough oxygen to function normally. Signs of an asthma attack include difficulty taking a deep breath, increased heart rate, chest pain, widened nostrils and the chest and sides pulling inwards. An asthma attack is a medical emergency.
Diagnosis And Treatment Approach
Your GP can diagnose childhood asthma by taking details of your child's symptoms and carrying out a lung function test. This test involves your child blowing into a device called a spirometer, which measures how hard and fast your child can expel air from their lungs. If your child's symptoms tend to flare up in response to environmental allergens, your GP may refer them to an allergy clinic for skin prick testing to determine if their symptoms are being caused by allergies rather than asthma.
Treatment aims to prevent your child's growing lungs from being damaged by uncontrolled symptoms, and your GP will recommend treatment based on the severity of your child's symptoms. Inhaled and oral corticosteroids are often prescribed to prevent lung inflammation, while muscle relaxants are sometimes prescribed to keep airways open. Children with a history of severe asthma attacks may be prescribed a type of drug known as an immunomodulatory agent, which alters how the immune system responds to inflammation.
If your child has any symptoms associated with childhood asthma, schedule an appointment with your GP as soon as possible to get a formal diagnosis and put a treatment plan in place that will help your child stay active and well.
If you are planning to visit a primary care clinic for the first time, you may have some questions about what to expect. We hope to answer any questions you may have on this blog. Our team of non-medical writers have been working on a number of articles which will explore various aspects of the primary care medical system. Read on to find out more about the type of treatments you can receive in this type of clinic, the questions you may want to ask the medic who treats you, and much more. Please check back soon to read our latest updates.